CAMBRIDGE ROAD DISTRICT.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 286, 10 May 1898, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE ROAD DISTRICT.

The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the above district was held in the Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday at 2 p.m. There were present:—Messrs W. Main (voted to the chair), W. H. Thomas, H. Ferguson (members of the Board), J. Allwill, R. T. Wattam and B. B. Booth. The Clerk read the ba'ance-sheet for the year ended 31st March last, which showed a debit at that date of £l4 lis 3d. The annual payment to the sinking fund is £42 8s 6d. Mr Booth asked what per centage was paid for collecting the rates, and he was told 5 per cent. He then said he was of the opinion that the Board should have an office in Cambridge, where the ratepayers could call and leave their rates, by that means the 5 per cent, could be saved. There would uot be any occasion for a collector to go round if they had a convenient office, and the 10 per cent, penalty was enforced. Then again the ratepayers should be able to call at the Board's office and see the statutes, for sometimes they wanted to know the law ou different subjects ; but now they had a Clerk who resided outside one end of the district and the collector at the other eud, so if the ratepayers wanted any information they had to trespass upon someone else, and of course were under an obligation to them. He did not intend his remarks to be at all antagonistic to their present Clerk, they wete all we'll satisfied with him and respected him, but the time had now come when the ratepayers' convenience Ehould be studied a little. The Clerk said he resided nearer to the Cambridge Road District than the place where they were met at that day, and as for statutes the Board did not possess them. Mr Booth retorted that although the town of Cambridge could not be said to be in the Road District, it was. nevertheless, a place that the ratepayers attended regularly, and having an office in the town would be a great convenience to them. As for the statutes, if the Board had not copies of them the defect should be remedied by obtaining them at once. He then moved that someone having an office in Cambridge be appointed Clerk to the Board. This was seconded by Mr Allwill and agreed to unanimously. Mr Booth asked why the annual meeting of ratepayers and the result of the Road Board election had not been advertised. He saw other Boards advertised them. The Clerk said the law had been complied with ; some Boards advertised things that were unnecessary, because they knew no better. ROA.D KOAKD MEETING. At the conclusion of the above meeting, the Road Board mat in the same room, there being present: Messrs Main, Thomas and Ferguson. Election of Chairman. —Ou the motion of Mr Thomas, secoude 1 by Mr Main, Mr C. Day was re-elected chairman of the Board, Mr Maiu being deputed to fill the position pro tern. The Overdraft. The Chairman signed the usual guarantee papers to the bank for the overdraft, which at date stood ut £9 2s lOd. The legal limit of it is £291 7s OM. Accounts.—The only account passed for payment was, W. Sourer and Co., £3 2s. Gravelling. Tenders for putting about 1000 yards of gravel on the main Cambridge-Hamilton road were received as follows : T. Wattam and Co., lid per yard ; Robert Waite, lid ; J as. Clements, 10£d ; C. Crouch, lOd ; L. B. Ewen, lOd ; Tebbs and Radford, 9£d (accepted) Tun Hautapu Drain.—Mr Thomas stated the work done in the Hautapu drain had hardly been sufficient to make it safe for the winter, as the willow roots had not been taken out, and they would block the water if there was anything like a flood. The new Drainage Board had not yet been gazetted, so it would hardly be possible for it to do much before the wet weather set in, eveu if it was constituted forthwith. He thought a man could do all that was required in one week, and he trusted that would be the last time he should have to ask the Board to assist in drainage matters. — The application was granted. The Rate.—Nothing was fixed as to when the rate should be struck, or what the amount of it should be. Closing a Road.—The meeting of ratepayers to decide if the road through the Victoria Estate shall be closed or not, will be held on Saturday, the 28th inst., on which date the next meeting of the Board will also be held. There will not be any meeting of the Board in June.—[l understand Mr Jas. Hally, solicitor, of Cambridge, claims a part of the road which it is proposed to close as going through his property. If that is so, it is probable the Assets Realisation Board will have to commence proceedings de novo].— (Owu Correspondent).