CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 315, 16 July 1898, Page 4

CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The usual monthly meeting of Llie above was held on Thursday, at 7.30 p.m. Present: His Worship the M-yor (MiBach). Crs. Arnold, Davies, Clark, Escott, Howe, Kerr, Ferguson, Richardson and Wells. PuiiLiu Hall Floor.—The Mayor reported that J. Armer had arranged with some one else to complete his contract for planing the floor of the hall. It was being proceeded with, and would be completed at an early date. Photographs.—Messrs Troup and Wells wrote from Hamilton on June 23rd :—" We are shortly opening a photographic studio at Hamilton, .uid intend to produce—both in Cambridge and surrounding country —the highestclass work. Our Mr Troup, lately out from Home, was, for some years, special photographer to the Pall Mall Magazine, Sketch, St. Paul's, Land aud Water, &c, and intends to personally visit Cambridge at an early date. We undcrstaud that your Council intend to more widely pdvertise your city, and we would be pleased to make you an offer to supply all the illustrations, guaranteeing the highest class of work and a moderate charge. —Awaiting your reply etc."— Received. The Presbyterian Church.—Mr F. J. Brooks wrote asking for what gravel might be required to put the ground round the new church in order.—The Mayor said he had granted the request, aud the contractor had supplied what was required. The Buegess Roll. Messrs W. Souter and Co. wrote asking 10 have their name put upon the roll for Melbourne House in Duke-street, as occupiers.—The clerk was instructed to make the necessary alteration when the owner joined in the application. Suggestions for PAiiLiAMENT.-The Town Clerk of Greytown wrote forwarding the following resolution which had been passed by the Greytown Borough Council, which he asked the Council to support: "That this Council is of opinion that it is most advisable for the Govern-1 nicnt to take immediate steps to open up new markets in and around the Pacific Ocean, Western Australia, the Cape and elsewhere for our productions, as outlined by the map of suggested trade routes attached to the Tarriff Commission Report of 1895."—After some little discussion the letter was received. Concrete Kerbing a>dChannelling. . —Messrs Wilson aud Co., of Auckland, wrote re this matter : •' We are sorry to say that Mr J. Wilson cannot visit you re the above at present—on account of sickness in his family—but will do so as soon as possible, if you are in a hurry to get the work done, please furnish full particulars of the gravel and sand available and the measurements of the kerb and channel, and also state whether carts are to back up apainst the kerb or not. We will then look into the matter and report the approximate cost."—This matter was left to the special committee appointed to make enquiries re kerbing, etc., to attend to. Engineer.—Mr Percy Ward, of 127, Queen-street, Auckland, wrote offering his services as surveyor and engineer to the Council.—Received. Municipal Fbanchise Reform.—Mr W. H. Herries, M.H.R., forwarded a copy of the Bill on this subject, which has been introduced into the House by the Premier.—The consideration of this Bill was taken in conjunction with matters pertaining to the Municipal Association, from which quite a number of communications was received, amongst them being a request that a delegate should be appointed to attend the confereuce which commences on the 18th inst., and another was the order paper for the conference.—Cr. Wells thought the Municipal Franchise Reform 13:11 should be brought before the electors if possible. It was so drastic.—Cr. Howe remarked it was " drastic but old."— Proceeding, Cr. Wells thought the matter should be discussed and the result of their delibeiations be sent to the member for the district. He thought those who had the most at stake should certainly have the biggest voice in saying how the money should be spent, for they had to find most of it. Under the Bill anyone could stay at a boarding-house for 12 months, then help to load the Borough with debt, and afterwards clear out. — Cr. Howe said property did not make brains.—Cr. Escott said there were, perhaps, some who had lived years in the borough and had uot had a vote, as the landlord insisted on paying the rates and having the extra votes which the property gave him.—Cr. Wells said a six months'tenancy settled that point, for then the tenant could claim the vote in spite of the laudlord. He then moved : That our member be asked to try to limit the operation of clause 5 to the qualification of householder, and the voting power to be retained as under the principal Act.—Seconded byCr. Richardson. —The Mayor referred to the state of the Hamilton Borough, which had been let into a debt that now cost the burgesses about £IBO a year in interest.—Cr. HoAe said that had all been done on plural voting. Could an instance be quoted where manhood suffrage had acted in the manner that appeared to be feared by the majority of those present.—The Mayor said it could,and he proceeded to refer to the Old Country, when Cr. Howe said : If you arc going to refer to the Old Country politics, I beg leave to retire, for you all seem to be on the one side. He then withdrew from the chamber.— The motion was then put and agreed to unanimously. Delegate to Conference.— Mr Herries was appointed delegato on behalf of the Council td attend the Municipal Conference in Wellington. The Karapiko Bridge.—Mr Philip Cooper, who had been engaged to inspect this bridge, reported as follows : According to instructions I inspected the Karapiro Bridge. I found the driven piles of the centre set, on the upper side of the stream, out of plumb 20 inches, which has been caused by two forces. About three chains above the bridge the current runs down close to the west bank. From that point it takes an angle course straight for the upper pile of the middle set of piles. This force is continually washing out the sand and forcing the corner pile out of .plumb, as shown on the rough plan sent herewith. The other force is the fast traffic which causes an undue vibration and assists in loosening the sand. Both forces act in the same direction, but there is no immediate danger, What is required is to jack the set plumb and then secure them by means of pressure stays, as shown on the plan ; but it is most important to direct the stream outside this set, which I think can be done by a low brea3t wall 20 feet long and two or three sets of old planking, posts or willows driven across the water-wash, with willow booms wired to them and then filled in with fascines and heavy material. This would make permanent work by confining the water to the West side. Mr Cooper subsequently wrote : Iu my report 1 omitted to mention that the breast wall on the East side of the creek could bo utilised for the breast wall mentioned in my report. I think the planks will be found fairly sound, and they would be very useful iu rilling up the span under consideration. To make strong work these will lay the foundation for filling the end of the embankment, and so shorten the bridge by about 70 feet.— The Mayor said there was no immediate danger, but he thought some measures should be taken to stop the trotting over the bridge. No one seemed to take the slightest notice of the warning boards at either end of the structure.—Cr. Wells was of opinion that the police should be instructed to take proceedings against all who went over the bridge at other than a walking pace, after the lapse of, say, fourteen days,—The Clerk was ordered to uotify the constable to that effect,

