THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 992, 31 October 1878, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO WAIKATO.

Flio&i papers laid before the House, i\ cop/ of which reached us yesterday, we find the following notice of his Excellency's visit to Waikato, contained in a dispatch to the Eight Hon. the Earl of CarAarvon : I have to inform Your Lordship that, on Monday, the 2.3 th of March, I proceeded by railroad to the Waikato. The railroad is now open to Hamilton, the principal town in the district, eighty-four miles from Auckland. On my arrival at Hamilton, I was received by the Mayor and Corporation, and a large num" er of the inhabitants. The town of Hamilton is small, and the district is a purely agricidtural one, and the population is scattered; the numbers present, therefore, were of course much smaller than at the Thame*, but the lo3 r al feelings expressed towards tier Majesty, and the cordiality of my reception as her representive, were equally warm and hearty. In the evening, I was entertained at a public dinner, and, on the following morning, I proceeded by road to Cambridge, where I inspected a largo troop of Volunteer Cavalry. The troop is 131 strong. They are, upon, the whole, very well mounted, and are well drilled, and, in the event ot any unfortunate disturbance with the King natives, would prove a most valuable force, as it is composed entirely of settlers in the district, who know the whole of the country thoroughly. After the inspection was over, I drove round a large portion of tho settled district to Ohaupo. This district has had great difficulties to contend against, in consequence of the native troubles; but it is most satisfactory now to see the progress that is taking place. The soil appeared to me to be, generally speaking, of too light a description, but I saw some very good farms, where grass and root crops wertf growing Avail. Wheat, also, I understand grows wcil, and I am informed that beforo the war the natives used to raise large quantities of wheat in the district. From Ohaupo, I returned to Hamilton by railroad. This portion of tho line (ten miles in length) is not yet opened for traffic, but it will be so next week. It is intended that this line should ultimately connect with the lines at New Plymouth, and from, thence to Wellington. A further section from Ohaupo to Te Awamuiu, which is close upon the borders of the King Country, will bo constructed at once, but beyond that point it will be necessary to Avait until some arrangement has been come to with the King natives. On the following day, I returned to Auckland.—l haA'e, «Sco., Nobmanby.