CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2044, 13 August 1885, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD.

Thk ordinary monthly meeting: of the tow n bo«ud was held ou Tuesday afternoon. Present —Mr Houghton, (chaiuu in), Messrs Hewitt, Hughe*, Leu is and (iillett Town Siß\hi. — \. communication was received from Mi Divid Uichaidson, dtaw mc attention to the Uct th \t the Victon.istreet frontline of Lot 57"), sale y.tid reserve was about Ift bick fiom the line of lot 109, the pUn <>f w lutli had been do posited in tho survey othc» and passed as correct, and on which ceitihcHo of title had been waned. Domain Unvvur, Pir.— A letter was received fiom the chairman of the domain bonid, drawing attention to the fact that a gravel pit was being opened on the little reserve without the knowledge of the boaid. Considerable damage had theieby been done to the property. The writer asked that the workmen engaged in the pit should desist. The Chairman explained that he, in company with Mews knkwood and Hewitt, met on the domain gravel pit and went into the matter. As to the alleged trespass of the b >aid they had permission to Like this ttia\el. The chairman of /foe domain board hnd complained on ftc&njnt of the w.vy in which the board had opened up a new end of the pit, whereby tho surface earth had been thiown over the bank ot the lake. An amicable arrangement had been come to in the wattei between the committees of both boaids. Mi Lewis took exception to a committee, consisting of Messrs Honghton and Hewitt, making any settlement with the domain board in this matter. Tho Chairman explained tlu<t the arrangement wai only proposed, and was now before the boaid for approval. Thu action of tho committee re gravel was approved of. The chairman suggested that the domain gate togiavel pit should be moved to a, moie convenient place, lie wjra fence also wantc d to be moved to the extent ofabmit a couple of chains as the pit hid encioaehed upon the road. Mr Lew H did not think that the gate wanted to be moved. He pioposed that t..e t»fett»r be left to the sheets coirmittee with power to act. Agieed to Suction fiOO A.— Majoi Wilson wioto accepting the lease ofttw aoove section adjoining hi* property fyr 21 years at an annual rent >1 of £8. Mu Mtb'vm.wt's Cbui'r.uvr.-William McKnlane asked the boaid to form the footpath from Motley's coiner to his ieMdeiicin <irey-»tieet. In wet weather hicluldien were unable to get to school. A footpath Oft or Bft wide would greatly con■venKiice lesidents m the \kinity. On the motion of Mr (iillett, the matter was left to tho streets committee to report upon. Endowment Lkv.sk-..— Mr Keesmgs tender for diawing up the above leases, was accepted, the board considering it very reasonable. Richmond si-heft. -Hen. Mann wrote, stating that when tho endowment acres that were )ust leased weie fenced in the residents of the above stieet and vieimty would be cut off from Thointon-road. He asked that the street should be denned, and that it be cleared, as otherwise tiamc would bo completely stopped. He offeied to do tho work for fcl to the satisfaction of tho bo.nd. After "one discussion, it vvas agreed on the motion of Mr Hughes, that the matter be allowed to stand over to next meeting. Ho vi) at Ci.akk's Puoi-euty.— A letter w.w reoen-e.i fiom Mr F. A. Whitnker, solicitor, bunging under tho notice of the boaid, that Victona-itreet in fiont of Lots 185, 15fi, and 107, had been raised, so that the wire fence on Mr Clare's property was flow useless, cattle were constantly getting over the fence doing damage. The surface water washed over into the orchaid, theieby detei loratin ,' tho value of the property. Mr Clare wished for an immediate lemedy, otherwise he would ask for compensation. Mr Lewis thought what was set forth in tho letter was quite light. The dun u an ■aid the fence was up before the road was rawed. The water would be cwued off when the formation of the road was completed, and the channels made. On the motion of Mr Hughes, it was agreed that it be left to the streets committee to •cc Mr Claie on the matter. Hovhdin.,-. in VicroHlA-srRKET.— Mr Lewis said h) consideiod the hoardings round the trees in Victoria-street were now as unnecessary as they were unsightly. The trees were sufficiently advanced to bo able to do without them. He would propose that tho suifaccnian be empoweied to remove them fiom the church coiner to the post office.— Mi Hewitt thought the pro-po-ul was a mistake. He would oppose »uch a step.— The chairm in did not approve of the suggestion.— Mr Lewis allowed hit. proposal to lapse for the present to give the boaid an opportunity of inspecting the tree*. KhVENLK fuom Exiiowwests.— The clerk reported that the result of the sale of endow inents on Tuesday g*ve an annual revenue to the town of Jb'ol Us 4d. The sale was of a very satisfactory character. Some discussion ensuod about the leasing of allotment 58 1 a, there being a dittereuce of opinion between the members ns to how this property should be disposed of. The allotment is situated between Duke-street and the Courthouse, having a frontage to Victoria-street and Fort-street. It was finally agieod that lot 584 v be again be put up to auction for a lease of ten yearn, upset price to" pei acre per annum. Fkncim. ok Au.onthNrs.