Financial Statement.— Overdraft at 10th June, £145 5s 6d ; accounts since paid, £2O Is ; amount lodged, £l4O 17s (id ; present overdraft, £'24 9s ; accounts to pass for payment, £7O 0s 8d : overdraft when accounts are paid, £94 15s Bd. Works Committer's Report. This Committee reported that a meeting was held on the 10th June, to consider the list of gravtdling, which the surfaceman had prepared, and which he dceim.d necessity. The Ward Committee's had inspected the roads in their various districts, and with very few exceptions they endorsed the views of the surfaceman ; in fact his figures were adopted except that the Gorton Road was struck out and Bryce-street was increased from 18 to 36 loads. The Committee also decided that Vcgel-street should receive a dressing of 200 yards, making the total to be put upon the streets 11921o:kIs. Of that amount the contractor had already delivered 538 loads, and but for the wet weithcr he would have almost finished the work. Since the last meeting of the Council the surfaceman had Iwen employed 30 days, chiefly in spreading gravel and attending to the drains, —The report was approved and adopted. Albert Street.— The South Ward Committee was to have inspected and reported upon this street ; but had not done so.—Cr. Escott thought before the Council did anything to the road the adjoining owners should be made to clear the street of furze, etc. —After some discussion the matter was deferred till the next meeting, when the Committee will bring up their report upon it. Riley's Hill.—Cr. Escott said Mr Riley wanttd a portion of Alpha-street reduced a little at the top of the hill leading to his place. He thought a man with a horse and dray and the surfaceman for a couple of days would do all that was required.—This matter will also stand over till next meeting. Public Hall.—Cr. Kerr asked if the Council could lease the Public Hall to a private individual. He kuew the matter had been discussed sonic years before ; but had forgotten what decision was arrived at. Cr. Escott was of opinion that the Council decided it could not let the hall.—The Mayor said Messrs Carter and Francis tried to get it for an auction room and store ; but their application was declined.—Cr. Wells said there were certain conditions that could not have been complied with, if the hall had been let to Messrs Carter aud Francis. The Government had certain claims upon it, when required ; but he thought that could be arranged with a tenant, if one was (forthcoming ; but of course they could do nothing till they had an application before them.—The Clerk said the hall had paid a trifle over £l4 during the past year.—The Mayor thought the Oddfellows' would be willing to let their hall for £25 a year, for it was only paying expenses, and they had not a penny put by for a sinking fund.—The subject then dropped. Hospital and Charitable Aid.—£3o was passed for the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Acetylene Gas.—The matter of lighting the hall with acetylene gas was further adjourned.

That closed the business