PROPOSED NEW COUNTY OF CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 955, 6 August 1878, Page 2

PROPOSED NEW COUNTY OF CAMBRIDGE.

A public mectinu of County Electors of the several ridings, proposed to meet under the provisions of " The Counties Act, IS7G," for the formation of a New County, to he called " The Cambridge County, \ was held at the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Saturday last, at o o'clock.

The attendance was large, nearly all the leading settlers from the several ruliugs being present. Mr Every Maclean was voted to the chair, and opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement calling the meeting. He then called upon M-ijo»' Clare, as chairman of the Sub-committee, to bring forward, his report, which is as fqllows:— Report of the Sab-committee appointed at a public meeting held on the 2nd July, in the National Hotel, at Cambridge, with instructions to prepare a memorial to be addressed to H's Excellency the Governor, praying that he will please to proclame a New County to be called "The Cambridge County," and to conduct preliminary measures such as may appear advisable. The Sub-committee's report upon this occasion need not be lengthy, the duties entrusted to them were simply to prepare a memorial in the usual form of such documents, setting fori'h the purport of the prayer contained therein, and to see to the due fulfilment of the law's provisions with regard to obtaining the sanction atid support of the proper proportion of the whole number of the County electors, and to give publicity thereto for the required space of time. The Counties Act, 1876, providithut the Government, in Oouoil, ou petitiou presented may, by proclamation, constitute a New County subject to conditions,

1. That the area thereof shall not be less (li*u two hundred thousand acres. 2. That the number of County electors therein shall not be less than one hundred. 3. That a memorial*petitioning! for the formation of the Ne;s| County be signed byyiot number than three?fifths oj| the electors, these Signatures? to be properly signed by some person residing in the district. 1. That the memorial be publicaly uotiiied not less than one month before presentation to the Goveuor. The Sub-Committeo report that these several requirements have boen complied with and completed. 1. The area of the proposed County of Canib.idgi;, as set forth in the correspondence and documents which accompany this report, is -170,000 acres. 2. The total number of County Electors of the several ridings concerned is 'll9. 13. The number of signatures (including more than 100 absentees) appended to the memorial and duly notified, is consieerably more than the required proportion. 1. The memorial, bearing date the 4 hj, was publicly notified in the Wajkato Times on 6th of July, therefore it may be presented to His Excellency any day after Tuesday uext, the 6th instant. The Sub-Committee have to remark that of the number of resident electors within the limits of the proposed County ouly three have declined adhesion. Of uon-resident, whom they have been unable to reach and to whom the memorial has beeu presented for signature, only three decliued.- Ot the balance of those who appear to be entitled to be registered and are registered as electors, a considerable number (102) are absentees, owners and grantees of military town-acres and fifty-acre sections, in and abont the town and country of Cambridge. Thus, it will be perceived, that within the limit and power of a unit figure to express the number of dissentients the whole body of resident electors and ol non-residents to. whom it has been possible to present the memorial have affixed their signatures thereto in token of approbation and Bipport. And the proportion of adherents is more than five-sixths of the number who are yet supoosed to be within the bounds of the colony. After appointment, your Committee lost no time in taking action. It was thought desirable that one of their number should proceed to Auckland to procure maps and otherwise to facilitate the business that had to be done. Mr John Uunciuiaun also from whom the Committee has received continuous and valuable assistance throughout proceeded to Shortland and Auckland in the interest of the proposed County. The Sub-Coniuiitttee would have characterised the rapvemeni as a complete success but for the circumstance much to be regretted, that the desire to include a small section of the Matamata Riding within the proposed County of Cambridge is displeasiug to, and has been condemned by the Chairman of the Matainata Road Foard, who is also a member of the Piako County Council of which County thatßiding forms a part. Nevertheless, the cannot recommend any change in the boundaries such as would involve the cutting out of that small piece, the estimated area of which is about five thousand acres and the retention of which appears to be a necessity, the more especially as other sections of the Piako County situate on either side of, and adjoining this part of Matamata and running on and along the whole length of its eastern and western boundaries, are. are, as expressed by the unanimous voiees of their electors, desirous of being incorporated into the new Couuty. The exclusion of this wedge shaped portiou of thrj Matainata EUdino- would deface and break the continuity, compactness..and unity of the proposed new Couuty, as its inclusion will strengthen them aud symmetrise its proportions ; while in no way so far as your Committee can perceive with its subtraction from that County iuterfere with or impede tho advauoe or prosperity of Piako. The Bub-Committee before closing this report have to present a statement of liabilities and expenses incurred while carrying ou the duty delegated to them. These have beeu necessarily somewhat large, and of exceptional importance and the items aud total amount are subjoined for these expenses. It was agreed, although not formally embodied in a resolution at the meeting of the 2nd ult., which appointed the SubCommittee that the several Highway Boards concerned should accept equal share of responsibility. LIABILITIES AND EXPENSES 11EFEUKED TO- ' New Zealand Herald's' accounts for advertising, £«! Waikato Time's ditto, £-1 10s: one copy of county map (one copy supplied by Mr Tole free of cost), estimated cost, £3 2s; Mr John Rumanian's expenses, (travelling to Shortland and Auckland), £2 3s; Mr G. Collins, employed in circulating the memorial for signature, £2. 10s; Mr H. Kirkwood, calico for mouutitig, 3s G'd; Mr C. Burton, charge for mounting, 10s (3d ; telegrams A:o., 10s S'd; Merrick's account for minute book, Is 'Jd; hire of Public Hull, os : total, fil?) 3«6d.—Signed: William Clare, Robert Kirkwood, E. B. Walker—members of Sub-Committee. SUPPLEMENTARY RE.PORT. After the foregoing repoit had been prepared and written, a telegram was

