CAMBRIDGE. VISIT OF THE NATIVE MINISTER TO WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 629, 1 June 1876, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE. VISIT OF THE NATIVE MINISTER TO WAIKATO.

May 31, 187 G. Sir Doxaxb McLean and suite anivod in Cambaidge at G o'clock a.m. yesterday morning, h.wing irjivollfil in the Bluono^e all night. He proceeded at onco to the National Hotel. The morning was occupied in the transaction of native matters. Cambridge was very lively, a large number of natives having come in from Tama here, Maungakawn, and other places. At noon a deputation waited on Sir Donald McLean with reference to the bridge and other nmlteis. The deputation ■was composed of the lollowing gentlemen ; Mr C Ttick, chief spokesman; Major Wilson; Messrs Brooks, Kirk wood, and Clon,e its. They wei« introduced by JVlujor Wilson. Mr Tuck said he had to apologise for the delay. They had iu tended to have been sooner, but they had waited some time for one of the deputation. There were several tilings needed, bat, of course, the most piewsing was the Waikato bridge. He had been in correspondence with botli Governments, and he had received a letter from the Minister of Public Works, stating that the Government were alone wiitin^forthe plans, &o. When he was in Auckland some few weeks ago he was told the plans were ready, and that they would be sent to Wellington for approval. Since then he had heard nothing of the matter. ; Sir Donald McLean said -that the i cause of delay was the fact that they were Bent from -one Government to another. This was a very unsatisfactory state of things, but the work, he assured them, ■w ould now bo pushed on as quickly as possible. Mr Tuck said there was another bridge wanted, and, although it was not of the importance of the Waikato bridge, still it was on the main road from Cambridge to Ohaupo, Te Awamntu, and Alexandra — lie alluded to the bridge at Wa-lkfi-h' Gull}', which was washed away by the Lite flood. In the biinmuv ti.ukrs 'Could use the swamp road, which went past Kotorangi; but in the winter this 'was impassible, llesidus this, it was an important link in the chain which held the district together. Sir D. MbLean would like to have more information as tv the estimated cost, &c, ;and what weie the ideas ihey had on the -subjec l ". .ur Tuck did not think it would cost much, although it was utterly beyoud the means of the Wai board. Sir 1). McLean said n large amount -of mom j' had been wasted in building bridges »t places where gullies might be headed, -and the simplified. Several instances ot this kind had cou.e vi der his «elsi i nation during his piesent \isit. Major Wilson said it could not be done in this case ; to do oo the load would have to f ase thiough private property, and a already too long would be made longer. Sir -Donald McLean Baid the Govern. <zncnt would give their consideration to the matter. Mr Tuck said there was a strip of land surrounding the township called the "town belt." At the present time it was an c}e-s-oie and a disfigurement, being covcied v ith fern and ti-tree. It was a considerable quantity of land, being ten chains bioad. Hd exhibited a plan of the townBliip. What they wanted was to have it vested in the Town Board, with power to let it on improving leases of say 15 or 20 years. Thus it would become what it was intended to be — a reoreation ground for the public, and a source of revenue as well. At present the Board have no power to touch it. Sir Donald McLean said he recognised how important it was to have this done, and the great benefit it would confer on Cambridge. It was the intention of the *Go\einment to confer such powers on local bodies, and he hoped that before long they would enjoy this privilege. He would metkf >no distinct promise, but it was a special case, and if the Act now before Parliament did not touch it, he would ♦consult with his colleagues io tn at .t as such. Mr Tuck said there was another thing which was badly wanted — namely, a Post Office. The present building was formerly occupied by the officers here during the •war, and it was fast falling to decay. It •was alfeo built partly on the maiui'oad, and Ins attention was drawn to the matter -chiefly from this fact, especially as lie believed it was 1 the intention of the Government to lepairit. He had written about the matter, but as yet they had received no reply. He had also spokon -to Mr Sheath when he was up here. There vas a reserve in a more central position opposite the Bank of New Zealand and in Ihe business part of the town. When the hut was first used as a Post Oflice, Cambiidge was a very different place to the Cambiidge of to-day, and it was the only jplnco that had not got a good Post C filer. The reserve spoken of was called the " Court Jlouse IU-serve" but there was plenty of room for both Post Office and Court House which was a thing also badly wanted. Major Wilson agreed with Mr Tuck. A Com t-house was very necessary • — the present room was insuffeiabie on wa»m -Bunimer days, and it was altogether too binall for tho purpose. Sir Donald McLean said that neither of tho works came under his dcpaitment, lm< he would lay the matter bufoie the BGovornment. ' iWi Tuck said that moat of the townships had a Volunteer Hall or Public Hull. Thoy had been led to lello.e by

i Major Jackson that there w.v- a fund foi 1 the purpose; somosoit of public building was much wanted. 1 Sir Donald McLean ex plained that there 1 was no such fund, but if they got the I thing in motion the Government would 1 jjiveiJlOO town ids it. It would bo bettoi ' , to make it a Public Ilnll than a Voluntect 1 i Hull. A place suitable for nil \ üblic pur- •> pose, but of coui.se the Go\ eminent were - ' (o have the u.se of if when wanted. Mr Tuck would draw the attention of Sir Donald McLean to tho Piako road He produced maps and plnns ot the district which the proposed road would pas 1 through, and s.iid that l)r Pollen when up hen; had promised to construe 1 ) this road, but that the Government could do nothing until the necessary plans were | furnished them. They had had the road surveyed, and I he surveyor, Mr Campbell, had reported that there were no engineering- difficulties in the way, the piopiscd line running- tluough level country for the greater part of the way. Mr Every Maclean would allow the road to pass through his property. The Board had no funds foi the purpose. Air Kirk wood said that there was a road to the Piako from Hamilton, buf the road under consideration would make the Piako three miles nearer Cambridge than Hamilton, and the road would be a better one. Sir D McLean a«?kcd how long the road vo ild be to Taw hare. Mr Puck said it was about seven or eight miles. Sir D McLean said that this year they had no funds available for works in the North Island ; the vote was exhausted. Mr Tuck said that while on the subject of roads they might ask what steps the Government were taking to construct the Taupo road. It went for the mofat part throngh nathe land. Sir D McLean said the worst portion went through land belonging to Europeans. No one could recognise the necessity of the work more than the Government. It would not be lost bight of; it was a work of the greatest importance. The Government were negotiating for the purchase of a large block of hmd some 300,000 awes in ex lent. Tin's was all the business. Sii Donald informed them th.it ho h;id had most satibfacto-y interviews with Tawhiao, and he trusted that the native dith'eulty was almost at an end. They need have no fear of any more " panics," which had been hitherto the great drawback of the district. The deputation th->nked Sii Donald and withdiew. — Own (Joiuits-