CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2850, 18 October 1890, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL

The above body met on Tuesday afternoon when there wore present: The Mayor (Mr Priestly), and Councillors Hally, Webber, Fawcett and Bond. The newly elected members, Mo*srs Jno. Robertson, 0. Roberts and R. Kirkvood, were also present, and having signed the usual declaration, took their Heats at the Council. The minutes of the previous meeting wero read and confirmed

Financk.—Overdraft on September 7th., £33112s 7d ; accounts paid during month, £113 2e Id ; amount lodged during month, £95 lu's 5d ; accounts to pass, £29 9s lid ; overdralt when accounts are paid, £378 8s 2d.—The balance sheet for the half-year ending September 30th shows that the overdraft has been reduced by £103 Oa during that term; as on March 31st it was £513 17a 3d, and at September 30th, £350 8s 3d. —This will be glad tidings for the ratepayers.

Gohsk.— In accordance with the resolution respecting the gorse passed at the last Council meeting, the Legal and Finance Committee, accompanied by the Town Clerk and Or. Bach, made, on the 20th September a tour of inspection through must of the northern portion of the borough, and have to report thereon as follows: — They found gorse growing in the streets alongside the following properties: T. H. Brown, R. Kitkwood. A, Bach (occupier), James Finnerty, Judge R'g:n, D. i>. Crnickshank, A. Clements, Jeffrey Hall and Wm. Laird (owners) ; also alongside the Crown Lands in Clare, Grey, Williams. King and Taylor streets, and the Victoria road. In Judge Rogan's case, however, it seemed clear that the gorse could not have spread from his adjoining land, as that was free from it; tho liability tn remove this will therefore rest with the Council. The other parties mentioned abovo (except as to the Crown Lands) were notified of their duty re the gorse, and in all tho cases, either tho gorse has since been cleared, or promises or instructions have been given to have it done. In the case of Arunboldi's land in Dick aud Bryce streets (referred ti> in Mr Nixon's letter to the Council dated sth September last) it was found there was no growth springing up in the streets, but Viat both hedges (which are of gorse) require considerable trimming, i\s they are growing over tho pathways. With respect to the Crown Lands the Committee desired the Mayor and tho Town Clerk to write Mr Humphries, the Chief Commissioner, and suggest that, as the Commissioners had declared they had no funds with which to provide for removing the gorse, they should make over the management of the Crown Lands in the Borough to the Council for some specified term of year* that the Council might let the same at nominal rents on terms of clearing and fencing, and so have tho hinds improved and made cultivable which are now not only useless but injurious to adjoining occupiers and to the Borough. However, before this letter was written Mr Humphries came to Cambridge (.in Saturday, October 4th), and the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and Cr. Bond had an interview with him on this matter. He stated the Commissioners had no legal power to grant leases of the Crown Lands—that all they could legally do was to grant occupation holdings for one year at a timo, subject to determination on three months' notice—but he suzgested that the view of the committee might be carried out, by having these lands transferred from tho Crown Lands Commissioners to the Education Reserves Commissioners. This could be accomplished by an Order-in Council of the Governor on the application of the Crown Lands Commissioners, and tho Education Reserves Commissioners could by law crant leases of their lands for 14, if not for 21 years. He expressed his willingness to apply for this to be done as regards the lands adjoining Clare, Urey and Williams streets, if desired by the Council. The committee recommend the Council to request that this be done. Noticing the deviation in Thornton road where it has encroached into the Crown Lands between Grosvennrstreat and the turn by Mr Hill's house, Mr Humphries suggested that the Council should apply to the Crown Lands Commissioners to have those lands definitely declared to be a part of the road, in which caso the Commissioners, entertaining the application favourably, would alter tho authorised survey map in accordance therewith, and the Council, after providing for a road of duo width, could throw the portion which would then stand on the South of the road, into the Domain property if desired. The committee recommend the Council to apply accordingly for this to be done.—lt was resolved to accept Mr Humphrey's suggestions as regards havine , the Crown Lands transferred to the Education Commissioners, and the proposed alteration on the Thornton road, and steps will at once be tuken to have the transfers legally made. The report was then adopted. It w.is decided to form small committees to inspect the whole of the streets of the

