CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD and PUBLIC HALL and LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1801, 22 January 1884, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE TOWN BOARD and PUBLIC HALL and LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS.

A spkciaj. meeting of the town board was held on Saturday evening last at 7 o'clock for the purpose of giving effect to the proposition p.ihsed at the recent joint meeting of the members of the board, library and Public Hall committees. Present : Crs. Wells (chairman), Richardson, Hewitt, Johnson and Clark. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said he had taken the earliest possible moment, in accordance with the e^piessed desire of the meeting above referred to, to call them together for the purpose of giving effect to the matter so far as they were concerned. To do this it was necessary to have a meeting of the board, and then give notice of the proposal by advertisement in the usual way, once a week for four weeks, meeting again at the end of that time to confirm the lesolution which would bo submitted to them that evening. The matter would then come before a public meeting for discussion, and this would be followed by a poll of the ratepayers. Their authority for borrowing money was to be found in sect'.oa 328 of the Municipal Corporations Act, and the form of procedure was to be found in section"! 140 and 141 of the same act. He had drafted the following proposition which he would propose :— (1) That to promote the amusement and instruction of the inhabitants, tho Cambridge Public Hall and Public Library be enlarged and improved at a cost of £000. (2) That thin sum be raised by special loan, its allocacation to be as follows — viz. : Public Library, £175 ; Public Hall, £325 ; present liability on the latter, £100. Total, as above, £(300. (2) That the security to be given for the raising feuch loan shall be the nett revenue of the Public Hall ; also, a special rate of lid in the £ on the annual value of all the rateable property in the Cambridge Town District. — On the vote being taken, Crs. Wells, Johnson, Hewitt and Richardson voted for, Cr. Clark against. — Cr Hewitt seconded.— Cr. Clark, in speaking to the proposition, said he was sorry to hold different views to all the other business people of the town, but he did not think that this was the proper time to think of undertaking so extensive a work. They could not claim that the town was just now in a progressive state. Of course he did not presume to think that his opinion would alter that of the other members, nor affect it in any material way. He would promise them, however, that though he would not support them, he would not oppose them.— Cr. Johnson thought that seeing the Public Hall and Library had hitherto paid their way, and the interest and sinking fund on whatever debt they had incurred ; and considering the fact that about half-a-dozen tradesmen were prepared to guarantee the interest on the money required for the work, he could not see what objection they could have to the scheme. It was evident thatthe scheme was a popular one, as at the meeting held recently i to discuss the matter the principal business people of the town were present and heartily supported it. He would certainly support the resolution. — Cr. Hewitt remarked that the recent meeting was unanin.ous in thinking that the tariff of the hall and the income of the library would be sufficient to defray the interest and sinking fund of the loan. He for one would not be afraid to guarantee the interest and sinking fund. Therefore there was no reaton whatever for them to entertain any doubt on the matter. Increased accommodation was very much required at the present time, and would be more so in the immediate future. Certainly during the last twelve mouths the tariff of the Hall had fallen off, but this was mainly due to the fact that the land court from which they received no rental had been in occupation during the greater portion of that term. — Cr. Clark hoped nothing be said would in any way influence the meeting. It was merely a private expression of opinion on his part. Holding the views he did on the matter, he considered he would not be doing his duty to the public nor to himself to mislead the Board by not expressing his? opinion in a candid manner. — The Chairman thought the scheme had a great deal to recommend it. # Both the Hall and Library, were at present in such a condition that it was absolutely necessity that a sum of money should be borrowed toputthem in a proper state of repair, and prevent them from falling into a state of unbecoming decay. There was a liability on the hall of £100, which they would have to take over. This being the case, unless they raised a loan to meet it, they would be simply adding to the debt of the board. A sum of nearly £300 would, in point of necessity have to be borrowed, and the further amount required for the carrying out of the suggested additions and improvements wa« comparatively very small. Againj the extra tariff from the hall, he believed, would pay the interest and sinking fund on the additional money required. They were adding no extra burden whatever to the ratepayer* by taking thin step.— The proposition was then put to the meeting and carried, Cr. Qlffjk .only dissenting. , On the suggestion of the Chairman, the report of the joint meeting recently held, as it appeared, in The Wjukato Times, Iran placed on tho inmutes m the official record of -the bropeWing*; . . Thjs terminated tho Wtft^'