CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1422, 13 August 1881, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above body took place at Mr Hewitt's Ciiterion Hotel, Cambridge, on Tuesday evening last, when there were present, Messrs Wells, (Chairman), Johnson, Nixon, Kirkwood, and Hewitt. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Bridge over the Karapiro. The following: report relative to the above work was received from Mr Gwynneth, the Board's Engineer :— Cambridge, 4th August, 1881. Chairman, Cambridge North Town Board. Sir, — I ha\c the honor to report that I ha\e made an estimate of the cost of raising the bridge across the Karapiio Creek fourteen feet, and miking the i.ecebsary approaches thereto. Ihib will entail the lengthening of the bridge one bpan at cacli end. Some of the timbers of the pi csent structure ha\c begun to decay and must be replaced. I estimate the coit of raising the present bridge and making approaches thereto at £460. The piebent roadway being only twelve feet wide, and much too narrow for the traffic, I ha\c also estimated the cost of building the new bridge with 18 feet roadway, and 14 feet higher than the piesent structure, with the necessary approaches, using the timbers of the old bridge as far .is possible on the new one. This I estimate at £690, there being only £230 difference. I would strongly recommend the building of a new bridge, with an 18 feet roadway instead of 12 feftt as the evisting one is, especially as the raising' 14 feet on the present bridge would only be patchwoik, and would not be near as strong as a new structure would be, and the new one could be built in a moie direct line with the road to the Waikato bridge, Fiomthe foicgoing estimate^ you will see that the sum of £150 is less than one thii d of the cost of raising the old bridge. — Your obedient servant, ' JOHN' GWYXNJJI H, C.I . Mr Wells said that on receiving this z-eport, he had consulted his colleague Mr Kirkwood, and they came to the conclusion that it was useless for them to gt> to such an 1 unreasonable expense with such a small subsidy. He had taken the report to the meeting of the 1 Uounty Council, and they having fully discussed the matter came to the conclusion that to do this work out of the County funds would be impossible. It was therefore still more absurd to think that the loaal bodies interested should ,do it. The Council whilst deciding! that it was an important work that must be gone on with, passed \a resolution that they should apply to the Government fot a special grant Id carry* out the work. Application h,ad,now been made to ,the Government through the member for the district, , Mr Wliyte,' asking' for a grant for this purpose. The Council had taken . Mr Gwynneth's view, and, admitted that it was better to make fi new* bridge -altogether. . Mr Hewitt thought M ! 'there was s?a lot of Government property opening in the back country- lie .did not; see why t thev should.nqt construct this , work. - '' Mr Kirkwood >w,aB of 'the same opinion. The Board expressed their thanks to- • , wards tlie Cbuntfjf Coulicil,r and end^r^td ; theactionsof that'sbody 1 in? f dealing Jwlth ithetniatterm/' ,1 f ; p> l>< .n'/ni/t «, ~U ! A communication was road from the

Engineer passing the work of Messrs. Fergusgon >and Crickett in Queen-street West. j« , , A lengthy deb&te(two hours) ensued ou this matter — the relation of the Board to' Messrs Ferguson and Criokett in respect to the above contract. On the motion of Mr 'Kirkwood seconded by Mr ]^ixon, it was .ultimately resolved "That MrHoskingbe requested to superintend the completion of the ' Queen-street West contract, ' Messrs. Hewitt and Nixon to be appointed as a sub-committee to consult with Mr Hosking on the matter."— Carried. Proposed by Mr Hewitt, seconded by Mr Johnston, •' That the gravelling of Queen-street West remain in abeyance for the present.' ' — Carried.

Town Board Booms. A letter was received from Mr A. Raynes intimating that ho had assigned his interest in thB lease of the above premises over to Mr Wright.' In reference to Mr Wrights tender for the repair and fitting up of the above builcfing, the following resolution was proposed by Mr Nixon and seconded by Mr Wells, " That in reply to Mr Wrights memoranda of the 19th and 20th July, he be informed that this Board is not empowered to give » lease for a longer term than they are in office, but that the Board will be glad to receive and will favourably consider an amended offer from Mr Wright as to what improvements he would be prepared to effect for the iease of the room for a year." Mr Hewitt was anxious to know for what purposes Mr Wright wanted to lease the rooms. He would not object to their being used for religious, or choral or debating society purposes, but would take good care they would not be run in opposition to the Public Hall Mr Wright would perhaps undersell those interested in the welfare of the Public [ Hall, by letting his place for a few sbil1 lings whereas the Hall Committee would be done out of £1 or so. Mr Wells reminded Mr Hewitt that he took his seat as a member of the Town Board, and he should not therefore be a party to oppose any proceedings from which the Board in its public capacity might derive any benefit. Mr Hewitt replied that he had an interest in the Public Hall, and therefore maintained his right to oppose any ateps adapted to take custom from it to go to another hall. He believed Mr Raynes was mixed up in this affair. Mr Kirkwood thought that Mr Hewitt was mixing his private concerns with his public business.. Mr Wells thought Mr Hewitt was setting up his own interest against everybody's whom he represented. Mr Hewitt was not going to let Mr Wright or any other man injure his property if he could help it. He was not moved by any selfish impulse, but would certainly stick up for his own interests against any man. He was very anxious to know what Mr Wright wanted this building for, before he would consent to his having it. It was very ( well for them to talk about his coming there to look after the interests of the ratepayers, but he would assure them that he would look after his own at the same time. Mr Nixon's motion was then put and carried. It was agreed that Mr Johnson sec Mr Wright on the matter and )that a special meeting be called for deliberation. Accounts. The following accounts were passed for payment : — Waikato Timm £2 3s 6d Herald £1 ss. This tsrminated the business.