THE CAMBRIDGE HALL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1786, 15 December 1883, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE HALL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY.

$?ropo a sed Building Improvements^ IA.' MEETING of the members of the Cambridge Public Hall Committee and tbe Library Committee was held in the ball 'at .four o clock on Thursday evening last^fol 1 the purpose of taking into consideration •the following communications fiom ti; town board. There were present : Mes->r.s J. P. Campbell (chairman), Hewitt, Sargent, Richaidson, Ashor^ Thompson, Brooks, Ar.hdeaeon Willis,^ and Captain Soutter. I iik Chairman- oi mi' Pent ie Liiir vry CoyMini . Di' \it Sir,— l l] ne the honour to inform jou that the board h.ur now rcceucd certificate of title to allotment No 000, the public libr.iry site. Ourboaidis desirou. of having the opinion of your committee as to what steps should be taken rcffardinjf the debt upon the libary, if any, and other impiovemcntb necessary." A similar letter was addressed to the Hall Committeu. The Chahnian, in opening tlio proceedings, said home time ago Mr Hewitt had asked him, as a member of the Hall Committee, and as taking a personal interest in these matters, to give an opinion as to whether money could be raised on the Crown grant by pledging it as security. His opinion, which had baen confirmed, was that the board had no power whatever to mortgage the allotments. These had been given in trust for a specific purpose, and consequently could not be mortgaged. The reason of thi-s would doubtless be evident to the meeting. Piesumiug the town board had the power to give the allotments in security for a .sum of money such as that which it was proposed to bonow, and thiough home came or othci that body could not meet the lequirements of the mortgage ; then, as a mattei of coiuse, the sites which had been specially vested in the board for a specific purpose would fall the property of the private individual from whom the money had been bonowed, and the good intention of the Government would become \ oid. Anyhow, as these allotments had become invested in the board, the Government could not now divert them to any purpose. He questioned veiy much if matters in regard to these allotments. v\eie not better now than if they weie vested in the boaid in such a, way that they could be given in security for a loan. Certainly, endowments had been made over to the board, which were not for specific pm poses, and these they could deal with as they thought best. The present committees, had no power to deal with the _ allotments, they only met theie that evening in the capacity of advisers to the town board, which, in its communication, had solicited their opinion. Aichdeacon Willis remarked that the library committee would not be abolished. They would continue to exist, and carry on the internal conduct of tbe hibtitutitm, such as the buying of books, &c. He considered they should ascertain public opinion on the matter of how the money should be rawed to cany out the suggested impiovcments to both buildings. The Chairman stated that theie was one meant open to them by which they could raise the necessary money, and that was to stiike a special late. Mi Soutter remarked that this cmuse had been adopted at the Thames, and had been attended with success. Mr Hewitt believed that even in the event of their sfcnkiug a special late on the i ate ible pi apex ty of the town, they would nevei ie iiiiie to collect it. He believed the revenue of the hall would be sufficiently laige to cleai off the debt, pay the inteiest, and provide foi its own casual wants. In leply to a question, Mr Brook-, stated that tho piesent liability of the hall was about £110. There was no liability on the libiaiy. Mi 'Kichaidson said that £400 would be required to cairy out the suggested impro\ onienth to the hall. In leply to Captain Soutter, Mr Brooke c\ plained that the £400 was the estimated cost, but at tho same time it may b; found that some of the pioposed extensions and linpioveinants would not now be desirable, and consequently the cost would not bo so heavy. The meeting weio unanimously of opinion that the Hall was badly in need of lenovatton. Suppei -rooms and dressing-iooms were much wanted, also lining and painting. liegaiding the levying ot tio rate as security foi the loan, the chairman icniaiked that it should bj boine in mind that it was not pioposed to gather in the whole amount in one year, but to extend it over a numbei of years, paying so much sinking fund and inteiest annually. Possibly, us Mr Hewitt had said, it would be found unnecessary to collect the rate, the levenue of the 'building, (as in the ease of tho Hall) being sufficiently laige to pay all. In loply to a question, Mi ])ods stated the inipio\cinents to tho libiaiy and lead-ing-iooni weie estimated to cost about £200. Therefore both amounts to be iaised repieseutesl the sum of about £700. Archdeacon Willis remaiked that no doubt, notwithstanding any suggestions oi representations which the meeting might make, the town board, after taking over possession, might act independently of any action they (the meeting) had previously taken. On the other hand, it was but reasonable to expect that the board would act up to the suggestions of tho two committees. Tho Cliainnan then proposed, " That the joint committees of the public hall and library lespoctfully suggest to the commissioners of the Cambridge Town Board that, seeing the allotments are now vested in your body, the board should take over the preseut liability on the hall, (about £100), and furthei suggest that as soon as practicable a sum of about £400 should be expended on the hall, and about £250 on the library buildiug, and that the said sums should be raised by loan, such loan being secured by the striking of a special rate over the ratable property in the township." Archdeacon Willis seconded tlu> proposition. In speaking to tho resolution, Mr Brooks said, personally it mit his opinion. Po->-sibly, however, when the matter was submitted to the ratepayers £400 might be considered too large a sum to go in for, and thus the whole affair might bj vetoed ; whereas, a proposal to cany out the impiovements on a smaller scale might be cairied without any difficulty whatever. Captain Soutter considered Mr Brooks' view of the matter a very sensible one. Mr Hew itt spoke against reducing the proposal in any form. When they went before the ratepayers they lequiied to have a definite piop.isal to submit to them, with the estimated cost named. Mr Brooks lemarked, in suppoit of his suggestion, that at the present time it was hard to get money, and this, no doubt, most of the gentlemen present were aware of. Mr Hewitt contended that there was every likelihood of their not requiring to collect a single penny of the rate, the levenue of the hall would, ho believed, pay everything, and this fact the ratepayers should be made aware of. Capt. Soutter agreed with Mr Hewitt regat ding the possibility of the rate not being lcquhed to be collected. The Chairman stated that anything they did theie that evening wa.s simply an expression of opinion or iidvice to the board ; for, practically .speaking, they had no power in the meeting whatever. The town board was the body with whom the giving effect to the proposition rested. An alternative pioposition might be submitted to the latepayei.s befoie they should be asked to v.ite on the subject. • • Arc'ideacon Willis hoped that the members of the town board preseut would bear in mind Mr Brooks' suggestion. It was quite possible that the ratepayers would rather vote for an expenditure of £200 than one of £400. Mr Richardson considered this was a matter to be discussed at a public meeting. Their cai ryiug any such suggestion would not have any practical effect. The chairman's proportion was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Richardson asked if the 'proposition included the books and other property in the libiary. The Chairman replied, Certainly not. Archdeacon Willis remarked that tho books, &c. belonged to the library corporation. He'understood that the whole, of the internal belongings would still be under the supervision' of the committee. ' Mr Brooks enquired if there were any means" by which the board 'coukTcarry out, some of the improvements, such as painting, &c.', before the matter ( of borrowing" the, money \vas settled. Th'e'GJhairman did "not iconsider that such a course was desirable. ' • Chairman' lthen 3 propos'e'd' that the chairmen of the twp,>cqmraittees, Archdeacon Willis and himself, be appointed a comjnittee,, and that r they be^requested to interr, vieiv th'e'c'ominißsiouers'regarauigthe transfer bf'thesrnpyeableiprbpertyjto.'.theaboard; ' and empower them tojnake, t such,^arrange- \ inents as are necessary^d"effect.,the'^trans-fer,-and also with ,r&j?ard to" the proposed kltfei^ion^vAMr^^o^kH^UaVmff^aecpridklj