CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN BOARD.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 192, 5 October 1897, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN BOARD.

A meeting of the above Board was held in the Office on Saturday. There were present :—Messrs T. Wells (Chairman), John Fisher and E. Allen, the latter as Chairman of the Pukekura Road Board. Resignation ok a Member. The Chauman said he Iml just received a letter from Mr R. Kirkwood, in which that gentleman tendered his resignation as a member of the Board. Mr Kirkwood did not give any reafon why lie took that step, but they were all aware that for some time he had been anxious to sever his' connection with Domain affairs, and it was only at the earnest request of the rrembers that he had retained his seat so long. They would all be sorry to lose Mr Kirkwood, for he was one of the original members that Mere appointed on the 15 - h day of June, 18S0, since which time he had served faithfully and well. As this was the second time that Mr Kirkwood had tendered his resignation he supposed they must accept it, and as the vacancy would have to be tilled he would suggest that the Mayor of the Borough for the time being should be recommended for appointment. Ue thought the townspeople should be represented upon the Board, and it the Mayor wps made a member all interested would be properly represented, as the Chairman of the Pukekura Road Board specially representee! those on the west side of the river.—lt was moved by Mr Allen, seconded by Mr Fisher and unanimously egreed to: "That Mr Kirkwood's resignation be accepted with regret, and that the Governor he askerl to appoint the Mayor of Cambridge to fill the vacancy.-The clerk was instructed to write the Borough Council intimating what had been done in the matter and expressing hope that i t would meet with the approval of that body. —The Chairman undertook to write Mr Kirkwood on behalf of the Board expsessing regret that he had severed his connection with them and assuring him of their hearty good wishes for his future welfare.

Increase of Salary.—The secretary, Mr Hartly, wrote as follows: "Several years ago, when the Board had a large overdraft, and it was necessary to exercise the greatest economy, the salary of your secretary was reduced from £'2o to £1") per annum, with the understanding tint when such overdraft was considerably reduced the salary should be raised again to its former level. That period anived some time since, but 1 refrained fiom applying for the rise as tlvre were important works that urgently needed doing. Now they are all completed, and 1 therefore ask you to consider the matter of again raising the stipend. I may state the duties have lately increased owing to the extra works that have been in hand. Trusting this application may meet with your favourable consideration."—The Chaiiman said the overdraft had been extinguished, but unfortunate'y they had been compelled to start another one, and it seemed that it was increasing.—Mr Fisher thought it would rot look well to be increasing salaries in face of an overdraft, but, nevertheless, he thought their clerk had done lis duty faithfully and well, and he moved that ths request be acceded to, the increase to date from the Ist instant.—The motion was seconded by Mr Allen and unanimously agreed to. The clerk thanked the Board, and said that the much-needed improvements now being comp'ete, he trusted the overdraft would be again extinguished by the end of the year. Another Increase. —Mr Purdic, the caretaker of the Lake Reserve, wrote : " Having completed the contract in connection with the recent alterations in the domain, I would be g'ad for the Board to pay a reasonable proportion for the keeping in order of the above alterations. I '—The Chairman Slid that what Mr Purdie really wanted was some assistance in keeping the grass cut dining the time the growth was rapid. Personally he had always been of the opinion that the caretaker had undertaken to do more than he could possibly accomplish ; indeed, if the agreement had been strictly enforced, no one man could have done the work. At the time he was speaking Mr I'urdie had two men cutting the grass, and it would require constant attention till the hot weather set in and again in the autumn. He understood that Mr Purdic asked for assistance equivalent to a man for three days a fortnight during five months of the year.—Mr Purdie was then called in, ami he bore out the chairman's statement as to the assistance he asked for, viz., the wages of a man at 5s per day for. say, 30 days during the five months in which the grass grows rapidly. He said he had planted nearly the whole of the beds in the new work, which was more Mian was in the contract. —T!-:c Chairman did not agree with the latter remark, but he agreed that Mr Purdie had done seven I things that were not included in the contract, and he was very pleased with the manner in which the alterations had been done.—After sonic further discuss'on, it was resolved to grant Mr Purdie a man three days a week during the months of October, November, December, March and April. Finance. —A list of the rents owing at date was laid on the table. They amounted to £7O 0s 7d. —The Chairman diew attention to the fact that some of the tenants owed threequarters and one a lull year. He spoke of the great difficulty of getting the necessary order from the Governor to take legal proceedings against the defaulters, and when they had prepared the warrants and forwarded them for signature, as was suggested by the authorities, they could not get them returned.—The clerk was instructed to prepare fresh warrants against the whole of the defaulters and send them on for signature, and at the same time to ask the member for the district, Mr Hcrrics, M.H.R., to make enquiries as to the delay that usually occurs. Accounts.—The overdraft at date was £35 Ills, and as its limit is £4O, the following accounts were passed for »y----nient as soon as funds are G. Henson, £1 '2s (id; P. Fogirty, 7s -Id ; W. Souter ami Co., £2 5s 9d ; J. Young, £1 Osikl; J. Ferguson, 3* ; C. \V. S. Pm-die, £3 14s Gd ; A. Yates and Co., £3 3s 4d ; T. Wells, £2 3s Sil; total, £lB Ss 3d.