Correspondence.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1068, 29 April 1879, Page 3

Correspondence.

(Our correspondence columns are impartially open to all, but we do not m any way identify ourselves with opinions expressed therein.) ,

StR,~-Th.e Waste Lands Board have Opened, for selection under the provisions of the " Homestead Act," some 250 acres of land near the township of Whatawhata, thus depriving the ratepayers of the Newcastle Highway District oi fully £100, the percentage that would mor c than probably accrue on the sale of th Iwd ty jubUo wwtjou. Tta WW

r Lands Board'have been repeatedly applied r to, to put the property up to^ public competition, when, from the nature of c the Boil, its extent and position, it would % have been safe to command a good price. 8 The action of the Board, m this instance, „ is strongly open to oritioism, as it has not , even the advantage of bringing fresh 1 settlers to the district, the land being t open for seleotion for the. express behoof 3 of a settler whose property it adjoins. l Thus prostituting the provisions of an j Act expressly passed to encourage small *• settlers. I What between the aotion of the Waste ; Lands Board, m this instance, and their aotion m regard to the Ngaruawahia suburban lands, the share the ratepayers may have m any percentage on the sale of land m the district, looks decidedly dickey. In conclusion, I hope all fair means will be taken to prevent wrong. — I am, &c, X. Y. Z.

Sir, — I did not see your reporter present at the library meeting, on Saturday night, but, for all that, I am prepared to give you an account of the annual meeting bf subscribers to the Ngaruawahia Publio Library,, held at the Delta Hotel, on that occasion. Beside the committee, there were one or two interlopers present. The financial position of the library was placed before the meeting, with the usual amount of success, and the accounts were passed without a struggle. [ MrHuntreadalistof subscriptions towards I erecting a building for the double purpose J of library and town hall. The luminary m the chair, and his hienohmen did not patronise that movement, for reasons worthy pf the clique. Nothing was said about the scietifio books purchased for the library by some of the committee. These bocks have been m oiroulaticn since their arrival, but, then, the Ngaruawahia peeple are net capable ef judging fpr themselves. The out-going committee scratched oneanothers backs, and there was one recruit from within the line. This institution promises to become as popular as the Newcastle Dsstriot Beard, being ccnducted very much on the same principle. — Yours, &o.,'Q m the Corner. Ngaruawahia, April 28. J