CAMBRIDGE TOWN ENDOWMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1930, 18 November 1884, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE TOWN ENDOWMENTS.

The Land Act Amendment Act of the session of Parliament just closed, which endowt boroughs and town districts with lands within their boundaries to the extent of one-tenth of their entire area is, perhaps, the moat valuable pieco of legislation which ha« been carried out for some yeaib past, so far as country boroujrhs or town districts are concerned. The great advantage and benefits of such endowments will be more marked in country towns th.m in large centres, the former having 1 nothing to depend upon but a very limited revenue from rates and licenses. Soinu special source of revenue, such as may be expected from town endowments, which may be leaned or otherwise utilised, is necessary to the proper order and government of rising provincial towns such as those of the Waikato district. It enables them to carry out local public works, such as the erection of bridge-*, public buildings, the formation of street., &c, which would otherwise have to be dono out of the ordinary revenue of the town, and in this way not only will a great saving be effected to the ratepayeis, but works which could not have been undertaken for some years to come can be proceeded with with greater confidence. A groat deal, of course, depends upon the value and situation of these endowment*, and the relative value of town property ;it the time they are disposed of. This wiil bo a matter for the board t > consider from a purely public standpoint, and therefore, so that they may be di-.-posed of to the best advantage, it may be advisable that the leasing should bo deferred until there is a demand for town sections, though it may cause a delay of several months. The Cambridge Town Board has drawn up a list of the allotment* which they intend applying for under the new act. This includes the military reser\ c where the constabulary barracks were situated, and where the court-house no>v stands, one of the mobt valuable pieces of property in the town. It is in grass, and nicely planted ; is centrally situated and in every way suitable for building purposes. Possibly the town will reserve this pieco as a park. The large Government paddock opposite the National Hotel, and the saleyard site will also be applied for. The big paddock will doubtless be kept as a public bquare or market reserve, for which purpose it was originally intended. The Public Hall, library, and surrounding site.* are also included in the libt. These allotments, if obtained, will be exceedingly valuable. The board has sent to Wellington for a schedule of sections available a* endowments prior to sending in its list.