Correspondents.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 15 August 1872, Page 2

Correspondents.

We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our correspondents. J (To the Editor of the Waikato Times.) g IR> —I have waited, but am sorry to say in vain, for some more able person to take up the cudgels in defence of the settlers in Ngaruawahia township. As one anxious to purchase a small piece of ground there, I am at a loss to imagine on what grounds a value of from 500/. to 700/. per acre is placed upon the sections here, while iu JhLamilton, the undoubtedly largest township in the Waikato, the sections are valued at ouly from 4i)l. to 12i)/. and this is the township which, with one exception, all the Government olHcials favour by taking up their residence at. Do oblige me and others, Mr. Editor, by giving us the reason of this great difference in the value of land in these two townships. Of one of them lam certain, unless my hearing failed me, that on the late visit of certain officials here, I was led to believe that the sections would be sold at a reasonable price. I for one, cannot understand on what principle of equity sections of land of equal area in two townships, only twelve miles apart, should be valued one at 51. the other at 110/. (3an it be that the Government do not wish the land to be sold; if this j is the case, there can b3 but little doubt of their success, so far as settlers are concerned ; or is it that by a delusion prevailing at the first and principal sale of laud in that township, by which ridiculously high prices were obtained to the sorrow of the deluded, who have since sold for & five pound note, and even less, that which they paid the Gov ;rnmant from 40/. to 100/. for; or can it be a s /mpathetic feeling for the former purchasers who paid under a delusion the high prices I have already a.luded to, if so, the Government have taken a wrong step indeed, for only by the influx of population into and around the township can the sections purchased by them ever become of any value. Iu conclusion, I cannot but regret and condole with intending purchasers, mure particularly those who have made improvements on sections now for sale, and who, I fear, without a heavy struggle, cannot, and will not be able to purchase at the prices at which they are to be put up at auction on the 29th inst. ; they will, however, have this consolation, that if the Government, failing to sell the sections on which improvements have been made, I or order them to remove their buildings, they may | reasonably look forward to compensation in the j shape of a Government billet at the hands of the ; next Ministry. -I am, sir, ! Equal Rights. J August 12ch, 1572.