IN THE "EARLIES"

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3665, 8 February 1940, Page 5

IN THE "EARLIES"

SIDELIGHTS ON CAMBRIDGE HISTORY DISTRICT IN THE ’NINETIES vii r. (Continued). During the 33 years that have elapsed since the settlement of Cambridge, it has experienced many vicissitudes of fortune, like every other place in the colony, and, although at present not very active commercially, is generally keeping pace with the times and has a considerable number of live public institutions for the size of the borough and with a fairly bright look-out for the future, from its good farming land and its healthful position. The Farmers’ Club is in a flourishing condition., and quite alive to all the latest ideas in scientific agriculture, having recently added sev- . eral of the latest works on the subject to its valuable library for the benefit of its members and amateur farmers settling down in the neighbourhood. The Club takes a keen interest in the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, for although the annual show is held at Hamilton a large proportion of its Work is done at Cambridge, and much of the produce exhibited is also raised in the same district. Farmers’ Club Secretary Great credit is due to the Club’s secretary (Mr Martin Butler) for the painstaking and satisfactory way he labours to make the shows successes, as also to the zeal of Mr H. Gillett, the president of the Club. Twice a month cattle sales are held in the borough saleyards, alternately by Messrs McNicol and Co. and Mr W. J. Hunter, which attract numbers of the surrounding farmers and graziers, besides outside dealers. There are several nursery gar- % dens for fruits and flowers, the principal ones belonging to Mr J. Sharpe, on the Hamilton Road, and to Mr James Keeley and Mr Dunn, both of Cambridge West. Early Ambulance Class The medical profession has mostly been well represented, an important matter, since many delicate persons visit Cambridge for health purposes. The first were the military doctors, Messrs Howell, Sam and Jones; then at various times since have followed Messrs Waddington, Cushney, Murcli, Cole, Simpson and Perceval. The last started an Ambulance Class, which was well attended and instructive to a fair number of citizens. The law is represented in the borough by Mr James Hally and Mr W. F. Buckland, the community not being very litigious or lawless. There is one police officer, Mr W. Brennan, who has been in charge of the district for over twenty years, and always competent to preserve the peaces of the borough, seldom troubling r; t|ie local Justices, Messrs Bond, John, Fisher, Fotfrest, Priestly, Rout, Walker and Wells,with anything more serious than a drunken swagger. \ Public Institutions The public institutions include the Borough Council, Post and Telegraph Office, railway station and staff of officials, a large public school for children of both sexes, a public reading-room and lending library, a Magazine Club, six religious denominational places of worship, Masonic Lodge, Oddfellows’ Society, Good Templars Society, Harmonic Society, Amateur Athletic Club, Chrysanthemum Society, Farmers’ Club, Football Club, Gymnasium Club, Hunt Club, Tennis Club, a Mutual Improvement Society, Horticultural Society, a brass and reed band, etc. Cambridge is famous for fishing ~ during the summer months, when good sport is to be had in the Karapiro with the fly. The native name of the fish is Pukuroro, a very similar fish to the English grayling.