100 Years: 1907 Jan – Dec

January 1907

The New Year was quietly celebrated with the ringing of St Andrew’s bells and the town band playing at the fountain. Mr and Mrs Earl continued their annual custom and entertained members of the band at their home ‘Orongo’.
The weather was good, fishing and shooting parties were out in all directions, the shop keepers were pleased with business. Trains were taxed to their full capacity to provide for excursionists and only one drunk was in the lockup.
All the churches had held Christmas services and on Boxing Day their picnics were well patronised. The Anglicans were at Mr Jas Forrest’s ‘Old Gwynlands’, the Methodists at R Reynold’s ‘Trecarne’ and the Presbyterians at Mr G Watt’s ‘Abergeldie’. Maungatautari School held their picnic on Boxing Day at Mr Gray’s plantation, next to the school.
For the year of 1906 there had been 87 births, 32 deaths and 18 marriages in Cambridge.
The Chamber of Commerce were congratulated on changing the government’s plans for the new Post Office to include a tower for a clock. The government also agreed to pay £300 – half the price of the clock.

The Borough Council voted £100 towards the clock to be erected in the tower of the new Post Office. Council felt that the farmers would not contribute to the clock but a discussion at the Fencourt Creamery was quite to the opposite – so long as the Post Office was built on the old saleyards site. (Where the Town Hall is today.)
Between five and six hundred people attended the Oddfellows Sports held on Victoria Square on New Year’s Day even though the weather was threatening. £29 6s were taken at the gate.
Miss Blackmore bought out Mrs Gedge’s Fruit Store and the adjoining tea room from Miss Veale.
Thos Wells accepted the tender of W Hogan, £585, to build a new brick shop adjoining his present store in Duke Street.
Mr W J Graham was in charge of the recently established post-office at Karapiro – but thought the name should be Taotaoroa post office as there was one resident in Karapiro who used the office and thirty householders from Taotaoroa.

Without any canvassing for donations £45 was promised for the Post Office clock and the list of subscribers started to appear in the Independent columns.
Rowe Bros sold the balance of their property at Monavale – 820 acres – to McEnnis and Higham for £7,560; 60 acres to Robert D Fisher for £635; 72 acres to Souter & Co for £750.
The Borough Council had the spare firebell hung at the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets.
There was a general feeling of dismay as Cambridge was put in the new electorate of Tauranga.
Those wishing to avail themselves of the new gas supply were to contact the Borough Council foreman so connections could be made while the mains were being laid down.
A great demand for steel on the U.S. Steel Exports Products Co meant a delay in dispatching the material for the high level bridge for Cambridge. Mr J E Fulton, engineer, was instructed to commence with the concrete foundations and call tenders for the work.
Charles Reid, architect accepted F Marcroft’s tender of £576 to build a ten room house for M E Gardner in Queen Street.

Two petitions were circulating in Cambridge West (Leamington) – one proposed to form a town district the other against forming a town district. At that time they were governed and rated by the Pukekura Road Board. If there was town board it was felt rates would be raised.
The flooding of the Waikato River in 1874 had always been ‘the’ record. But a recent thunder storm with an hour of torrential rain eclipsed the record by 18 inches. ‘During the day large numbers of the townspeople made their way down to the Karapiro and Waikato bridges; the former river was in high flood and the Waikato was a magnificent sight – the seething water swirling along at a mighty rate.
Te Waikato Sanatorium for consumptives at Maungakawa had been kept full to capacity, averaging 60 patients. And although their recovery rate was nearly 21 per cent, the message of fresh air and cleanliness was important for the prevention of the spread of the disease.
A smash-up occurred in Duke Street, as the result of a horse attached to a trap taking fright at a motor car driven by Mr H Ferguson.

The district between Pokeno and Huntly was still flooded and only subsiding 11 inches each day. There were still 5 feet of water on the railway line and nine trucks of goods for Cambridge were delayed.
A wedding of much interest took place at Christ Church, Ohaupo when Miss Maggie May Teddy was united in the bonds of matrimony to Mr Charles Vivian Carley. At St Andrews in Cambridge a quiet wedding was solemnised between Fred Potts and Miss Jeanie C Ormiston.
The Roto-o-rangi correspondent was pleased to report – ‘that the land, which was only three years back dense scrub, swamp and rushes, was converted into splendid grass land with handsome dwellings thereon, thus showing a large amount of industry and thrift on the part of the new settlers.’
W G Care’s tender of £2,964 was accepted to build the new Post Office, even though councillors were still arguing as to the best site.
A combined picnic of Waikato Young Peoples’ Bible Classes was held at C Day’s property at Tamahere. Nearly 300 young people were present from Cambridge, Frankton, Hairini, Hamilton, Paterangi, Tauwhare and Te Awamutu.

