CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD AND CONSTABULARY LABOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1557, 27 June 1882, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD AND CONSTABULARY LABOUR.

\ special meeting of the Cambridge Town Boaid was held in the bo.nu office yesteulay morning, for the pin pose of considering the matter of employing Constabulary labour in the erection of the Karapiro bridge. Theie was a full attendance of the commissioneis, Mr T. Wells in the chair.— The Chairman briefly explained the object of the meeting, and read the following telegram from the Under-Secretary for Public Woiks, in reply to the application of the board that the Constabulary now stationed at Cambridge contribute the labour in the erection ot the new bridge :— "The Chaiiman of the Cambridge Town Board. —It is proposed to utilise the services of the road Constabulary m erecting the Karapiro Biidgc, and so reduce the amount of grant promised you towards the work. The A.C will require to be p lid one shilling ?a (.lay, when can you avail yourself ot this proposal. Reply. (Signed)-J. Kxowlks, U.S.P.W/'— After a few remarks from the chairman, Mr G. F. Tiosking, engineer to the board, submitted an estimate of the probable cost of the work. A fhe-span bridge, 25ft each span, 1-ift wide, to be 15ft above the present bridge, would cost CSSO, including earthwork approaches ; ,i structuie with deck 18ft wide, and | other measurements as above, would cost £976. — The Board expressed themselves in favour of the fh&t structure, the cost ot the latter being too much to admit of consideration. — The Chan inn n interpreted the telegiam Iroin the Government to mean that the guuib of £100 v\ ould still be pud to the a edit of the boaui on account of the woik, le^s the tnoucy they would have to pay the men over then piesent rate of pay which would bo, according to the telegram, one shilling per day. lie would recommend them adopting the budge recommended by their engineer that estimated to cost £Soo. They would thus have a good substantial work, and as uo&tly as their limited means would admit of. —Or. Kirk wood proposed, "That the engineer be instructed to prepare plans and specilicabioiib for the erection of a bddge 14- feet v\ide in accoi dance with the estimate mrnished. Fuithci, that the engineer be instructed to proceed to Auckland imiminediately to piocure the neeessaiy timber ior the woik.'' After ooine discus, Cr. Kirkuwood's pioposition was unanimously earned. — On the motion of Cr. N T ixon it was lesolved th.it the chairman be instructed to wire to the ColonialSecretary and obtain a more definite understanding as to the vote of money for the woik. The Chaunvm thought as it would be some time before they could avail themselves of the Government pro posals, and as the men were unoccupied, the boat d should ask Colonel Lyon for their labour on other works in the town, such as street forming on the same terms, viz., a shilling per day per man. He had hinuelf interviewed the colonel on the matter, and had got a reply to the effect that while the men were in winter quarters theie would be no objection entertained to their working in the town. — Cr. Hewitt proposed that the available constabulary labour be employed upon the unformed streets in ohe town, and that one shilling per day be allowed them for the work. Carried. — Cr. Kirkwood was veiy anxious to have the footpaths in Chapel-street formed, and as a favourable opportunity had now offered, he hoped the board would take advantage of it, and have the work done. — Cr. Nixon spoke at some length on the unseemly condition of Grey-street, where people, through the recent rains, had been completely isolated from the outer world. — It was resolved that Dick-street, Victoria-street, and Chapel-street footpaths bo formed, and a footpath between Chapel-street and Brewery-street, by the Constabulary on the terms stated, the work to be carried out under the superintendance of the engineer. — The chairman said the powers which the board had under the Highways Act to effect improvements, such as the cutting and formation of streets, had been taken from them under the new Act, and consequently in future, before carrying out any street improvements they would have to take a poll of the householders residing therein. — The following is a copy of the telegram sent by the chairman to the Government in reply to their offer in , the matter of the Karapiro bridge :—": — " J. I Knowles, U.S. P. W.— The board hope to | have timber for erection Karapiro bridge next week, and accept Government offer of constabulary labor on terms as stated, viz. : The board to pay the men Is per day out of Government aubsidy of £400 ; total estimated coat of bridge, JSB76, £500 of which is for material." — This was all, the bu&iness. -

Mr John Knox will sell by public auction a small cottage at bis auction mart on • Saturday next. ' , „" » ' ' A meeting of settlers" about Waitoais "called'foi- July Ist to take steps in tEe matter of a ' the Wstfhou, 's> '" ' • , - '