CAMBRIDGE ROAD BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1709, 19 June 1883, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE ROAD BOARD.

Some people have curious ways of taking care of large sums of money. The other day a Southern commercial traveller landed from the steamer Southern Cross at C4isboi'ne, leaving under his pillow in his cabin, as ho thought, about £80 in drafts and notes. The vessel had sailed on for Auckland when he discovered his loss. The police and agents were both telegraphed to, and" the former took steps to search the place indicated as soon as possible, when the missing money was found under the pillow, but it amounted with drafts to some £110. Adulterated Wine.— The systematic falsification of French wine at present in vogue is a matter which touches England nearly, as being the largest consumer of that commodity. A large meeting of wine merchants was held in Paris the other clay, and the statements made by the speakers are certainly such as cannot be read by Englishmen without a shudder. The adulteration of the wine commences when the liquor is prepared to render it clear and apt for preservation. Ifc is mixed with albmnine, gelatine, blood, and milk, and very often alum is added to give a flavoured look. In order to give it the aroma and flavour most liked by English aud American consumers oxyde of lead is added to destroy the acidity, while arsenic, sulphuric and tartaric acid are employed to perfect its colour. The indignation created in Paris itself by these disclosures will, if is hoped, not be permitted to die out until some effective method of public analysis tis adopted to check' effectually the sale of these poisonous concoctions'. ' The Intransigent r very, sensibly, declines ,to rely, 1 upon the ' h honour 'of the trade " to, pres/, "vent such abuses ; the self-interest of the trade is/likely.to he a much more potent lnfluence'tV thatjend. :'TKe< Australian Vine growers ought "to make the most of Jmtrnphs afrßQrd^u^, ,>i v j U'<J ' r i • %

— ■■ ♦ The usual monthly meeting of the above board was held at Hewitt's Hotel, Cambiidge, on Saturday evening Jast. Present : Messrs Jas. Taylor (chairman,) Smith, Giaham, Forrest and All will. Mr T. G. Sandes, engineer to the board, was also present. Mr'G. F. Hosking, 0.E., the late engineer to the board, attended in support of his application to the board to reconsider their decision re the payment of his account for £50 10s. The matter was gone into at considerable length, and it was resolved that the board should adhere to its foiiner resolution, viz., to offer £30 in full satisfaction of Mr Hosking's demands. On the motion of Mr Foriest, the engineer was requested to furnish a return, by the time of the next meeting, of the length of each gravelling contract, with the quantity of gray el as measured in the pits, together with the amount of money paid to each contiactor. The Engineer said tint there was a sufficient amount of money due to each contractor to ensure the faithful completion of each contract, and that he had all the men well in hand, at the same time he asked the board to strengthen his hands in the matter of having the gravel pits properly filled up. and recommended that some of the pits should be filled up to the level where it could be done at a small expense, particularly a pit on the Maungakawa road. The board authorised the expenditure of a sum not exceeding £5 on the pit, and desired the engineer to pay particular attention to the filling up of all the pits. On the motion of Mr Forrest, seconded by Mr Allwill, the general rate for the year was struck at in the £on the value to sell, beins; equivalent to a rate of Is in the £ on the annual rental. The Engineer reported that the approach to Ciawford's gully was in a disgraceful condition, and that there was a dangerous hole in the road there. A letter from Mr J. T. Camp, Tamaliere, was read, requesting that the board would allow him to take about 40 yards of gravel to fill up a hole in front of his house. —The board decided that as they had a dispute with Mr W. A. Graham about his gravel pit, Mr Camp had better apply to Mr Grnhain himself. The engineer was instructed to give notice to the contractors to have all gravel pits filled up in a fortnight's time, and in case of refusal to have them filled up at contractors' expense. Mr Forrest said that twelve yards per chain was not a sufficient quantity of gravel for the mam road, and stated that permission had been given to take gravel for half the road from Martyns pit, anil the other portion could be supplied fiom th c old school-house pit. —The Engineer recommended the board to put twelve yards per chain on the road now, and to top up afterwards.—The engineer was instructed to superintend this work, and to have it commenced immediately, the contract being already let to Mes&rs Ferguson and Crickett. Mr S. S. Graham produced the original agreement between the board of ISSO and Mr W. A. Graham re giavel pit. —Mr Forrest said the agreement was not binding now.—Mr Giahain said the thing had been undertaken in a business way, and blionld be wound up in a similar manner. His brother had no desire to continue the contract except with the entire concurrence of the board.—lt was resolved that a committee bo appointed to writ on Mr Graham, to see if ai rangemeiits could be made for the purchase of a gravel site, and the boaid repudiates any alleged agreement made by previous boauls. — Mes&rs Forrest, Taylor and Allwill were appointed a deputation to wait on Mr Giaham. A letter was read from Mr Johnßunciinan, cilling attention to an embankment made by Mr Selby, which obstructed a watercourse, causing part of his tarm to be flooded, and suggesting that a culvert should be put in. —Messrs Smith and Foirest said the road was damaged through the obstruction of the watercourse.—Messrs Smith, Forrest and Allwill were appointed to meet Messrs Runciman and Selby, to see what arrangement could be made about the matter. Mr Forrest gave as the result of his deputation to Mr Ferguson re drainage, as instructed at the last meeting of the board, that he thought the subject of sufficient importance to take a legal opinion as to whether, if they expended money on these drains they would be able to enter on the property at any time to have work done on them. —The Engineei said the Act of ISB2 was very clear on the subject of public drains, and as this was a public chain under the act the persons whose land it crossed could be compelled to keep it open, to say nothing of allowing the board to have access to it. —The engineer's opinion was considered sufficient. Mr Forrest requested Mr S. S. Graham, as the representative of the board in the county council, to &cc to the matter of a sum of £29 due them by the Cambridge Town Board. Mr Jno. Runciman requested the board to grant 20 feet of Gin. pipes to put in a culvert on the Fen Conit station road, and undertook to get the work done. — Application gianted. A letter was received from Mrs Ellen McCann, complaining of the drain on the Hamilton road, opposite Messis Laney's and Fergusson's properties. The board decided that they could not entertain Mis McCanu's application, as Laney and Feigusson should do what was necessary. Letter received from Mr Neal Dougherty re giavel pit on Thornton road. The subject of gravel pits had already receixed attention. Mr S. S. Graham proposed that the main road in front of Camp's should be raised, as there was a hole that required filling. It was resolved to leave this matter in the hands of the hands of Messrs Smith and Graham, to have what was necessary done, at an expense not exceeding £5. The following accounts were passed for payment :—Tlios. Wattam, £7 17s 3d ; and J. Norrish, £4 16s.