Correspondence.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 969, 7 September 1878, Page 2

Correspondence.

[Our correspondence columns are impartially open to all matters of public interest, but we do aot, in any w;»y identify* ourselves with opinions expressed ♦•■ herein.] '■ '- -•' , - [Advt.] Sie, —For several years' past, I have sought to urge the settlers of Waikato in favor of a traffic bridge at Hamilton, in which J have/been materially assisted by your able advocacy. On July 19, 1877,1 called, by circular in the Times, upon aU<.B^ad,,Boards interested in the work of;obtaining a traffic bridge,at Hamilton;to m3et -and arrange prelifninaiies. The,. outcome of this was the forming of the Hamilton Townships bighway Districts into a Borough for the express purpose of building the bridge, the obtaining of the town belts (some 400 acres), the Borough endowments, and other interests. Thus, jointly, we were, enabled to make application to the Government for a subsidy in aid of the undertaking, which was freely granted, and, after considerable delay, that- great desideratum, I may say, is accomplished by the tenders having been signed by both parties, .y next great o.bject was the running of: a tramway or rail through the Borough to Hamilton 1 East. This question was surrounded by serious difficulties, as on' the West, about three miles, Hkinson's station and Ohaupo i stopped all traffic above and into the Borough from that side the County. ( Hamilton "West station and Newcastle j below has a similar: effect.- Thus, as far i as'traffic goes,'the "West side the Borough stands; isolated. The greatest caution needs to be, exercised, .as—if ; the Thames Valley line should be taken to Taupiri, and : the Cambridge 'through. line iJ carried .to ; -form.,a junction—a station might be i;placed outside the. Borough,/leavingthe •.East in; a somewhat similar position 'to rihat : bf the 'Wesii.' ' ; To guard against'sUch [a possible contingency; I have,'' almost alone (until very, lately the Railway Extension Committee came to my assistance), Blvoca.tedi'a' raaJL 'irom the station at Hamilton West "to the East so ; .that-fbyp Qin.eineans we may fprnjjja; 'junctionjwith.*Tamahere, and Piako; and, f hereafter, with -' rham*is-Ar- thus HiriaiSrig 'the Borough of : a commercial , centre, but a central railway depot for the ; great ; pastbral' districts 'lsouthfof Aiuckiahd l .- - It no subsequent event transpires to defeat was hits' already••' been done in regard to this proposition, the placing;{upqn jtjte Estimates of-£IO,OOO for the purposes of the rail and. tramway, through 'the «Bbi?dugh of wiil 'bis a r grand Step" towards so desirable an object.' The town belts are to be vested in the Borough CbunoUtinuer the Public Domains the- management and control of ■' which, if properly and fairly-ad-ministered, <will -be.a great,-boon and source of revenue tp the Borough. >. Seventy acre of choice lands within the Borough are 'already;' gazetted : as the 5 property- of the Boreugh.<; This,' tboy is" Sanother and great source of income, which, if managed 'with- a spirit' of justice arid prudence, will be bneof ! the meaTris of keeping taxation at a'mihimiim, arid we have only to' hope that the Borough estate outside her boundaries wiU'bb of such a character, and so favorably situated,, as to still further add to our'internal prosperity'. The leasing of the ferry anticipations. The j use they are already destined '(tnan'kW.to the exertions and foresight ; bf E; " Mr F. ? .&; Whitaker.—after providing the.interest upon the £5,000 biidge debentures arranged to be taken up, the residue being made available as a sinking fund for its idtirilate Hquidation are more favorable than was anticipated. Viewed as a whole", the amalgamation of ,the townships has proved the truth of the old adage—"United, we stand.-; divided, we..fall.'' ! Through Hamilton East, a great country is opened up beyond, on ! which tlje Borough must mainly depend for its existence, as I have before stated, as : a commercial centre and a railway depOt. The bridge tolls have already to a great extent aided the Borough financially, and will continue to pay the interest which secures the £5,000 out of the £7,ooo'the Borough stands'pledged for. These primary objects having been gained, I have, as far as my humble abilities would permit, advocated within and without 1 the Council a course of action that would place the Council beyond suspicion in dealing with any public office or salaried officer. I have taken the only means in my'power as a Councillor to give the burgesses a faithful synoposis of the financial state of the Borough. I have used every endeavor to stop useless expenditure in making and repairing our roads, by having a qualified surveyor appointed by the Council for the purpose .of making a map of the Borough and taking the necessary levels, a duty which is incumbent under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act. I have taken the only means that will causu the daily-wages men employed by or on

account of the Borough to receive their wages in cash weekly. In conclusion, I beg to thank the burgesses for the honor they done me in electing me one of their and to assure them f in the past I shall ,contimpnp act in the future should they 'honor jme^with H a continuance of their ;Confidenc|p£l THE 'HSiLT&N SCHOOL CHILDRESS ENTERTAINMENTS. i.Sib, —I amXi.appy7.to be in a position to 6tate%that thdiftefforts you speak of to amalgamate with tho East Hamilton Entertainment Committee have now resulted successfully, Mr Field and myself '(subject to*-Ithe:a"p^r<Jvat i df our respective committees, since ohftiisved), having agreed to hold the entertainment fixed, for tho -13 th instant.at Le Quesne's' HaUi on the After all expenses incurred in the getting up of these entertainments are defrayed, the balance of Receipts to be equally divided between East and West for the benefit of the children. 2. Terms of admission: Children, free, up to the age of fifteen; above that ,age, Is. 3. Either committee at liberty to withdraw from the arrangement now made if dissatisfied with the arrangement or pecuniary results. May I be allowed to add that the holding of these entertainments at Le Qjiesne's Hall had become a necessity through the circumstance of there being no Hall or room on this side of the river of sufficient size to accommodate all who are disposed to attend.—l am, &c, Alfbed Cox (on behalf of the Hamilton West Committee).