CAMBRIDGE TOWN DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1558, 29 June 1882, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE TO WN DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY.

The altered relationship between the town of Cambiidge and the Waikato County Council, brought about by the adoption of the Town Districts Act in the former place, was the subject of discussion at the Waikato County Council meeting, yesterday. — The chairman invited Mr Wells to make any remarks on the subject that he thought fit. — Mr Wells said he had little to say. He was glad to be there that day, because it gave him an opportunity of assuring the council as a whole that the action of the town board in regard to the publicans' licenses was not in any way intended to be discourteous. The board was acting by virtue of poweis coufened by the act under which the new district had been constituted. When, however, the county solicitor had given his opinion that the action of the boaid was objectionable, he agreed to withdraw the circular sent to the publicans. That was all he w anted to say. —The Chaiiman said the council were perfectly satisfied w ith the explanation given by Mr Wells. It would be necessary, howover, to take some measures to find out in what position the county stood with icy nd to the board. It had been contended formerly that the Town Districts 4ct would not interfere with the mutual relationship of the council and board, bul no \ they found it did. Now money had been \oted for the Karajiiio Budge, and he could see that finaucial complications weic likely to arise. Ho would move " That the clerk pieparo a slatement showing the position of accounts bc-tween the town and county, to be laid before a full meeting." — Mr Wells said so far as he knew now Cambiidgewasas much separated fiom the county as the Bot ongh of Hamilton was. The meeting was a thin one, and perhaps they had better deier eonsideiation of the matter. He had, however, piepaied a statement, showing that since the money, £4r>o, was voted for theKarapho Bridge, and the liability divided between the town of Cambridge and the highway distiicU of Cambridge and Taotaoroa, the town boaid lud not 1 ccci\ ed anything fiom the balance at the ciedit of the nding, while the country board had received £70. With icgai'd to the liability of the town, he had the authoiity of the board for stating that tiiey ■weio quite prepared to cany out their part of the agreement and pay over the £200, provided the council would see that the eontubutions ol the Cambudge and Taotaoroa Highway Boaids were foithcoming. — The Chairman said theie would be some difficulty in getting Taotaoioa's share of the expense, as there might not be any subsidies this year. — Mi Wells said they could not tell yet what form the Government aid would take this coming year. — Messrs Prhmose and Giaham weie of opinion that the town of Cambridge should be separated from the riding —Mr Wells said it would have been better had the town been excluded from the county altogether. They had endeavored to get the Litter portion of section 10 of the act expunged, but Mr J. B. Whyte was warned that if he insisted on carrying such an amendment, the bill would be lost.— Mr Primrose" said the action taken by the Cambridge people in bringing the Town Disti :cts Act into foicc was \eiy commendable, but he foiesxiw that financial difficulties weie likely to anse. — Mr Wells s.iid they could very easily meet every such difficulty as it aroic. With respect to the Kaiapiio bridge, he could safely promise that, assuming the council would impound any money-i which nuuht accrue to the Tdotaoioa board, the Cambridge Town Distiict Boaid would make up the rest of the amount due from that quarter. — The Chairman said a full statement of accounts should be drawn up and the membeis should give some study to the subject. He would then be prepared to move that it is desirable that the poition of section 10, of the Town Districts Act w hich retained town districts in counties be expunged. He confessed that the county system seemed to him to be a cumbrous, useless institution. Were Rangiriu made a highway district there would be nothing for the council to do. —Mr Wells would go further, and move now that it is desirable to expunge that portion of section 10, commencing with the words " A town district established," &c, to the end of the section. And, further, that the resolution be foi wauled to Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., with a request that he should do his best to get the desired alteration effected. — This was seconded by Mr Primrose, and carried unanimously. — It was also ordered that an abstract statement of accounts as between the county and the Cambridge riding from April Ist, JSSI, be prepared.