THE CASE OF NGARUAWAHIA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 617, 4 May 1876, Page 3

THE CASE OF NGARUAWAHIA.

'The follovriag is the petition of the resi'deuts wild holders of the Ngaruawabia district, a reference 'to which 'has -alra.idy, -4>n "more than 'once, been -madein our columns. On the evening on which tho 'public dinner was given to Mr Hume ftt tho Delta Hotel, on the occasion •of his leaving Mgaruawahia'to take charge •of the Hamilton branch -of 'the New Zealand bank, the petition was first produced and signed by those present. It was next morning forwaided to Auckland ito receive the signatures of property tdldern in Nguruawahia resident in that city, and Ihivving received some 73 signatures altogether was sent back to Major Wilson, the chairman of the 'local Board, last week. It i« now ready for the signature of those who had not the opportunity of signing it on the evening of the dinner at the Delta Hotel. Tho petition is as ifoliotri :— To tht Honourable Che House of Representatives of tk« Colony of New Zsaland, in 'Section assembled. The petition of settlers and landowners in the fawn of Ngaiuawalna (Newcastle) and the surTounding district, humbly sheweth : That the great drawback to tho proiperitj of *h« townrihip df Ngaruawahia i» the want of resident settler* in tho district immediately adJoining it. That with the exception of two or thrse allot. >znontf the whole of the suburban land near tteh c township it still in tho hands of the Govern xaenfe. That "for a long time these lands were witk•drawn from sal* or lease by the Native Minister. ! That whan a few of the allotments were i <offered for sale a short time ago it was at a upiet priot. That the GoTernment haTe received nearly £10,000 from the sale of a portion of the town■abip of Ngaruawihia, That the extreme reaerTes plased on the land by the Gtortrnment at the sab of the township of NRaroawahia led people to purchaso in the toelief that the township would become of great j importance, and that the Gorernment would *fford it a* much assistance as possible by selling the land in the vicinity, and thus inducing settlement. That on the contrary, the action of the Government has prevented settlement on tbe suburban lands abore mentioned, has retarded the development of the town of Ngaruawahia, -and has rendered £10,000 capital sunk in the purohate of allntmonts in that township comparatively uselcJß. That your petitioners ar« confident that if the suburban land near Ngaruawahia were offered to public competition at a reasonable upsst price, say from £2 to £5 per acre, it would soon *c all sold and occupied, thereby adding greatly to the prosperity of the town of Ngaruawalna and the surrounding district, and in consequ«nco ■of the increased population, to tha success of the railroad now ia courts of construction. That repeated applications hare been made to the colonial authorities to have this done but bithert) without effect. Your petitioners therefore pray that your Honourable House will b« pleased to grant their humble request, and will ciiute the suburban land at Ngaruawahia to be offered for sal* at ■uoh an upset price as will afford tome prospect -of its being speedily occupied. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will -*ver pray.