IN THE “EARLIES”

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3662, 1 February 1940, Page 5

IN THE “EARLIES”

SIDELIGHTS ON CAMBRIDGE HISTORY DISASTROUS FIRE OF 1889. v VII. (Continued from last issue). In March, 1889, a great disaster occurred, when a considerable portion of the south side of Duke Street was destroyed by fire, the conflagration started at Bates Saddlery Establishment, destroying the premises of Messrs Ward (chemist), Keesing (empty), Sargent (watchmaker), Kincaid (draper and grocer), Bond (printer and stationer), Neal (commission agent), Colder (jeweller), Westby (clerk), Ruge (tobacconist), and a Horse Bazaar belonging to Mr Hewitt. Many willing hands lent assistance by trying to save the contents of the buildings, by removing them to the opposite side of the streets, but were unable to stay the flames for want of water; for Cambridge being located more than one hundred feet above the level of the river, residents of the business part of the town are unable to reach water by ordinary wells, and as there is no proper water supply, the inhabitants depend on rain water caught and stored in tanks from the roofs of their houses. Need for Water-Supply Many proposals for a water supply to the business portion of the town have been mooted from time to time, but have always„failed of fruition, though the importance of even a small supply of water at the right time was shown during the progress of this fire, as the building known was Melbourne House was saved fCom destruction by a small garden pump playing water from an iCpn tank at the rear of the. store on. to the roof and exposed side of the building by young Mr McVeagh, who undoubtedly saved it. For several years Duke Street presented a desolate. appearance after the fire, but now it has almost recovered its former appearance, the re-built stores being occupied by Messrs Craig (tailor), Clarke (seedsman), Hally (solicitor), Rowe (bootmaker), Bond (stationer), and a vacant shop belonging to Mr Clements. Mr Neal having removed to the opposite side of the street into premises he purchased (formerly occupied by Messrs Houghton and Sons), these he enlarged and improved by erecting several shops and offices and a large bakery. In 1890 a Cheese and Bacon Factory Company was established, which - still exists and flourishes, proving a boon to farmers of the district by purchasing their milk, pigs, etc. In 1891 the Cambridge Chrysanthemum Society was started by Mr Thomas Wells, an enthusiastic grower of the “Queen of Autumn Flowers,” which has proved a great success as shown by the six splendid shows held by the society, and which has infused a lot of energy into other growers, whose numbers increase in -Cambridge every year. A Young People’s Industrial Exhibition .was initiated in 1894. The results were so gratifying to the promoters?—Archdeacon Willis, Miss Hooper, Mrs Major Wilson, Mr G. S. Dixon and Mr Hyatt—that another exhibition on the same lines is fix-

ed for September, 1899, as the previous one was instrumental in bringing out much unsuspected and dormant talent from the young exhibi-

tors in many directions. Harmonic Society Revived

In August, 1896, Archdeacon Willis enlisted the musical talent of Cambridge to practice the music of Handel’s Messiah for a public service in his church on Christmas Day. Soon after commencing to practice he asked Mr William Rout to take the baton, whose energy with it enabled the united choirs to give an excellent rendering of tlie great oratorio, and so inspired the musical people in the place that the Harmonic Society revived for the study of oratorio music immediately afterwards.

Early in 1897 a branch of the Auckland Fruit Evaporating Company was started in a factory built for the purpose in Williams' Street, under the management of Mr A. Legge. It has already been found a great boon to the growers of fruit about Cambridge, as they are now 7 sure of some return for, their produce, if small; w r hereas, previously, after the fruit had been sent to Auckland it w r as found the returns barely covered the cost of transit, leaving nothing for the labour of the grow r ers. This factory finds employment for a number of young people of both sexes for some months in the year, who w 7 ould otherwise not earn anything; and this employment is likely to increase as time goes on. Queen’s Jubilee

During June of 1897 all the townspeople of Cambridge were, like every other loyal British community, discussing and arranging plans for celebrating the Diamond Jubilee reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, w 7 ho „has had the longest and most glorious reign of any of the sovereigns of the British Empire. A committee was formed of all the leading citizens to undertake the suitable celebration of the event, which eventuated in the erection of a suitable flagstaff in Victoria Square, and improving the public recreation grounds, named the Victoria Park, the necessary funds being raised by public s subscriptions, and a grant from the Borough Council, which included the expenses connected with the public demonstration in the Domain grounds, and refreshments for the children taking part therein. On. the morning of the 22nd June all the public school children, with most of their parents, were early astir preparing for the pageant, and about ten o’clock the inhabitants and school children, with their teachers assembled opposite the Public Hall in Victoria Street. The Mayor and councillors, the clergy, the Freemasons, the Oddfellows, the Good Templars, the Salvation Army, and about a dozen of the original Waikato Militia men were marshalled into a procession and marched up to the Domain, where they formed into a hollow square on the tennis lawn, when a speech suitable to the occasion was delivered by the oldest native-born settler in the district, Mr W. F. Buckland. After the singing of the National Anthem, with three hearty British cheers for the Queen, the procession reformed and started for the flagstaff, opposite the National Hotel, where the Union. Jack was run up and unfurled amidst loud -applause. Then Archdeacon Willis and the Rev. L. Hudson addressed the assembly, both speakers endorsing the prediction of Mr Buckland that the Jubilee would be always remembered as a red-letter day by all the ' young spectators, and then pointed out the marvellous triumphs of mind over matter in every department of knowledge during the sixty years of Her Majesty’s reign, as also the enterprising spirit manifested by her subjects. After the speeches children w 7 ere entertained at a bountiful lunch and then dismissed to their homes, full of loyalty and patriotism. (to be Continued)