A DIFFERENCE IN THE CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2037, 28 July 1885, Page 3

A DIFFERENCE IN THE CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD.

— » The matter of forming Like <treet, was tho subject of a sonipwh.it aciimoiious dcli.itc .it a special meeting of the Cambridge Town Board on Fiid.n afternoon. It appeals that this stieet which runs from the National hotel to the i«dway eros-ing ban since the opening <»f tho milway become a much used thoroughfare and had of late fallen into a htate of disrcpan. The middle of tho street was \ery much cut up, and the closings after a «ho«er of rain weie imarubly inundated to the annoyance of foot passenger*. The board; at a recent meeting resolved to gravel it, and Mr Hewitt, whose ability in this direction in well known, was intrusted with tho mtperv lsion of the work. Mr Hewitt beforo commencing saw that it was altogether useless gratclliiig, as tho levels were sadly at \annnce, and therefore the street wanted reforming befoie anything el-e could be done to it. As to the latter idea, he consulted with Mesms Lewis and Uillett, members of the board, and these gentlemen willingly gave their sanction, the work \\a» proceeded with, and so uint«*d of taking only three pounds to put the stfe'et in order a ninch larger stun has been required, though it appears Mr Houghton, the chan man of tho board and member of the Streets Committee, was not directly consulted about the woik, still lie was fully cognisant of its being earned on, and, moreover, consulted with Mr Hewitt as to the implements. Mr Hewitt wan thereby led to count npon Mi Houghton'a unqualified appioval. Mr Hughe-', to all appearances, was either o"ei looked or "ilently ignored. At the meeting on Friday Mi Hughes asked if theie was a minute on the books authorising the woik which w. is then being earned on under the suprnision <>f Mr Hewitt in Like-stieet ' Tlie Cleik icplicd that there was no such minute. Mi Hughes then asked on whoso authouty the woik was being c irried out The Chan man said he know nothing of the matter ; he had not l>een consulted, and could not theiefoic tiatisfy Mr Hughes cm unity. A desultory passage of arms ensued, and personal accusations, recriminations and nnpiuliaiueiitai v compliments were indulged in. Mr Hewitt fully explained how the work had been undertaken, denying th.it ho had o\ei looked the board in the matter As to Mi Houghton's repudiation of all knowledge of the work, tli.it gniMeinan was actually cogninant of, and had fully countenanced the woik all along. As to Mr Hughes not haung been consulted, it wa< a in itter for the Street* Committee to attend to Mi Houghton denied all knowledge of the work, or tli.it he had evei countenanced it. Mr Hughes <nid it was a niattei for the board to deal with, not the Stieets Committee, as the sum spent was o\er £". Mi Hughes fnrthei inferred to the fact that at the pie\ious meeting of the boaul Mi Dyer and Mr Richardson had asked the board to «pend a few shillings that they might got in and out of then houses, but the reply was that theie were no fiind-<. Nevertheless, theie were plenty of funds to go and form Lake-street. Tins certainly did not look well. The niattei , after a few other leirarks was allowed to diop, Mr Hughes intimating that more would bo heard of it when the account came up for payment. We think that the chaiiman, Sir Hough tun, is in a great measuie to blame for the occurrence, or what might more felicitoiwly be termed misunderstanding. Had he, as chairman, on seeing the work which was bning canied on, at once protested and insisted tint a meeting of the boaid should be called before anything further was done, he would have been doing his duty, but in acting as ho did he was, we fear, neglecting his duty. That he was fully aware of the work being canied on them can l,e no doubt. Again, for the ciedit of the boaid and the honoiu of the town, which he in other nrittet-. so ably repr« ,i-iiti-, we would .ul\i>e Mi Houffhton, aa chairman, to a-seit the dignity of his office and put an end to such unsocmly ■quabbles at the boaid over which he pieHides as that which transpired on Fuduy aftc moon, and the details of which we refrain from laying before the public. A petition was in cuculation yebteiday, to the- chaii man of the bo.ud, asking him to call a public meeting at an eaily date to consider this matter.