WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1178, 15 January 1880, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

A lieqb quantity of Government land in our district will shortly be offered for sale, the upset price ranging from £1 per acre. This sale of waste lands means more for the district than would at first appear. Wot only shall we probably have more settlers amoag us, but 20 per cent, of the proceeds of the sale will be handed over to our Newcastle Highway Board. This, supposing the land brimgs the upset price, of which there ia very little doubt, will amount to £409 ; of this sum, apportioning to each district its fair snare, Whatawhata should receive £309, and Htrttiu or Newcastle the balance. Now is the time, then, to finish our abandoned roads, as surely we have a right to spend money raised in our own neighborhood. It is not often that we have money coming from the land, and it will b« the duty of our representatives in the Highway Board to see that the intentions of the Government ate carried out by having the money spent locally, and this can in no way be better done than by completing the road works so long in hand. In any case, if the large sums laid out in this district last year are to be of any benefit whatever, fog uoftnishttl works wiU U*y© to be pro*

cdeded with. One winter has passed over then*, and the summer is advancing rapidly J without anything being done. As instancing the increasing value of land in this district, I hare been informed upon good authority that a farm, whioh last year sold at £6 per acre, has again changed hands at the increased figure of £8 10s per acre, and this in the face of the hard times. Many of the 50 acre lots offered by Government are as good land as this farm, but of coarse unimproved. The Rev. Mr Martin (Wesleyan) paid Whatawhata a visit on Sunday last, holding service in the schoolroom. There was rather a small congregation, smaller perhaps than it would have been had people known what a good preacher Mr Martin is. It is not generally known who is to be our new teacher. I have heard that one is to be appointed temporarily ; but it is to be hoped, in the interests of the school children, that lam mistaken. A continual change of teachers must certainly retard the progress of the scholars, and we hope the Board of Education, who have hitherto treated us liberally, will appoint a good teacher and a permanent one. We were all sorry to lose Mr LeGallias, though it i has transpired that he was removed at his own request, and not, as he gave out, against his own wish. — [Own Correspondent.]