CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1748, 18 September 1883, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE DOMAIN BOARD.

A hPi:c TAij meeting' of the above body was held ut the tow n boaid office, Cambridge, f»i Watuiday. Present : Messis T. Wells (clianinan), J. P. Campbell, Jno. Fisher, and R. Knkwood. Kk'kk vnox Jlt^krve. — Mr -Tas. Foirest wrote offering to construct a windmill pump on the above reserve, with the neces&aiy appliances, for L2G 3s Gd. — On the motion of Mr Khkwood, seconded by Mr Campbell, it was agreed to accept Mr Forrest's tender. — Mr Knlcwood was appointed a committee to supeivise the work. Ki:i)Lcriox of Dovvix Lvnd Xi:.\ T r.-, —A petition was received from a number of the domain boaid lebsee.s ie a reduction of tho lent of their 1 elective holdings. The grounds .set foi tli, upon which a reduction wa,s requested, weio seven in number. It was pointed out that .seveial of the lessees had already thrown up their holdings on account of their inability to pay the rents agieed upon. Many of those at pie>>ent in po-^e^sion also contemplated tin owing up their holdings Several of the allotments leased being undei water for a consideiable poition of the yeai could not be successfully cultivated. Tlie allotments generally weie al,M> coveied with ti-tiee, and would cobt much money to cloai. Tho->e who had earned out their improvements weie unable to lecen c anything like an adequate return, consideiing the heaviness of their rents. The petitioner concluded by requesting that the boaid .should advise His Excellency to make a 1 eduction of 50 per cent, in the ptesent rates. It was generally cmsideied by the meeting that the lents were far too high. It was also pointed out that the lessee-* on entering into possession did not imderstaud that they would be rated by the town board like oi clinary sections, these rate^> amounting to 23 per cent on the rentals. This was an mju.st;ce. — Mr Kirkwood, as a lessee, .said he would be veiy glad indeed to see the petition given effect to, but as a member of the board he felt it his duty to keep all who were in a position to keep to their contracts, as set forth in the lease, up to the original rents.— Mr Fisher thought it was quite probable, and quite proper, that some of the other people who had bid for these allotments might come forward and say they would have been able to pay the rents which they had offered at the auction, and would thoroforo bo equally entitled with tho petitioner to have the allotments at a reduced rental, leaving aside, of com the question of improvements. — Mr Kirk wood suggested that the lents .should be loweied, but the conditions rigidly enforced. He noticed that Mr Hewitt, who had land adjoining his (Mr Kirkwood'h), had not complied with tho conditions.— Mr Campbell then proposed, " That this board having received the petition f loin the lessees praying for a reduction of rent, considers the rents excessive, and respectfully recommend his Excellency to comply with the prayer of the petition. Also, That in the event of the Government making this reduction, the provision* in the lease as to improvements ba strongly enforced. " Seconded a.iv} caiuied. This was all the business.