WAIKATO NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 112, 12 May 1888, Page 8

WAIKATO NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN COIUIESI'ONDKNT.) THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. Hamilton, Friday. I have nob had much time lately to write Of I should, ere this, have said a few words anont the Village Settlements around Ngaruawahia. When I wrote that they were everything bub a success I was doing so on what I consider the most reliable information, and I am still of the same opinion," A Settlers " lebter to the contrary notwithstanding. The business people of the place with whom the settlers deal ought bo bo excellent judges of the real condition of affairs and their account of the matter is certainly not in accordance with that given by "A Settler." No one would be more pleased than I to hear of their ultimate success, but I am very much afraid that my predictions will prove true, unless indeed the Government open their hearth, and the Treasury chests and come to their assistance with money to be spent on road making, and other works. I am very much afraid that the 84 chain drain mentioned by the settler, will prove utterly inadequate to the work required of it, and on this matter I speak with the exporienco gained from an intimate knowledge of this part of the district during the, past 14 years. Unless it is considerably enlarged and deepened ib will never drain the area of swamp through which it runs, and who is to do this work I cannot guess, unless, as I have already said, the Government comes forward witn the necessary fund*, and on this point I have very grave doubts.

The heavy rain has caused the earth to give way near the Hobson-strect cutting. A largo quantity of the enbankment has slipped and one of the cottages is now in a Bomewhab dangerous predicament.