NGARUAWAHIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1595, 23 September 1882, Page 2

NGARUAWAHIA.

News did you say ? — only imagine such a commodity in this the ancient city of the Kings. Well, the price of meat is " riz " since the last sale when store cattle were purchased at 255, more than could be obtained for them a few days after at Ohaupo. When this township was laid off, Mr "Frank Edgecumbe was not then a knight of the theodolite ; otherwise, lie might have bsen employed to do that work, in which case a little common sense would have been displayed in the nature and the number of the public reserves. While there are church reserves for almost any denomination in New Zealand, there is a strange neglect of school sites, police station site, Court-house site, town office site, public library and public hall sites. The Waste Lands Board have not thought it necessary to make any reserves for the purposes mentioned above, except in the case of town board offices and public library. And now all the Government land in the business end of the town is sold. The Justice department may go whistle. They cannot get suited within a mile of the post-office unless by purchasing private property. It is true that some few years ago a few small lots were granted as a school site, though only after a long and hard struggle. The Board of Education now find that the position _is objectionable on acconnt of its proximity to the railway, and they have effected an exchange with the Public Works Department for a block opposite the railway paddock. Now that a new school is to be built, I beg to suggest that there should fbe separate compartments, playgrounds, &c, for the boys and girls. The attendance is large, and increasing daily,' r thus showing the necessity for increased accommodation. , The old school might be converted into a Public Hall. The old hospital, nowused as a ( police station and courthouse, is a standing — or rather a falling disgrace to Waikato. Should the Court day turn out wet, the R.M. has to find shelter under an umbrella,'in order to 'protect hi rriself ' and, papers from the downpour, while the un- ' fortunate resident constable has to convert his sheeting into temporary roofing, and huddle his family into the least porous part of i the old shanty. We are truly aipatient-people. "? , , -, Mr Gray, telegraphist at Huntly, has been 'appointed ' manager of the fellmongery. Mr ' Gray hails from Otago. is' 'great speculation x z& to ; the place likely- 1 to be- selected as the most "suitable site' for the^slaught&ing yards.' Ngaruawahia, on account of its geographicaT'ftositioVand land'and water accommo-< f "dStv>n,ihas no rival. . , t s i K'^H^'dompany's steamers are very busk $&s*;<, 'seeds - andrmaSmires' 1 ar,e a heavjf a rumour current herelthat we-