CAMBRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 326, 19 January 1907, Page 5

CAMBRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly meeting of this body was held on Thursday evening, when there was a fair attendance. The President, Mr J. Hammond, occupied the chair. MAIL matters. No mails having been received from Auckland since Monday, the President had wired the Chief Postmaster, Auckland, that morning as follows :—All Waikato mails blocked. Can yob not make immediate arrangements for delivery as some days must elapse before trains can communicate.” To this a reply had been received giving the arrangements being made as to the mails being sent up the Waikato from Tuakau to Ngaruawahia, and it concluded : “ Hope railway will soon have steamer running regularly on Waikato to bridge gap and restore communication.” Some of the members thought there had been delay in making arrangements for the sending of the mails, report. The quarterly report of the Council of the Chamber stated that every effort had been made to push on matters of importance to the district, and was now able to state that definite arrangements had been made for opening a post office at Karapiro, and that the various district telephone connections only await the necessary guarantees to be completed; and that there was every reason to believe that the connection with Auckland would be made in the near future. It then related how the Government had made a liberal offer of £BOO towards the cost of a clock tower and chiming clock as an adjunct to the new Cambridge post office, providing the inhabitants of the district would subscribe the balance of £3OO, of which the Borough Council had promised £IOO ; and it would be for the meeting to suggest ways and means to secure the balance.

It further stated that efforts had been made to secure increased railway facilities for the place, but from correspondence which would be laid before the meeting it would be seen that no change would be made at present. The question of holidays to be observed in Cambridge would also be brought under their consideration that evening. The President stated they were all well aware of the position of the matter relating to the clock tower and clock, for the letters connected therewith had been published; and the Chamber had practically undertaken to raise the £2OO. He thought a personal canvass should be made of all who would benefit by the clock, but he would like suggestions as to the best methods of raising the money. He trusted the opposition as to the site of the new Post-office being altered would now cease, for any difference of opinion on the matter would put them in a very precarious position. There was a large demand on the Government for such buildings, and any opposition to the erection of the new Post-office on the site adjoining the one now existing would mean that the matter would be hung up indefinitely. Members thought that if a canvass was made it would meet with hearty response from the inhabitants of the surrounding districts. HOLIDAYS. Some discussion took place as to the advisability of altering the holiday held on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday to Empire Day, but eventually it was decided to Jet it remain as at present, and it was decided to ask the Borough Council, at its next meeting, to declare the following the holidays for the ensuing year 29th January, Anniversary Day; 7th March, the second day of the Waikato Central Show; Good Friday; Easter Monday, 3rd June; Prince of Wales’ Birthday, November 9th; the second day of the Waikato Show at Hamilton; Christmas Day; Boxing Day; and New Year’s Day. ' TELEPHONES. Re the one to Kaipaki, Mr H. J. Greenslade, M.H.R., wrote stating he would be pleased to assist in the matter in any way possible, but just now he had not the time to make a personal canvass of the settlers. However, he would bring it under the notice of those with whom he came in contact as opportunity offered. He thanked the Chamber for the interest shown in the matter, and regretted those most immediately interested seemed so indifferent about the connection being established. The President said the members would remember that the Chamber asked the Borough Council to have a telephone put into the Borough sample rooms, but it was refused, as the Town Clerk said the commercial travellers objected to pay anything extra for it. They were going to move further in the matter for they had a petition, signed by most of the travellers using the rooms, praying that the telephone might be put in and offering to pay a small fee for the convenience. Mr T. Richards said if there were good sample rooms in the town the Borough ones would not, be used, owing to the dust in them. RAILWAY FACILITIES. A letter was received from the General Manager of Railways in reply to one sent by the Chamber on 10th of October last, asking that a motor train be tried on the the Cambridge-Frankton section, from which the following are extracts:—“ I have the honor to inform you that the matter has received very careful conside-

ration and I regret that I cannot see my way to comply with the request. The experiments with the motor train are first being made within the suburban area wiih a view to ascertaining definitely their practical utility, and the extension or otherwise of such services will depend entirely upon the results of the trials now being made on, the various suburban lines of the colony.” The letter here gave a detail of the service to and from Cambridge, after which it continued, “ Having regard to the value of business on the Cambridge branch the existing train services are amply sufficient to meet requirements, and they furnish all reasonable conveniences both for the conveyance of passengers and goods traffic. I regret that in these circumstances I cannot see my way to authorise the running of any additional trains.”

A similar letter had been sent by the Minister of Railways to Mr Greenslade, and he forwarded it on for the benefit of all concerned.