CAMBRIDGE WEST DOMAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2546, 3 November 1888, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE WEST DOMAIN.

A mkktini; of the inhabitants of Cambridge West was held iti the Public Hall on Thursday, at 7.30 p.m. About -10 were piesent, among whom we noticed Messrs Hyatt, sour. and junr., J. .Forrest, W. \ilen, Dickenson, Noigrove, C. dan-alt, Keeley (l!), McKiuimn (2), Hill, Kingdon, ISach, Garland (2), Chitty, Hicks, Dillon, Thomas and others. Mr T. Hicks was voted to the chair, and said that many were under tho impression that he was the prime mover in the matter of the Cambridge West Domain lands ; but such was not the case, for he had been requested by many of the inhabitants to call the meeting. He was disappointed that Messrs \Vells and Kisliov were not present, but as they had thought best to stay away, they must not be surprised if they received a knock or two. Speaking for himself, he was quite contented wilh what the Domain Hoard had done up to the present. They had made a very nice place, and he gave their representatives, Messrs Walker and Kisbcr, credit fo> having assisted the Cambridge liast members to make it. However, lie thought it was now time that Cambridge West received attention, and as the lease of tho recreation reserve fell in next .February, he thought it ought to be devoted to the purpose for .which it was set aside. The Domain Hoard had burrowed about CSOO from Cambridge West, and ho believed the whole of the present members intended to repay it. He often got up on Sunday mornings intending to go to Church, and then something prevented his "oiii"; and so it would be with the £300. The m'embers intended to repay it, but he did not believe they should ever see a penny of it. How if tliß Ij>i'ou,i(n Council applied for the lands ? .It was like playing a game of euchre with the joker up your sleeve. The Hast side, had the £000 and the West li.id no legal documents to show for it. He believed the Domain .Board as at present constituted intended to repay the money, but he thought if it was applied fi:r, out would come the joker and they sh»uld be euchered. Me suggested that a deputation wait upon the JJiiard and ask them to spend the money collected from Cambridge West in that township. Mr ."lames Keeley made a very fiery speecb, in which he said the. Domain Board had trespassed on their rights and robbed them of their liberties. Men who had acted as they had done, he would have nothing more to do with. They had squandered money upon the lake, and had spoilt it. The members ought to be made to recoup them out of their own pockets. At this point the Chairman had to correct the speaker in some of his statements. Continuing, Mr Keeley said the Domain Act had now been altered, and they had only to petition the Government to put them under the Pukekura Highway Board, and they would at once do so. Mr B. Garland asked how tho present Domain Board were elected ?

The Chairman said they were nominated by the Governor. Mr J. Kceley proposed and Mr A. Bach seconded pro forma : " That this meeting petition the Government to make over their Domain Lands to the I'ukekura lload Board, as the law directs." An amendment was proposed by Mr .Javratt, and seconded by Mr Hicks: "That thi* meeting petition tho Government t,o vest the Domain lj uids in a !> iard to be chosen by the inhabitants of Cambridge West. The amendment was carried, and thou became a substantive motion, Mr Hyatt, Sour., thought they ought to separate from J'nkekura, and start a lload Board of their own ; they would thou have some local authority. Mr 11. Fitzgerald proposed a further amendment that a deputation wait upon the Domain Board and endeavour to arrange tonus with them. Seconded by Mr Kingdon and lost. Mr Hyatt, senr., said if ho had framed the resolution it would have been to wait upon the forty thieves. The Chairman said it seemed absurd to petition Government until they had asked the Boa'd to meet them in the matter.

Mr Jarratt said it was all right; they would petition the Government for the land and the Domain Board for tho money; Mr G. W, Russell said they would get out of the frying-pan into the fire by getting the land transferred from one nominated body to another. He thouglit Mr Hyatt's suggestion of a small local board was the best.

Mr I!. Garland proposed, and Mr Kitigdon seconded, that three members of tho piesent meeting be chosen to wait upon tlie Domain Board on Saturday, and endeavour to come to some arrangement regarding the £300 ; and report to a meeting to be held this day fortnight. Messrs G. Jarratt, T. Hicks and I). Dillon were elected to form the deputation.

Mr Hyatt, senior, had a resolution prepared which the Chairman endeavoured to get him to withdraw, but as ho persisted, it was put to the meeting and lost by 10 to (i. Jt was : That it is the opinion of the inhabitants Cambridge West that Mr Fisher as the nominee of tho Governor to the Domain .B'-ard, be requested to give security on his own estate for the sum belonging to Cambridge West he so liberally granted for the embellishment of Cambridge East, together with the interest accruing thereon. Mr Jariatt said he would withdraw his motion until the next meeting, as they would then know what the Domain Board intended do in the matter.

Mr 1). MoKinnon proposed a vote of thanks to Messrs l.'isher and Kirkwood, as they were tho only members of tho Board who voted for any money being spent on the cemetery. It !>. wover was not seconded, the meeting at t-bia time being rather noisy. Mr Jarratt produced a letter in which the Domain Board recognised the trustees as tenants, and said tliey would spend money upon the place as soon as any was available. The meetings then closed with the usual compliments to the chair.