HARAPEPE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1453, 25 October 1881, Page 2

HARAPEPE.

In educational matters I am sorry to say we are not in a flourishing state, as we have had to bring in the compulsory clause in the Education Act, although up to this it is a dead letter as the effect is nil, and on account of the bad attendance of the children, or, I should say the neglect of their parents, our district Bchool is now made a half-time one, in connection with'the Te Rore school ; it speaks very sadly for the value put upon leaving. If all the children that are able to attend we Rhould have a full-time school. Politics are not exiting the minds of the people of this district much at preseent, but from all I can hear Mr Whitaker is the favourite and so he should be. If gratitude had anything to do with the matter, every man in this district should vote for him, but of course personal feeling often goes before public spirit, as I know it will do "with a few of the votes hero. Mr Whitaker is the best member the Waipa or Waikato has ever had. If all those before him were rolled into one. and has certainly done more for the district than any, for this part as well as all the rest. If he had not taken a vast deal of trouble in the matter the To Rore bridge would have been a thing of the future w be talked about, as it has been for years past ; so I say when you have got a good member stick to him, as there is no doubt we should change for the worse. I am glad to see that the Mangapiko Board are getting the act in force against the furze nuisance, and hope all other boards will follow suit. There are other roads in the district that are in a disgraceful state, hardly passable. If the leniency of the boards is out of kindness it is a mistake, as every year only adds to jt&e future expense of clearing. It is only put ting off the job that must be done as the* evil is a growing one. We have had another visit from His Maori Majesty, Tawhiao, who came down to purchase potatoes from Mr Hodgson, and stayed the night. They, the natives, are going into potato planting on quite an extensive scale. The object of the planting here is to have food when they come pigeon shooting in Pirongia. The weather here has been very favourable these lagt few weeks for all farm work, and almost ail the crops are in. (Own Correspondent Oct. 20th.)

The General Manager New Zealand Railways invites teasers up to the 22nd November for the supply of coals for the New Zealand railways for 1882. Messrs Clark & (Jane advertise fcftat they have several remarkably choice properties for sale and to \&t at Cambridge. Particulars in another column! A meeting of the ratepayers of the Tamabere District will be hdd W Thursday, the oth prox., at ftfr Barugh's residence', to can.sider proposals for road closing-, Messrs Qualtrough & White, Hamilton, offer a. reward for the recovery of three utaars which have strayed. 4$ who are interested in the Presbyterian Church, Waikato West, are requested to nicet at the $f anse. Jo Awamutu, on Saturday n^xt, at2p.ff,