THE PROPOSED BOROUGH OF CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1069, 1 May 1879, Page 2

THE PROPOSED BOROUGH OF CAMBRIDGE.

A .Public Meeting, at Cambridge, to consider the advisability of taking the necessary steps for forming the township into a borough, was held on Friday, last, m the Public Hall. O ver forty ratepayers were present. Mr Thomas Wells ji as Chairman of the Town Board, was voted to the chair, and read the advertisement convening the meeting. He wished the meeting to understand that bringing this proposal before them, was not his personal doing, the matter had been brought to an issue, after due deliberation, by the members of the Town Board, and a resolution to the effect was passed. He believed the question to be the most important that would come before the ratepayers of this township for the next ten years, whether we should have a borough or not. It Avould extend their powers of local self-government. It Avas not the first year that they would find such great advantage, but it Avould be during the second, third and fourth years 1 that they would realize substantial benefits. They would be able to reclaim and let some 700 or 750 acres which were now. a forest of furze and ti-tree. By clause 352 of the Act under which they would be constituted a borough, the whole of the town belt would become the property of the Corporation, besides valuable reserves m other parts of the township. They would also receive some land as endowments. A much larger revenue would be obtained by them as a borough than as merely a town board. They would have a greater status, and have more consideration at the hands of the Government. They would be enabled to open up roads to the interior. Here, they Avere situated • on the confines of civilisation, m the centre of a . rich agricultural'district, and very likely^soon to be , the terminus of the railway. Soon coaches will run to the Hot Lakes and South, and visitors from all parts will prefer coming by rail from Auckland, m one day, and then the next driving on to the Lakes, tc going round by Tauranga. These were special blessings which they woudl enjoy. But, although it would confer great privileges on them, there must also bo great duties, hut if they were true to themselves, and worked m unity^for the common good, striving without opposition to develop the resources of the district, ho would predict that the Cambridge Borough would be second to none m the ' Auokland provincial district, Auckland itself only excepted. He then called on •• Mr Campbell to move the resolution J Mr J. P. Campbell came foward and said that he had not thought at all about this matter until he saw the advertisement calling this meeting together ; then, l

he closeiy considered tho question, and I after due deliberation decided in ' its [ favour. The benefits that thi3 township would obtain by being formed into a borough would be the first year comparatively trifling, but m three or four .years they, would be very -great indeed. One very good reason why the matter should duly discussed by the ratepayers is as the chairman stated that a resolution has been passed m fa your of it by the | Town Board. If that body after calm consideration have decided that the step is necessary to be taken, it surely behoves them to consider it likewise His reason for considering that it would be for the^ best -interests of the township to form' itself into a borough if possible, were as follows. First with reference to the town belt, the whole of this land would become vested m the Corporation if it was formed into a borough, i hey would not have to apply -for -it, but it would become theirs by virture of then- powers as a corporation.. Clauses 352 of the Municipal Corporation Act, 197G, provided for this He then read it. By this clause other reserves m the township would also become vested m the Corporation. Li addition to this the Government will grant some 60 or 70 acres as endowment, which maybe leased for any term hot exceeding 66 years. The town- belt and other reserves they would only be able to let for 2 'or 3 years, or from year to year. On this side of the river there are two valuable reserves, one a market reserve; and the other for a. public square, on the other side there are large and valuable reserves, one for a public park. These all would be vested m the ■ Corporation, under the public Domains Act. There han been something said about the West township objecting to it being included m the borough. But if they consider that the Waipa County Council are as he had been informed trying to get the to wn-belfc on the West side, and that if no action is taken and the borough mot formed, they may succeed, and itwould appear how detrimental such a course would be to the interests of that township, and, further, that if one corporate body gets hold of any property, it is very difficult for any other corporate body to get possession of it again. Another advantage .that may be derived from' forming this place into a borough, they would be able to work with the New County Council which would be appointed, if the Cambridge County is formed. He did not believe that the question of forming the New County would be affected by forming the borough. As a borough, they might be able to make a better representation of the matter, and get the New County proclaimed. But he considered the borough, was the more important question, and even if" their interest m this direction, did clash with those of the now county, he thought they would be perfectly right to look after oheir own. The next question was one which should rule the whole matter. The question of revenue. He had A r ery carefully studied this matter, and he had put down the probable revenue of the township as a borough by the side of their present revenue. At present they received £2 for every £1 collected m rates, £1 direct from the Government, Avhich was paid m full, and the otheil through the Couuty Council, which was, however, subject to a reduction of one third. The rrtes collected this year amounted to £188. Only £126, therefore, would be paid by the County Council. As a borough, they would be entitled to all the publicans licenses. There are four hotels m the place paying £40 a year, and the revenue from this source would be £120 Auctioneers and other licenses would amount to £40, making £160. Now the reserves and endowments' which they would obtain as a borough, would be rented, and he had put down the vent at a. very low figure, £200. He would he prepared to give that lor them himself, if put up to auction for a term of years, fhis would make £360 which they would obtain by being formed into a borough. Deduct from this the £126 from the County Council which they Would lose, and it leaves £234 which would be obtained over and above the present revenue. The next question was one of expense. Many people talk and say, if we have a borough, our expenses will be very great. But he thought great expense might be avoided The election of councillors would cost about £20 or £30 a year. Advertising" would cost a little more, and they did not think they need pay the cleric a very much aiger salary than the present secretary to the Town Board was recei mo-, j^q^ more at any rate then £o0 a year additional expeuce would be incurred. ( Another matter was the question of wharf ' tolls, they - have to spend a large sum of >noney every year ou the approaches to die wharf, and they would have a ripht fco levy Avharrtolls, which ought to be quite sufficient to keep the roads leading fco it m order, thus leaving the whole of the rates excise fees and Government , subsidy ayailable for improvement of roads m the township. Many of the country scttleiv, who pay nothing towards our reserves, bring heavy load of timber, seeds and manure, up from tho wnarf and through the township, cutting up the roads. He thought they should be made to pay a wharf toll. After speaking at some length iv regard more particularly to the advantages which would' acme to 'the West side from the establishment of a borough; and after pointing out some other minor benefits which would bo obtained ho concluded by moving. ''That this meet* ing resolves to petition His Excellency the Governor, to form the townships of Cambridge East and Westinto a borough, under the Municipal Corporation Act, 1876, the boundaries of such borough to be the outer lines of -the present townbelts, and that tlie Town Board be requested to prepare a petition for Signatures, and otherwise comply with the requirement of the said Aoc and to give force to^his resolution. Mr Bright said he was glad to see the Cambridge people moving m the matter at last. He had advocated it ever since he had been m Cambridge ; but he did not consider it would be fair to the West side to include that part, of the township m the borough. They have got a good main road down to the wharf, which is a credit to them, and that is all they will, want for some years to come. They have no one there fit to represent them, to compete with those who would be elected as Councillors on this side. The two townships of East and West have nothing m common. It is not like Hamilton, where both sides had to unite to get the bridge, and the. Ununcillors from the East side are well able to hold their own against the West. The people on the west side of the river have horses aud cattle which theyjoan run on their land, without paying the 10s a year enforced on this side. They would object to be taxed to pay for improvements ou the East. He thoroughly agreed with Mr Campbell's resolution, except with regard to tho • other side the river. He would move as an amendment, « That the East side only be formed into a borough." Mr Hugh Kirkwood seconded. Mr Houghton asked if the revenue derived from tho West side would be spent there,

