THE NEW POST OFFICE.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 319, 3 January 1907, Page 5

THE NEW POST OFFICE.

The Borough Council last evening considered a letter from the Combridge Chamber of Commerce re the Government erecting a clock tower on the proposed new post office, and giving a subsidy of £3OO towards the cost of a chiming clock’, provided the inhabitants of Cambridge furnished the other £3OO, the total cost of the clock being £6OO, This letter has already appeared in our columns.

The Deputy-Mayor thought the offer was a very liberal one, and they were indebted to the Chamber of Commerce and Mr Greenslade. M.H.R., for the action they had taken. The clock would be of great use and a lasting benefit to the district, for it would be heard for miles round. He thought the Council would be doing its duty if it voted £IOO towards the £3OO, the balance to be subscribed by the inhabitants of the district. Mr T. Wells had promised to give £lO and two nothers gentlemen £5, and he did not anticipate there being any difficulty in raising the required amount.

Cr O'Toole opposed the spending of the money of the Borough for such a purpose. _Or Hally said they could not look a gift horse in the mouth, and they had either to take it of leave it. He asked how the Council was going to raise the £IOO ? To this the Deputy-Mayor replied they could strike a special rate if necessary. He further remarked they were going to have a very decent rate next year, on which Crs Hally and Clark wondered if it would reach 3s 6d in the £. Cr Clark said they could not expect much support from the country settlers, as the Borough had not studied the interests of the farmers in connection with the saleyavds. He had heard it suggested that instead of spending £3OO on a clock they should utilise the money in moving the saleyards back to the old site. The Deputy-Mayor ruled Cr Clark out of order, saying they were not discussing the saleyards site. Pie was sure the farmers -would support the proposal if approached in the right spirit. Crs Dickinson and Stone said the clock would be as useful to the farmers as to to the inhabitants of the Borough. Cr Hally: “ They won’t support us. Most of them are going to Hamilton now.”

The Deputy-Mayor said the Hamilton people were pulling together and were making their town a decent one, and they should do the same with Cambridge. Gr Dickinson; “ You won’t let us.” The Deputy-Mayor, smiling: “We want you to poll with us.” At this point Crs Clark and Hally made some rather sarcastic references to the progressive party, taunting them with the septic tank stink, and saying they surely could not do less than support a public benefit such as the clock would be.

The Deputy-Mayor said they had been getting along peaceably so far, and he hoped they would not indulge in perso-

rmlifcies. It was not nice to see these things in cold print. Cr Hally suggested that they Rive ,£SO. and then if the public diil nor, raise the balance they might give an >iher £SO. Cr 0 Toole said the money could be spent in many other ways to better advantage. The Deputy-Mayor said Cr O’Toole evidently thought the Government did not know, what they were about. Cr O’Toole said he knew Sir Joseph Moud was a shrewd man, for he went to school with him, and he was bluffing the Cambridge people, for he knew they would not raise the L3OO. A Councillor; “You will never be made a J.P." Cr O’Toole: “ I don’t want to.” After some further discussion, the Deputy-Mayor moved that the Council vote LIOO towards the cost of the clock, provided the balance is contributed by the inhaoitants of the district.

Seconded by Cr Clark and carried, Crs 0 loole, Hally and Buckland dissenting. Cr O’Toole wished his protest entered ; Cr Hally was in favor of LSO being given, and Cr Buckland thought the Finance Committee should have devised ways and means of raising the money, as the Council’s funds were rather strained at present.