WHATAWHATA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT]

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1217, 17 April 1880, Page 2

WHATAWHATA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT ]

Public affairs in Whatawbata are rather mixed just now, and people feel very doubtful whether we are going to have liberal treatment from the Government or get nothing- at all. A few good men are doing their utmost by calling public meetings to push matters 011 aad get the work started. But 50 far we have been fed upon large promises, but very small performances. Not a penny, in fact, has yet been spent upon the Waipa bridge, the Whatawhata-Hamilton road, or the main Waipa^road ; and until something practical ia done in the way of contracts let and works commenced, I am afraid we shall continue to be doubtful. However, we believe that Mr "Whitaker will stick to us, aud see us through, in the matter of the bridge and the Hamilton road. The wretched delay which is taking place re the Waipa road lies at the door of our Highway Board. We have had for months a large sum of money available to finish the road, yet the Board caunnt muster sufficient energy to spend it ! How can we expect our JM.11.11. and ths Government to do anything for us when our local Trustees, whose interests are — or should be — identical with ours, neglect their duties so utterly. It would be far better for the settlers to apply to the Government to have the grant for the Waipa road spent under the direction of one of their engineers and have the work commenced at once. Some time ago a local appeared in your columns to the effect that tenders would shortly be cal'ed for repairing the Maugakowhia bridge on the WhatawhataRaglan road. Several of our local contractors have been on the look-out for the notice calling for tenders ; their feelings may be more easily imagined than described when they discovered that the work had been let, or rather given, to one of our local citizens. It appears that a notice, which none seem to have seen, was posted up at the hotel and the work let without the public being aware of it. Here, again, the public have reason to grumble. The contractor-* have been treated most unfairly, but the taxpayers have far greater cause to complain, for the work in question — which wus let for £90 odd — could, and would, have been done for half the amouot, and for this waste of money we have tv pay smartly. If this new system is can-ied out with the 4)600 grant, it will indeed take £4000 and more to make the new Hamilton road. The whole of the settlers are indignant at this piece of jobbery, uud we shall look to our representatives to clear it up.