The Chairman stated that that side of the river would be able to elect their own councillors, who would see that a proper proportion of the whole revenue Avas, spent there. Mr Heaney said, that he owned some acres on the other side the river, and should be very sorry to see it left' out m cold. He believed that it Avould be very much to the interest of tho place to. form

it into a borough. The great advantage that would be gained, would be extended borrowing powers ; he believed m borrow. S?« m f My ' he J? thou S ht Posterity should ™JS rp^ for improvements effected ?S,<n Th f e * ci, c about a hundred S^f^ te w^° the «<*ool over there, and he thought that when they grew up Tov\£°?l he T\ t0 P^^irThare* hLiu! v Ud °. fcher improvements. Swnsnipf b6lleVe tt dividi ** two Mr Hugh Kirkwood asked if they were numerically sufficient to entitle S^h ° £?.?T tibutediato a borough. He thought if they were not it would be better to remain as they are at present. It would only be for the benenfit of Duke SLTC9G. . The chairman stated that probably they would obtain what was wanted by the power the Governor had to carry out the spirit of the Act, and then if the Government were unwilling ■to get that done, they could get a short act passed next session, for the purpose, wu^- oamam a nd the Bluff. Mr Whitaker when he was here had said that tins could easily be done, and he would endeavour to cany it out if necessary. Mr A. Graham, thought it would be a good „hmg to get the place formed into a borough, and they would borrow money and make good roads. He thought also, w five members too few for a Town Board.* two or three could form a .quorum, and get work done which was not for the beneht of the whole township. If there were nine members as they would have Councillor's if formed into a berough, there would be some chance of a fail- distribution of work.

Mr Brooks thought the reasons given for wishing to form the township into a borough, were fair and sound, and that the proposal to cut off the West side was oZwi- e - East and West sid ° every thing m common, and the other side would soon find put the mistake if not included m the borough formed mo a borough it would be for his benefit and the other ratepayers of Duke street. If they liked to oSyiJ on well and good. Uewas not m favour oi it, but if it was carried oat, he would reap the advantage of the money spent Mr Campbell said there was only one question he wished to reply to and that was the question of the West side. If as Mr Bright said the two townships had nothing m common, how was it that for the new County of Cambridge, it was , proposed to take hi the whole of Pukekura Rub™ from the Waipa County, which included the West township ? this • was a proof therefore that the two townships had every, thing m common. Mr Wells said before putting the resolution to the meeting, he had one word to say To cut off the West side of the river from the i borough would be to rob it. He would rather the whole thin* were thrown up altogether, than cut it m two He then read Vlr Campbells resolution, and first put Mr Brights amendment. That the East side only be formed into a borough. Mr Hugh Kirkwood here got up, and said he did not understand that that was Mr Brights resolution, he thought it was that there should be no borough at all. lie wished to withdraw his "name as seconder if that was the amendment as the Chairman gave ib out. Some discussion then.' ensued as to whether the amendment would lapse m consequence but at last Mr Camp said'he would second it and vote against it The chairman then put the amendment, and Mr Bright only voted for it. Mr Campbell's resolution was then put and carried by twenty three against six. The rreeting concluded with the usual vote of thanks to chair.