WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 943, 9 July 1878, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

Now we are, in common with other Waipa townships, undergoing" the pleasures, or otherwise of election excitement, it is only fair that the convenience of the electors should be studied a little. I mean by having a Returning Officer appointed for VVhataWhaba. There are between forty and fifty votes that would probably be recorded here, and it is not too much t) say, that if a polling booth is not established in the township, a largo number of electors will not vote, as it is nob every man that cm afford the time and money to go ten or twelve miles, perhaps in wet weather, to record his vote. I have heard that a meeting of the ratepayers in our immediate neighborhood, will take place shortly, to consider whether it would be advisable to obtain a separation from the Newcastle district, and ha^e a highway district and board of our own. The feeling is gradually gaining ground, that some such measure as the above, has become necessary. It was very well in years past, but the settlers in and about What«whata have increased in number and influence, and not unnaturally imagine that they can administer their own revenue and affairs quite as well as others can for them. The inconvenience, not to say loss, through not having a local body, is becoming more apparent every day. and surely the time has arrived when we can stand alone, not perhaps that we should be immediate g-ainers by the change, for no board could do more, with the limited means at their disposal, than the present one has done, but every, independent mau likes to have a voice in the local government under which the lives, and this can hardly be done, when his opinion is asked only once a year, and he has to go twelve miles over a rough country. P.S. — On Tuesday last, the opening sale sale, was held in our new yards, and considering the very ba I weather we have had lately for mustering stocks, it went off very' well. Bayers were in force, .and pi ices ruled quite as high as at Ohaupo. The next sale will take place in two months, and a large muster of store cattle may bo expected. — Own Co rrespondent.