WAITOA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1089, 17 June 1879, Page 2

WAITOA.

Thursday. The Waitoa residents turned out m great force on last Sunday afternoon, the Rev. W. Oatder having notified that he would ' hold service at Messrs Campbell Bros, barn. This being the first time there has been service on the East side of the Waitoa river, and the day being fine, quite a large number of people took advantage of the opportunity so kindly offered by Mr Oalder. Evening prayer was read, and an appropriate and eloquent sermon delivered. After service, Mr Oalder drew attention to the necessity for a building m the district, for holding service, and for a school. Messrs Campbell Bros, offered a building site, and Mesrrs C. Gould, H. Campbell, F. Strange, C. Collins and R. Parr were appointed a committee to collect subscriptions and carry out the object proposed. The Committee held a meeting immediately afterwards, and subscriptions to the amount of £iO were announced, Mr Strange's subscription being the freight of the timber (10,000 feet), equivalent to a contribution of £15. The*bnilding will be erected m the township of "Waikou, and will probably be completed early m the spring. The district is rapidly becoming opened up and easy of access. The new road from Piako to Waihou will soon be finished. The bridge across the Piako river was opened for traffic about two months ago, and the Waitoa and Waiharekeke bridges are built, and the approaches are now under way, so that ia a few weeks, the whole distance from Hamilton to "Waihou will be under 1 30 miles, and by the Victoria road, from Cambridge, somewhat less. Mr Missen has erected a commodious and well furninshed Hotel at Waihou. Mr McGeehan has purchased a section for a butcher's shop, and, Mr !jLavery is now erecting a substantial residence for Mr Collins. There is a good opening for a blacksmith, and no doubt the field will soon be occupied. The survey of the Aroha lands, on this side of the Waihou or Thames river, is nearly finished. The block has been cut up inco sections varying from 50 to 300 acres. There is a considerable portion of it swamp land, which, m its present state, is unsuited for small settlers, but if Government is anxious, to promote the settlement of the block, they should authorise the carrying out of the scheme of combined ro»ds and drains, -prepared by the District Surveyor, Mr Cussen. This will, at che same time, provide main daiu drains, and give access to the various sections. The Government would gain, both directly and indirectly, by carrying out this work ; which could be done at a cost of about £2,000 ; seeing that sections would bring much higher prices, and the occupation of the land would be much speedier, as purchasers would not require to wait for one another to drain. The swamp is not deep, consequently would be easily drained, and judging from the growth on that portion already drained, and sown m grass by the adjoining owners, the swamp will give a quicker find better return than the dry laud. Ultimately, this district must become oi great importance. The enormous extent of the plains, their great capabilities for carrying stock, and afterwards for producing grain, combined with the facility of communication, shortly, we hope, to be provided by rail, make it a most desirable place for settlement. The steamer "Kiro Riro" has been purchased by Mr Strange, and settlers have cause for congratulation m the fact that freight through from Auckland has been reduced to 30 shillings per ton, and no doubt Mr Strange will find the traffic profitable, even at the reducedrate. — From A COBEESPOXDFNT.