received (mm Mr Firth last evening stating that he shall "certainly oppose so large an appropriation of M^tamata?^^pp^^ B iiews. jftfe "can but retheir expressions of regret at |h(pfiter»niuagi|ti: arrived at by that ;ge||euian, arptheylfecommend to thg|meeting g|d tosJ anxious tor the||pnsolidatidDf ofJpjjpNew County wtfjp'fair and pra<sffble boundaries, to consider dareftilly before proceeding further whether any solution can be .offered.und.proppaed to.Jux Eirth iu view to reconciling him and inducing him to refrain from opposing a scheme so unanimously approved and warmly s'uppoS by the residents and by so large a number of nonresidents, as one that cannot fail to prove beneficial to the interests of the whole County and to the exfcemston ef local self government (Signed), William Clake, .Robert Kihkwood, E. B. Walkeh, members of Sub-Committee. Cambridge August 3rd. 1878. ° The following is a copy of the correspondence with Mr Firth. •* Telegram in answer to note from Robert Kirkwood. [Copy.] Auckland, July 4,1878. Y our uofce arrived to day. Ido not, agree to the proposed alterations iu Piako %* County. r My advice is, to let well alone. (Signed) J. (J. Fibxh. [Copy of letter to Major Clare.] Auckland, July 13, 1874. Major Clare, Chairman Sub-committee, Cambridge. Sir,—My attention has been drawn to a petition proposed to be sent to Hia Excellency, the Marquis of Nomianby, praying him to assent to the 'formation of a New County, to be called the " Cainbridge County." It isnot my intention to point out to you the serious injury which I think the county system will receive by the course you and your friends are pursuing, having already drawn your attention to it iu a personal interview. My present object is.to point out that you have named " a portion of Matainata m the proposal to form the New County. I have the honor to inform you that I object to the incorporation of the riding of Alatamata, or any part of it in the proposed county of Cambridge. / I have, therefore, to request that will be good enough to cause to be erased from your petition, as published in the 1 New Zealand Herald,' of July 9th, the words, "together with part of Matamata. I am, Sir, Yours, ifcc, , ■• (Mgned), J..G..Fibth. Chairman of Matainata" Road Board, and Councillor for Matainata Riding, Piakq Cpunty. Major Clare then stated that he wrote to Mr Firth on the 2oth July, drawing his attention to the advertisement calling this meeting, before which, his letter would be read, and stating that it would be a satisfaction if he could be present. Some other telegrams were read between Major Clare and Mr Firth, relating to the boundaries and area of the proposed part of Matamata Riding to be incorporated in the New County. The following, Major Clare had received ou the 2nd instant: Auckland, August 2, 1878. Major Clare, ' Cambridge, • I do not wish to be driven to oppose niy "Cambridge friends, but I certainly shall oppose ho large an appropriation of Matamata Riding as youi' map shows. (Signed)' J: C. Firth.

