Cambridge 100 Years Ago - July 1905
At the Cambridge Borough Council meeting eight residents of the north-east corner of town complained that they did not get a daily mail and telegraph delivery as they were over a mile from the Post Office.
The residents of Chapel Street wrote asking for a properly formed footpath. The Fire Brigade sent a deputation to get more hose as the first reel had just gone to pieces.
The Fire Brigade held their first Annual Meeting and Social Gathering and recounted the history of the brigade. At 10 pm there was the vigorous ringing of the fire bell and, "notwithstanding the revelry the Brigade had been indulging in, they eclipsed all previous records in extinguishing the flames".
A A Smith of the National Hotel wanted to run the water from his new bathroom into the street - but new Sanitary Laws wouldn't allow it.
Many Maungatautari residents witnessed a mirage which distinctly appeared as many houses and a moving train, over the northern horizon.
Crowther and Bell secured the contract for a daily service taking mail and passengers to and from Te Waikato Sanatorium.
Te Waikato Sanatorium patients were entertained with a concert by Matron Rochfort and staff, and one of the Sisters celebrated her birthday.
Mr Matheson of Karapiro while driving past the entrenchments in Victoria Street collided with the barricade and damaged his buggy.
Councillor O'Toole said they were throwing money away doing the gravelling work in Victoria Street as it was the wrong time of the year for such work.
For nearly a year the pastoral flock of the Presbyterian Church had been without a shepherd, so it was a red letter day when Rev William Gow was inducted. A soiree and concert was held in the evening, and representatives from various religious bodies welcomed Rev Gow to the town.
George Dickinson (undertaker) moved his premises to Alpha Street, opposite Mr Wells' residence.
William Whinwray won the prize for most points at the Hamilton Poultry Show in Black and Buff Orpingtons, Silver, Gold and White Wyandottes, Brown and White Leghorns and Minorcas.
"A pale looking young man, named William Connolly, was charged with having attempted suicide on 22 May 1905". He pleaded guilty but didn't think he had done anything very serious. This riled the Magistrate who said that if he was his son he would take him into a small room and flog him. He was sent to prison until he could find sureties of £50 and £25.
The Croquet Club held a Basket Social and progressive Euchre party in aid of funds. Ladies made a supper basket for two and these were auctioned, "by Mr McCullagh whose keen perceptive faculties, even into the darkest recesses of the room, his eagle eye quickly caught the nod of a bidder, and thus the baskets and their contents were knocked down with lightening like rapidity, realising a total of £4 2s 6d."
Adjutant and Mrs Brown of the Salvation Army were transferred to Onehunga and Adjutant Styles transferred from Onehunga to Cambridge. During his seven months in Cambridge he had increased the roll by five soldiers, made 1,279 calls, held 423 meetings and left £75 towards the new barrack funds.
Witnesses in the Pearson - Beuth rape case left for Auckland for the fourth trial. It was established that Herbert Pearson and Mrs Beuth were friends but . . . Sir Robert Stout had the jury locked up for the night.
An effort was being made to improve the school grounds and the elder boys had been industriously exercising their muscle in removing two or three unsightly stumps from the grounds.
The Farmers' Club meeting expressed concern over penniless people being sent to the Government Sanatorium and becoming a charge on this charitable aid district. The Waikato Hospital Board wrote to the government asking that the discharged persons remain a charge on the districts whence they came.
Thomas Wells was given an Illuminated Testimonial by the Council for the service he had given to the betterment of the town over the past 25 years.
James E Fulton M.I.C.E. visited the site of the proposed high level bridge with the mayor and several councillors. He was to submit rough plans and estimates on a truss bridge, an arch bridge and a cantilever bridge.
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