Borough and report upon tho furze growing thereon. Tho Borough was divided into three sections, Crs. Roberta, Robinson and Bond take the North East; Crs Kirkwood, liach and Young the North West ; and Crs. Hally, Webber and Fawcett the South. The Mayor and Town Clerk will

accompany each committee. As soon us this inspection is completed active legal measures will be takeu to compel owners and occupiers to clear their portions of the streets.

WoitK.s.—The Works Committee reported that during tlio past mouth the gorse in Alpha-street had bf.on removed, and part of the street repaired, the grounds of tho Public Hall had also been cleared.

Attention was called to the approach to the yard of the National Hotel, the culvert having given way and the water channel being blocked up. It was resolved to warn the occupier of the National Hotel that the culvert mnit be repaired before next Council meeting. The report was then adopted. The Puulic Hall.—The Hall Committee reported that the entertainment given on the 19th September for purchasing a piano for the Public Hall was a most decided success. The demand for reserved seat tickets was so great, the committee were compellod to increase the number, and withdraw the sale of the one shilling tickets. The statement of receipts and expenditure shows the gross proceeds of the entertainment £34 lie; tho expenditure connected therewith is £5 Is S.I leaving the nett proceeds £2!J !)s 4d. Tho proceeds fr.un the dance amounted to £1 12s, making the total proceeds of entertainment and dance £34 la 4d. A cover for the piano (of American leather cloth lined with Hannel) has been provided at a cost of about £4. A piano stool with screw has also been purchased at a cost of 2">s. The lift for raising and lowering the piano to and from the stage is still under consideration by the committee, and they hope to be able to report something definite regarding it at next meeting ct the Council. The committee recommend that the clerk be instructed to convey the thanks of the Council to Messrs Dickinson, Hartley and Tuck, for the able and successful manner in which they carried out their programme; and also to Mr Goo. Edgecumbe of Tun Waikato Timks, for the very liberal manner in which he had supported the undertaking. —The Mayor said he thought several of the councillors and the clerk also deserved special thanks for the troublo they had taken with the entertainment, viz., Crs. Bond, Young, Roberts, and the Town Clerk, —A hearty vote of thanks was accorded these gentlemen.

Commiitkes.— The following were elected to sorve for tho ensuing yoar :— Legal and Finance: The Mayor. Crs. Hally, Bond, liach and Fawcett. Works: The Mayor, Crs. Wobber, Robertson, Kirkwood, Young and Roberts. Public Hall; The Mayor, Crs. Hally, Young, Wobber, Bond and Roberts.

Elkciion of Mayoh.— Tho clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps for the election of Mayor for the ensuing year. —The Mayor (Mr Priestly) thanked the Council for having acceded to his wishes by meeting at 4 p.m. during the winter months, and announced that iu future the meetings would be at 7 p.m. as formerly.

Tenders.— For caretaker of the Public Hall only two teuders wore received, viz., J. K. Pierce and F. \V. liuckland. The latter was accepted. Fur gravelling, Crouch and Williams' tendot was accepted, it being understood they would appoint an an agent in the town, to whom ratepayers could apply when gravel was wanted for private use. Town Endowments.— No reply having been received to the application for rent of •Sections No, 000 a and GOIa, it was resolved to re-enter und re-lease these sections. Thanks.—On the motion of Cr. Webber, seconded by Cr. Bond, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Thos. Wells for having superintended the trimming of the trees in the streets. Accounts,— The following accounts wore passed for payment:— J. I'. Thomson, £,'22 9s 3d ; H. Pieece, £3 15s j T. Wells, £1 7s Gd ;J. Webber, 7a (id; W. Souter and Co., £110s Sd. Total, £23 9s lid. This closed the business.