Major Clare stated that lie had telegraphed to Mr Percy Smith, for approximate area of proposed New Couiity and of Pukekura Riding. Be had replied that the County would contain four hundred and and sixty thousand acres, including Pukekura, which contains thirty-seven thousand acres. He had also received a telegram from Mr Percy Smith, that by taking Pukekura Biding out of Waipa, it leaves only one. hundred and forty thousand acres. They had, nevertheless, decided to include it in the proposed New County, and had so telegraphed to Mr Percy Smith. The reciuisitions, signed by more than three-fifths of the electors, were laid on the table, having been mounted on canvas. To each signature was affixed the initials of the person procuring them, and they were verified by the solemn declaration in the form of the fourth schedule of tho Act, in accordance with clause 16. -A niap of the proposed New County was also laid on the table, and declared to be open for inspection, the boundaries of which were read as follows:—Commencing at the confluence of the. Waikato and Tania-*B| here rivers ; bounded towards the north by the south-eastern boundary of the Kirikiriroa Riding of the Waikato County, thence by the south-western and southern boundaries of the Waitoa Riding of the Piako County to tho north-easternmost angle of the Hinuera No. 2 block, thence by a right line in a south-easterly direction to the place of intersection of the Waitoa River by the south-eastern boiuidary of the Hinuera No. 1 Ulock, thence north-eastery by the south-eastern boundary of the Matamata Riding of the Piako County, and thenco following the south-western boundary of the Tauranga Riding of the Tauranga, County to Opualihi: towards the southeast by the north-western boundary of the Rotarua Riding of the Tauranga County aforesaid; and, towards the south-west by the north-eastern boundary of the West Taupo County and the northeastern boundary of the Mangapiko Riding of the Waipa County, to the eoufluence of the Waikato and Tamahere Rivers, first mentioned the place of commencement. The report of the Sub-Conrmittee was, on the motion of the Chairman, unanimously received and adopted. Mr Clarke proposed, "That the,preliminary expenses incurred by the SubCommittee be borne pro rata, by the several highway districts concerned."— Mr Leslie seconded. Carried unanimously. Mr Leslie said he wished to say a few Avords. He did not see why Mr Firth's opposition should cause them trouble. What was 0,000 acres in 470,000 acres ? He (the speaker) thought that what Sir James Fergusson said to the Maoris would apply to Mr Firth—" If you wish to be isolated, be isolated." They could form their county without Mr Filth's 6.000 acres, and if he did not at present want his block included in the proposed new county, the time would come when he would be sorry, that it had not been incorporated in it. It was not absolutely neuessrry that this piece should be iucludod in the county. He was a personal friend of Mr. Firth, and he highly respected that gentleman, but he thought Mr Firth's opposition was i 1-advised, when so large a number of'the electors of the several ridings had' taken np the matter so warmly. In a case of thiskind, one man's vote was as good as another's. Mr Firth might have 0,000 acres ; others had 1,000 acres j some, 500; and some.

60—but, in this matter, one man » vote was as good as another's. If Mr lirth likes to be cut out of this splendid county, let him keep his 6,000 acres; ho would very be ghtoUo have them incorporated in the county. He had, he could not say the honor, but the trouble of being a uouutv councillor for nuniy months, and, beuutwe he had been friendly to Cambridge, ho had to submit to seeing the riding for which ho was councillor boiled down. He -was perfectly willing for Tamahere to be incorporated with Cambridge, but he would not go with Kirikiiiroa. : Major Clare proposed that steps be immediately taken for the purpose of forwarding the memorial and map, as prepared by the Sub-Committtee, and that the Chairmon be entrusted to Bubmitit to the Hon.'lT. Wtii'aker at Wellington, requesting him to urge the matter upon the attention of the Government, and to press it forward with all possible ener y, and also to endeavor to obtain an early publication of the necessary proclamation. Seconded by Mr Leslie, and carried unanimously.