CAMBRIDGE ROAD DISTRICT DRAINAGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1769, 6 November 1883, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE ROAD DISTRICT DRAINAGE.

A vw.rixc of the. ratepayers of the C.unbndge Road District was held <it the Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, at 7.30, on Satui day evening last, for the pin pose of considering a scheme .submitted by the board's* engineer-., Messrs Sandea and Napper, for the drainage ot a portion of the district. There weie about thnty latopayers present, including the members of the boaid, and the chair wa« takei) hv Mr Jas. Tavjfj,\ The "Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement in Tiik Waik vro Times convening the meeting, and explaining the object for which they had assembled. Mr Napper, cng-jnoer-j tyh/i &t touted, .laid a plan of the district on the table, with the scheme delineated, together with a report of the particulars of the bcheme, as already published in this paper. Mr J. Forrest addressed a few remarks to the meeting on the subject. The question, he informed them, to be decided was, What would $ia who, were, U> be particulary j}e,iiofHea' Vjy i!he. scheme be prepared to contribute towards its execution ? and, also, what it was proper for the board to contribute, in consideration of the benefit which the public generally would derive through tljQ imp.roywjent; to Uie roads. Hi was, ne had no doubt, generally understood by those present that if those whose lands were to be improved gave their consent to the scheme— if the poll to be taken decided in its favour— they would have to contribute a large proportion of the cost. Mr J. Kunciman wanted, to know what land it was.proposed^to, rate ? t

hoard should ba so unaccountably philanthropise all at once as to drain the farms of those situated in a certain portion of the district. If he understood the matter propjrlv, tho ratepayers of the district gonerally would ha/c to pay the piper. Mr {Smith infoimed the meeting that the powor of deciding whether the scheme should be given effect to was in tho hand-; of the ratepayers, and noi in the hands ■ f the b >nrd. Tf the ratepayers rejected it 0:1 going'to the poll, well and good, and that was .111 end to it. It had bean proposed to 1 u-c the loads by way of effecting a \ lonnnly, but tlieir (engineer had informed them, 111 his lepoit, tli.it laisiug the roads would cost equally as much as carrying out th j proposed drainage scheme. This was a matter they should consider. Mr Kuncimau, on bsiug informed that the scheme, includod his land, haid ho would oppose it. Air l''erguson argued that the scheme would mateiially benefit the land of the disfciict, as well as the loids, and anything which he believed destined to promote the welfaie of tho settlois he would only bo too happy to consent to. Mr Booth suggested that the highway boaid h.wo nothing whatever to do with the matter. If those whoso lauds were to lv benefited wanted the scheme, w ell let them take the matter in hand themselves, •uid pay for it. It was not a public question at'all. If the roads wanted draining the b'Mid could easily wtiso them. He foi 0110 would stienuously oppose the scheme if bi ought foi waul. He would fuithei snggest that the consideration of the question be adjourned until si more explicit plan was piopaied, showing the com^e it was intended the diain should take, together with the land to bo improved, and to whom it belonged. Mr Booth's .suggestion having been formed into a resolution, it was .seconded by Mr Ruuciinan. Mr Selby said Mr Booth wax blessed with good mads in his part of the districts, and he could not for the life of him see why ho and others equally blessed should object to othei settlers in the district being in a like manner benefited. Mr Forrest addressed the meeting at some length on the question. Jt was the duty of theboard not only to study the condition of the loads, but also how to promote thewelfaie of the settleis geueially. Instead of opposing each other in a mutter of this kind, they should cndea\ our to assist each otliei as fai as was in then powei. Again, in this case, those who were to bo benefited were going to piy for it, and why, therefore, should they object to .settlers improving their condition when an oppoituuity offered, and when they weie willing to pxy foi it. He had he.ud it said: If these settlois want t.) dinin their land, why don't they do it .' Hut in ieply to this he would say the law lequned that the usual form should bo gone tlnou»h, such as t iking a pjll and recen ing tho sanction of the majoiity of the iatepiyei.s. Mi J. Biown expressed himself in fa\our of tho woik being undei taken. Mr Ciickett proposed, .is .111 amendment, " That the hoard pioceed w ith the diain.age scheme, tho engineer to lie instructed to lay off the 1)0 it and easiest coui^e for each diain. Also, that the bo.ud take a poll of the latepayeis, and in case of the poll being in f.ivoui of the scheme, the money to bo applied foi under the Roads and Budges Construction Act." Mr Ferguson soonded. On beiiig put to the mooting eight voted in fsuour nf the amendment, and live in faM>ur of the lesolution. The amendment having been declaied earned, tin 1 nio'tiug tei urinated.