WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL CAMBRIDGE RIDING.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 739, 13 March 1877, Page 2

WAIKATO COUNTY COUNCIL CAMBRIDGE RIDING.

I MEETING OF-EATE PAYERS. A meeting of ratepayers conveued by the members for the above rid inowas held at the National Hotel, on Saturday last, the 10th inst. Mr Brooks was voted to the chair and read the . advestisenient calling the meeting. He said that of course the principal matters to be brought before the meeting were the Slaughter-house Act, and the Piako road, but afterwards it would be competent for any ratepayer to bring forward any other matter of iuterest to the riding. He then called on Mr Clark to address the meeting. Me Clark said he would first read the clauses m the Counties Act giving them the power to act with reference to the Slaughter house Act. He read clauses 198 and 199. The subject had been brought forward at the last meeting of the Council, but vi the absence of his colleague he did not like to give a decided opinion on the matter. A committee had been appointed to enquire into it, and m the meanwhile they had considered it expedient to confer with their constituents. He considered that ahe adoption of the Act would not only be a protection to the settler, but to the legitimate butcher as well, The Council did not consider it practicable to erect public slaughter-houses, but that butchers should have private slaughterhouses of their own, Clause 14 of the Slaughter-honse Act would meet the case ; other clauses provided for the s licensing of these houses, It would not interfere with the slaughtering of cattle . by private individuals for there own use, but it would protect the butchers from the j obber. Major Wilson said the licensing fee was at present £10, he supposed the Council could alter the same. Mr Clark said the fee was fixed by the council. It was not to exceed £50. and not to be less than £10. Mr Houghlon asked if the Act would prevent a farmer disposing of the carcases of pigs without a licence.

Mr Clark did not know, but lie thought it would be/iii thefifflaj^lfs,. the Council tommal^l||^l^^;6 *"'■■ meet cases of fus ! kindyrh'e'liliought it only applifcd piere meatSfraS'&x* >posed fbr^jaie. >f « j ?|| ' %-,\ ' .Mr Jam6s Rtiniqiman sai|f|hat $3$ thought Mere was only ;orfep|)iniott .the Advisability of bringingetfie j£ct into lorcel There '\vei#sonie difficulties m the way, but they might safely trust the Council to . arrange, jm.atters so., as. not, to. injure the iudi virtual settler. He would move " That m the opinion r 6f this ' meeting it is desirable that the Slaughter-house' -Act ■be brought into force m the. county, of Waikato." . • . Mr .Forrest seconded the motion. Onrbeing put to the meeting it was carried unanimously. „";,? Mr James -Runciman said as they were on the subject of cattle he would, like to get. the meeting's opinion on the "Branding Actj" s hY thought it very desirable that it should 'be brought info force, it could. injure no one, it did not make every man brand his cattle, but it presented a person using the brand of another. Mr Clark pointed the out iriuiility of bringing it into force m one county and not m the others, he thought iv was not a subject for < the councils, but for the settlers. Mr Kirkwood said the best way would be for the Council to confer with the other councils on. the matter, to see whether the whole Act couldfnot be brought into force m the whole of the Waikato. Mr ßuuciman then moved "That m the opinion of this meeting, the Branriiug act should be brought into force m the Waikato district." Mr W Reynolds seconded. Carried/ '■'■■ ''■■'■ " THE PIAKO ROAD. Mr R Kirkwood said that with reference to the Piako Road, he thought they were all of one mind as to the necessity of the work... It was a link that would connect Cambridge with one of the most ...flourishing districts m the Province. The plan which he laid oir the table was an old one drawn some years) ago by Mr Campbell. What he.proposed was that the ratepayers should give himself and colleague power to ask for the share of the : Government subsidy that Cambridge would be entitled to, and devote it to the con-: struction of this road. Mr Clark also spoke to the same effect and urged the necessity of the work. He said that although the amount they could receive from the Council woulclnot be tnuch, it would, when supplemented by subscriptions from the settlers, be sufficient for the purpose. ; Mi": James Runciman thought that a committee should be appointed to go over the ground, as there was a great j diversity of opinion as to the cost. Mr Campbell had set.it down at .£SOO. Others thought that it could be done for one-fifth of the money. Mr Clark said that the amount to be received by this Riding would be about £220, after deducting its share of the expenses; they might get Tamahere Riding to assist. Mr] Eorrest said that he had tested the; feeling of the Piako Council on the matter,, and he informed the meeting that they need not look for any assistance from them, as they had set their minds on having a road to the Thames. Major Wilson said this might be the opinion of the Waitoa settlers but not of ths Piako settlers. Speaking as onei of the latter; he ..; would be most happy to subscribe to this road. Upper Piako settlers were determined to open this road. Mr Clark said he had been promised aid from a Waitoa settler. It could not fail to be of the greatest benefit to them both for buying and selling cattle. Major Wilson said the result could only be a good one, the new road would injure no one and would be of the gre&testgood to Cambridge. The more roads that were made the better for the country. Mr Halley moved " That it is the opinion of this meeting that it is imperative that a sum should be placed on the estimates of the Council to form a practicable road to the Piako from Camdridge." On being seconded by Mr W Reynolds, the motion was carried « nem. die.' The Chairman said that as the S ? m /7 hich mi S llt be received from the Council would not be sufficient, it was for the meeting to suggest some means of augmenting the amount. The following motion of Mr Houghfcon's was then put and carried : "That a subscription list be now opened for the purpose of receiving funds to supplement the grant that may be received from the Council, and that a Committee be appointed to collect the same, consisting of Messrs Brooks, Halley, Clark, R Kirkwood, and H F Reynolds." Carried. The state of the bridge over the Karapera was also referred to but nothing definite was done. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.