— Mr Lewis c ms-dered that it was not the piopei thing that lessee* should be compelled to use Jld. (i wire. He thoiuht it sh mid b<; optional with them to \\»q oithei No. <i, 7 or 8 who. He would pr >,iose v motion to thitenVct.- Mi Hughes seconded.- Cani- d Sl'ukvci m\.\ —Mi L \vm<' uMdeied ih it the other of Miufaunun <-h -uld be an luinuil appointment, He did not think it hliouUl baa hfj bi'Lt, as at piOMint,— Mi Gillett did not applets of fie piui'-iplo of the Hujcge-tiou. When they g>tago id man it did not stand to reason th >t th u y should dwohargo him at tho end of the year. Even at present if tho b ard did not approve of its surfaces in thoy could dismiss him.— Some di-cussion touk place on this matter, tho feeling of the board baing ap aumt Mr Lewis' proposition. He ace trdiugly withdrew it Sthekts CoMMiriErf.— Mr Hiisrhc said in respect to the utret t.s committee there was no other such body in the colony had tho same power as that at Cambridge. He would suggest that in future the streets committee make a monthly lepoit to the board of all work* inquired and also that shall not comnnnco any work or siiend any money whatever without tho authority of the board. He would propone a motion to th.it effect.— Mr Lewis seconded. He did Ht because he consideied the committe.e had peculiar powers. It was either wionsrly constituted, or elso too much power was left to one man, and Jr, foolishly for himself, w js.ilwo.ys ready to tdko thut power. By giving etfoct t> the proposition tho board would be getting out of the difficulty and the ratepayers would be more satisfied in the long tun. The stieets committee were tho Board, and one man was the streets committee, therefore that one mail W>vs the board. — Mr (lillett thought the remarks of Mr Lewis were uncalled for. If one member of the committee was more active than the others and gave h'w time he ought to receive tho thanks of tho board and not abuse. If he did wrong it was for the boaid to censure the streets committee, and not hnd fault with him. Stiange to say they did not find fault with any paiticulai work which the sti eels committee bad carried out, they merely made a bold assertion. — Mi Lewis uaid he did not mean to reflect on Mr Hewitt as Mi < iillett seemed to infer. Nothing of thesoit.— Mr Hughes agreed that Mr Hewitt did a lot of won?, onlvin thiiscasehethoughthehadbeeii guilty of an enor of judgment.— Mr (rillett denied that the committee had been in the habit of exceeding its powers. They had never spent any largo amount of money, and all large works had been carried out by the board. — Mr Law is quoted th.it l">0 load* of stuff had been put on the road beyond the Karapiro bridge. He thought that Mi Hewitt for his own sake ought to be thankful that tho ;>t (/position should bo earned as it would save him a great deal ot abuse and trouble. — Mr Hnghes pointed out that Mr (lillet had said at a previous meeting th.it he would not do tho work which Mr Hewitt did for the town for £200 a year, and also that he would not give much of his time to streets committee work.— Mr Uillett : Yes you are quite right. I don't see any necessity for the, streets committee at all if you dont want them. —Mr Hughes said they must have some one to report on works necessary. But he objected to any tlnee ineinbars spending «o much money. — Mi (Sillttt thought the proposition meant that if a load of gi.ivel was wanted, they would have to bring it foiward in their monthly report, and wait foi tho appioval of the -board. Thoitt were many little things jefjuiring to bo don« in the interval. The committee had to kepp the suifaceman employed. In Auckland, the stieets committee tarried out a lot of the town work. —Mr Houghton proposed as an amendment that tlin whole board be a streets gujiimittee.— Mr Lewis nmdo a suggestion

that the libmir of the bin faceman be the only 1 ibour th.it the committee could employ.— Mr Hughes agiecd to embody tho suggestion in his proposition. This would now read :— That aftot this date the sheets committee shall make a monthly repoit to the bo.iul of .ill or any winks minned, and shall not cvpond any money witWt the authoiity of the boaid, the mii faccnian to be the only labour employed. — Mr Gillett pioposed as a fmther amendment that the nile ougmally laid down foi tht> guidance of the sheets committee bo adheied to. Tin-, limited them to an e\penditiue of JL'").— Mr Hewitt seconded. -Mr Houghton withdrew his amendment in f.vvom of that of Mr (iillett.— Mr L>wis .suggested that the board should 1 s gn, an I then they c mid see who letained the confidence of the ratepajeis.— Mi Hughes thought the streets committee tiliouid resign.— Mr (iillett said Mi Hughes ought to go on the sheets committee.—Mr Hughes said he would willingly do so sooner than see the amount of jobbery that was going on.— Mi (Jillett's amendment was then put and earned on the chairman's casting vote.— Mi Hughes thought as Mr (iillett would not give ln-> tune to the streets committee woik, he ought to resign.— Mr Gillett proposed that Mr Hughes be a member of the committee.—Mr Lewis seconded.— Mr Hughes expressing hin willingness to act, the motion was carried. GIIAVKt Pit 1 , VICrORIA-STBEKT.— Mr Hughes said Constable Brennan had drawn his attention as a. member of the board to the dangerous state of the gravel pit near Major Wilson'". Any pei&on might nde or drive into it in the dark.— The cleilc said that Constable Biennan had foinully brought the matter under his notice — On tho motion of Mr Hughes it was agieed that the pit be fenced in. DErurvilOV FROM CHAI'hL-STHEKT.