CAMBRIDGE. (By our Travelling Reporter. )

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 375, 8 October 1874, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE. (By our Travelling Reporter. )

At hist have managed to reach Cambridge. I must say the road between Te Awamutu and that place is very bad — in some places the horse was scarcely able to plunge through the mud; and several times I thought I should have to retrace my steps. However, recollecting the promise to send you some account of how matters are progressing in Cambridge, I sternly pushed ahead, and am happy to say, am now comfortably housed in host *s comfortable hotel. Talking about hotels, there are three in Cambridge, all affording excellent accommodation for man and beast — a most satisfactory proof of the progress of this rising district, and of the confidence of the public in its prosperity. One of these, indeed, Mr Laird's, has recently received several costly additions, amongst which the erection of a magnificent billiard saloon may be noticed. Being an occasional patron of the green cloth myself, I took especial care to ascertain the jjarticulars in reference to the room, table, etc. The room itself is 40 feet long by 30 feet broad, and is fitted with convenient seats, in front of which are placed a number of small tables tor the accommodation of the on-lookers. The table, which I have had the pleasure of playing on, is one of Alcock's best, and will bear comparison with any in the province. The room itself has been tastefully painted and decoi*ated by Mr Butler, who has, I understand, commenced business, and established himself in premises in the Waikato. A large number of bedrooms have also been added to the hotel, which render it as commodious as any in the province. The people here hare great hope of a fork of the great railway line running through their township, and thence by way of Taupo down the East Coast. There can be fbut little doubt that ultimately there must be two lines of railway passing through the North Island. On the one hand the rich country now in the possession of the King party would be tapped by a railway passing along the western route if it should be found posssible to push it through the territory of the hostile natives ; and a further immense advantage would be gained by the pacificatory influence it would exercise over the turbulent hauhaus. But, on the other hand, it will be impossible to ignore the fact that it is absolutely necessary to connect the rich and fertile country of Hawke's Bay and the southern portions of thia province with the markets of the North. I therefore cannot but think that Cambridge will one day become a large and important township, and that the early pioneers of the settlement will be amply repaid for their faith in the district. I understand it is probable that a meeting of the settlers will soon be called to consider the advisability of a bridge over the lTorotiu at Hamilton. In the event of the railway stopping short at Ohaupo, as it probably will for some time to come, at all events, it would be a great boon to the Cambridge people to be able to catch the train at Hamilton without the diiliculty and loss of time incurred by crossing the river on the punt.

Cambridge is a little in the sulks just now owing to the headquarters of the Constabulary having been removed, but I am sure the district is established on far too firm a babis for any such slight matter as that to aflect its prosperity. I hear that a football match is planned for next Saturday between some of the young men of Cambridge and the Hamiltonians, but I am afraid I shall not be on the spot, as I propose paying a visit to the Piako, of which district I shall send you my impressions fjr insertion in an early issue. By the way, I had nearly forgot to mention that Cambridge will produce a candidate of its own at the next election for the General Assembly, but at present I dare not breathe his name. I should not wonder though if it is correct.