CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2911, 12 March 1891, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The above body met on Tuesday, at 7 p.m. Present: His Worship tho Mayor (Mr Priestly), Crs. U. Webber, J. Young, J. Robertson. Jas. Hally, J. S. Bond, A. Bach, R. Kirkwood, and It. Fawcett. Tho minutes of the previous meeting wore read and duly confirmed. Smtsinv.— The Property-tax Department notified the Council that they had forwarded a voucher for the payment ot £41 ss, it being 7o per cent, of the estimated subsidy due to the Council for the year. The Waikato Bridge.—The Win pa County Council forwarded the last report of their engineer re the bridge over the Waikato River, at Cambridge, as follows : —"I have had some of the soil cleaned away from the piles of this bridge, and lind as I reported some time ago that the piles wore decaying; three of these are in a pretty advanced stage and will require to be replaced soon, from their position they do not effect to any great extent the stability of the bridge." Or. Webber thought the Council could not take any action in facs of the engineer having reported the bad state of tho piles. Crs. Bond and Hally thought tho County Council should bo asked to let their engineer again inspect and report upon the bridge, as many people thought it unsafe, with a view to having anv necessary repairs executed without delay. A motion in accordance was carried. Cattle on Streets.—Mr J. R. o. Richardson wrote to the Mayor at date: Sir, —I have tho honour to request that something be done to protect the ratepayers' property from the stray cattle, on tho streets in the township. I understand that the Borough Council are legally bound to keep the streets free from obstructions and nuisances in general, and I beg to say that if any damage is done to my properly by the cattle now wandering about the township, I shall hold the Council liable for same, There are certain cattle that no fence will prevent coming into one's garden, and I do not intend to be continually driving these animals out of my premises. Moreover it is n..t side for my children, when these unbroken heifers are allowed to break through my fences. If y.m will kindly see. that the by-law about cattle wandering in the streets is not allowed to be broken, you will confer a favour on your obedient servant, J. R. S. Richardson. P.S.—I may add that two heifers were put out of my garden last eveuine. One of tho same was again in this morning, and it also paid visits to a paddock of oats before I harvested them. Other cattle also broke into my oats and havo also been in my garden. Another heifer is continually in another paddock of mine and walks through the fence as if it were a gate The last named has now taken refuge in a neighbour's paddock whore the feed is a littlo better. I only mention these few instances of damage ; but I may say seldom a day pisses without some stray cow breaking one of my fences.—Cr. Bond thought they could dismiss the matter speedily, as tho Council had already decided not to compel people t > keep their cittle off the run. He should most decidedly vote against it.—Cr. Fawcett said if anyone had a legul fence no cattte could g,-t through.—The Mayor pointed out that thev had a by-law that provided a penalty „f £.■) for allowing cattle to stray in the Greets. —After considerable discussion it

was resolved to inform Mr Richardson that, trie difficulties and dangers that would attend keeping cattle olf the run would be no great that the Council would not undertake the responsibility ; :1,,fl further that it is considered that if Mr Ric unison has a properly constructed fence cattle will nt break through. Kino Sthkkt.—Mr Richardson wrote asking to have the above street repaired near his house.—The Mayor bore testimony to the badness of the road and supported Mr Richardson's request.— The matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act. A Cool Rkqukst.—Mr James Cochrane wroto the Council as follows: I haye for the last five years been in possession of sections 31 and 31 A. of the Borons;!) of Cambridge upon certain terms. The original agreement having expired the loase of the said sections was put up at auction aud was purchased by mo at a yearly rental of 38s. I now find that the amount bid is above its value and in excess of what is being paid for land in its immediate vicinity, T therefore respectfully request the Council tn reduce the rent to £1 per annum, which sum I am prepared to pav.— Referred to the Legal and Finance Committee to report upon. Finance.—Overdraft on February 10th, £31)7 3s 5d ; accounts paid during month, £11 fis Sd; amount lodged during month, £•22 l. r >s; accounts to pass, £41 ">d : overdraft when accounts are paid, £421 i los Gd. Thk Domain and Thornton Road.—A letter was receceived from the chairman of the Domain Board (which will be found in our report of the Domain Board Meeting), and the Mayor explained the action taken by the committee. All matters seem to have been satisfactorily settled with the exception of the levelling of the gravel pit, and this is the bono of contention. The Lagal and Finance Committee had considered the matter and recommended that the Works Committee should be asked to give an idea as to the probable time they would require the pit, and that the last clause of the resolution passed at a former meeting, disclaiming anv liability, be rescinded. Cr. Kirk-wood said the chairman of the Domain

Board had refused to put an amendment at tho Board meeting, or the terms of tho letter would have been different. Tho recommendation of the Legal and Finance Committee was adopted.

Wouks).—The Works Committee reported as to tho various repairs to roads, etc., and as to the Ivarapiro bridge they recommended that a trial of asphalt be made upon a small portion of the bridge, as the under timbers were strong and good. Crs. Bach and Fawcetl opposed a trial of asphalt being made as they thought it wtiiild crack. After a division had been taken on tho question tho report was adopted. Footpaths.—Cr. Hally had forwarded a very voluminous opinion re tho constructing and repairing of footpaths, which opinion stated that after the footpaths wore once formed, the Council were liable to keep all footpaths in repair. Tkndkhs.— Repairs to verandah of Council Chambers :-W. Hogan, £11 7s; W. J. Young, £11 Is. Cr. Bond thought the verandah was useless and he moved that it be taken down. Seconded by Cr. Fawcett

and agreed to. Accounts.—The following accounts were passed for payment:—Win. Spong, £13 3s: .1. P. Thomson, £10 10s ; H. I'reece, £1 Us ; J. Meredith, £2 10s (id ; W. Sourer and Co., £2 Ss Sd ; R. Davies, £1 lis 31 : R. W. Stewart, 2s (id ; Jag Hally, £2 Ki.(id. Total, £41 0s sd. This was all tho important business.