— Messrs MeVeagh, Ulementa, Aslier, and Cainachan attended a-, a deputation from the piopeitvholdeis of the above stieet. — Air Carnac-han said he had been coming t>o olten to the board on this m itter that lie had actually worn a footpath between his own house and the board office. Thi-> was the last tune hi was coming to the boaid on this mis-im. The surface- watei was umning off the street on to his property. Mr Carnachan then quoted section 180 of tho Mun cip.il Coipoiations Act, showing how. the board could, after duly advertising it-, intention, go on with the work. This, he contended, was the way out of the diffi cnlty, as the clauses of the act which he had quoted applied to town districts as well as borough*. There was nothing to pi event them going on with the street now. The money had, he understood, been v oted for the work.— Mr McVeasjh also spoke as to the bad and impassable condition of the street m bad weather.— Mr Asher also spoke on the mattei. The board would now see by the law which Mr Carnachan had quoted that tho signature which they had been waiting on so long w.is not necessary. — Mr Lewis suggested that a meeting of the ratepayers be called, and if such a meeting declared in favour of the woik then it could be proceeded with, as the ratepayers could not then blame the boaid if any action wcie taken agam-t thorn by the property-holders.— The cleik said that a sum of £120 had been placed on the estimates for this work. — On the motion of Mi Hughes it was agreed that if the law quoted by Mr Cainachan vveie coiiect that the work be at once pioceeded with. -It was further agreed that Mr Hesketh's advice be taken on the matter. PUUMC Mketixg. — Mr Hughes sub j mitted a copy of the motions passed at the public meeting on the previous Friday evening, with the icque->t that they be read. — The paper was lead by the chau man, and laid on the table. Tows Hall Imi'KO\kui:\'in.— Mi Gillett lepoi ted that the man he had engiged to cairy out the impioveinents to the hall had not kept his engagement. He bJieved he ' had been detained in Auckland. He would again communicate with him, and a*k him when he intended commencing wot k. L\Kh srRhiCT. — Mr Hughes asked what was the total cost of this work. The cleik said the cost of the improvement-, to Lakestieet was £13 9d. The '^ncen-stieet work had osti'UOi 'Jd. Mr (iillett pioposod proposed that the account a-> read be passed fer payment. Mr Hewitt seconded. Mr Hughes said he objected to the money being paid out of the funds of the ratepayers. When it was biought foiward, the chaii man denied all knowledge of the work. The Streets Committee had got no authoiity to undertake such a woik. The work had cost more than lepre-ented in the account! befoie the boaid. £'29 5-. 3d had been spent here without any authoiity from tho board whatever. He cautioned the board that if thoy passed this account, there might be action taken by the ratepayers to make them refund it. Mr Houghton said he was veiy sorry indeed that Mr Hughes should chaigc nun with making a misstatement. He told him and the board that when the work was stirted he knew nothing at all about it. Ho was sorry that ho (Mr Hughes) and other persons should have repiesonted him as telling an untruth, certainly, he could not say, to the detriment of his character, for he was too well known, to have hi-> veracity doubted. That was his explanation and he did not wish to go any further into the matter, The public) wore satisfied. Ho wan aware of the work the day after it commenced, but not when it was staited. He was sorry that Mr Hughes had not known him sufficiently long to know he would not tell an untruth pi sue!) a matter, The public knew he wai a man of truth, and not a pel son who was giving a wilful misrepresent mon. He was soiry th.tt a'iy such attempt should have been made to injine lux chaiactar. He was quite sitisfaed with his conduct whether in oi out of tho bmid, Mr Hughes bagged Ml' Houghton'a paidon, butho did not mean to call him a hbbei. He only said he (Mr Houghton) had denied all knowledge of the woik. At least he had led him to believe tint. Two members of tho Street Committee had started U)it work, and the utepayeis had nude up their niuids, if tho account were paid, to see that the money was refunded Mr Lewis said his opinion of the matter was that the chairman had tried to shuttle out of it. He said so as a member of the board and a ratepayer. Instead of shuffling out of it, be had shuffled into it, and thereby had caused a great deal of unpleasantness. The streets committee clearly sanctioned this work, and he (the chairman) should have stood up and said so, and if he had done this in the first place, there would have b3en less sa.id about it. Mr Houghton, "thank you." The motion having been put that the accounts do pas*, Mr Hughes Haiti " No" and requested that the clerk should enter his piutest on the minutes. Some explanation was then given by Mr Hewitt and Mr Hougliton as to ho\V the work had commenced, Mi (.Tillett remarked that thioe.fouiths of the ratepayers would fully approve of tho work. The inattor then dropi>ed. Gravelling.— lt was agreed that Lakestreet, Brewery-street, and Kukwoodstreet bo ffravellud, tho work to be owed out by tho atreots comnutteo. Accounts.— Several accounts woro passed for payment, This was all the business.