WAVERLEY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3960, 12 October 1880, Page 2

WAVERLEY.

. ♦ , (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Oct 9.. The School Committee have been fortunature enough to secure 4J acres of the Town Belt as a reserve for the use of the school children or rather for their horses. It is high time some arrangement was made for the care of the horses, as I think anyone will admit that 60 boys and 14 horses are a heavy stock for less than an acre of land. Tenders have been called for and accepted, at 9s per chain, for fencing the reserve, and the work will be completed in a fortnight. The attendance at the school continues to increase, and during the summer the numbers must rise considerably. The question of providing further accommodation will have to be met at no distant date. Several attempts have been made by the residents in this township to get some gentlemen appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace. A petition was sent to the Government praying them to appoint some one, but to that no answer was returned. The settlers in fact have been treated with silent •contempt; their wishes or convenience do not seem to be worthy the consideration of the Government or they certainly would have replied. The reason the question has cropped up again is this : The Clerk of the .Court- formerly acted as J.P., and when necessary an affidavit could be made before him. Now that power has been taken from him, and should an affidavit be necessary a trip to Patea is the consequence, or a visit to MrKenah, J.P., which is a little nearer in point of distance ; but many prefer the former, where they are certain of obtaining the services of one, even if two or three are absent. What is required is that gome person resident in the township should be appointed to the office ; there are many here well qualified to act in that capacity, and the appointment of one would be of very great convenience to the residents. It is' probable that some action will be taken in connection with the above, but it is scarcely likely that the High and Mighty Potentates of the land will deign to notice such insigni-' Scant creatures or their requirements. We have seen a great many strangers passing through the district lately on their way to the far-famed Waimate plains. I predict that those lands will fetch high prices, in spite of the cautions to intending purchasers with which the local press has aboiinded latterly. I hear enqxtiries as to when the remainder of the Momohaki Block will be put in the market. ' There is no reason why it should no£ be sold thjs summer. The settlers who went away after the murder of M'Lean have retiirned, and are occupying their land; in some instances the land is fenced and under grass, and generally the improvements are in a forward state. A good road has been made to block 8, al3O to block 9. The s.ale of the Waimate will but whet the appetites of the shoal of purchasers and speculators, many of whom will have to ' retire without, having secured any, and the more voracious in consequence. The Momohaki— than parts of : which there is not better laud in this district—would be eagerly sought for, and I am confident if offered after the Waimate ! would realise fair prices. The railway between here and Waitotara is progressing rapidly, the rails are laid as far as the station, which will be named the Momohaki, and about three mjles distant from, the Waverley station, "The contractor hfts been lucky enough enough . to find a deposit of gravel quite, olose to the line, which i 3 of j good quality, and will be used for ballasting.