February 1907

Gricedale School at Roto-o-rangi held their annual picnic and sports in Mr C Peake’s paddock at ‘Wattleby’. Close upon 200 persons were present, young and old all vying with each other and entering into the various games with great zest. In the 100 yards handicap, Mr M Peake made a lively start and looked a winner at the 80 yards mark but McPherson crept up and beat him by a yard.
The editor told the Cambridge West residents that as their letters (regarding Cambridge West having its own Town Board) had degenerated into personalities they would not be published.
The Chiming Town Clock subscriptions (including the Borough Council’s £100) had risen to £192. The Chamber of Commerce committed itself to raising the £300 and were going to make a systematic canvas of the town and suburbs, as well as arranging a special carnival.
Hon. Dr Findlay, Acting Post Master wrote that he regretted his inability to establish telephonic communications between Cambridge and Pukeroro but few would use the telephone at Pukeroro and revenue would not warrant the expenditure.

Mr Mahood, foreman of the Piako County Council, reported that three bridges and a wooden culvert had floated down the Waikato River from his district in a recent flood and the timber was being sold at Cambridge by unauthorised persons.
The local list of subscriptions for a National Memorial to Late Rt.Hon. R J Seddon closed at £6 14/-.
Members of the Cambridge Polo Club had a pleasant afternoon’s sport at ‘Bardowie’ with Mr Hannon’s team winning six goals to three over Mr Well’s team.
Several hundred Maori assembled at Tauwhare pa to discuss Native Lands etc. Messrs Boyce & Sons were contracted to provide 300 loaves of bread daily while the camp lasted.
A new Tent of the Independent Order of Rechabite’s – the Hope of Hamilton – was opened in Hamilton. The members of the Auckland District then travelled to Cambridge in a Crowther & Bell coach, and held their half-yearly meeting in the Farmers’ Clubroom. They were then guests of the Star of Cambridge Lodge at a luncheon at the Victoria Street Tea Rooms and held a concert in the Alexandra Hall. Members pledged total abstinence.

The Editorial sang the praises of the pioneer companies and capitalists for draining, clearing, cropping and grassing their estates in the Waikato. And congratulated the settlers of Fencourt, Monavale, Gorton, Roto-o-rangi and Matamata for promoting a first class dairying and agricultural district.
The work on the new Post Office started on Monday and was halted on Thursday owing to the dispute about its siting. Finally the Post Master General telegrammed to say that the Post Office must be placed upon the Department’s own site.

John Ferguson was re elected Chairman of the Cambridge Domain Board and said although he was not much of a gardener, he could always fall back on Mr Buckland for advice, which was always freely given. Dr Roberts had just returned from England and remarked that the Domain was much more floriferous than when he left the colony.
Maungatautari residents met to consider improving the Crow’s Nest road. As the matter stood, they had a district in area, in fertility and in resources second to none in the Waikato, but retarded and cramped almost into insignificance by the laborious road.

The Chiming Clock subscriptions climbed to £202 17/-.
W J White’s tender of £213 12s 6d was accepted by the North Island Egg-laying Competition Association Ltd for building pens, yards and a house on Domain Land on Carters Flat.
J E Fulton, engineer, reported that the Karapiro Bridge was not strong enough for traction engines and would only carry limited loads.
The Dairy Cow Testing competition, run by the Waikato Central A&P Show Assn, was won by ‘Stumpy’ – owned by Chas Lake of Fencourt. W J Hall of Thames was second, Arnold Blackman of Fencourt third and Mrs Martyn of ‘Broadmeadows’ fourth.

Partridges, imported into the district by Richard Reynolds, were reported to be thriving as several birds had been seen in various parts of the district.
Mr G H Waye disposed of his tailoring business to Mr P Burch.

The Borough Council were looking at providing a Public Pound for Cambridge at the saleyards.

At the forthcoming show Miss Blackmore would provide good tea, coffee, cocoa, milk, hop beer and soft drinks as well as ham, tongue and beef sandwiches, dainty meat pies, assorted cakes, all kinds of fruits and sweets.

March 1907

Members and friends of the Presbyterian Junior Bible Class were entertained at an ‘At Home’ in the Victoria Hall. Mrs Moore won the word guessing competition then there were songs, recitations, pianoforte solo, cornet and clarinet.
A sunflower was grown on Mr Jebson’s property at Pukekura measuring 20 inches in diameter, 60 inches circumference and weighing 10 lbs.
The old Salvation Army barracks were sold to Mr Harris who moved them off the site and used them as a storeroom.
£128 8s 6d was raised by subscription for the Technical School, then sent to the Government who gave a subsidy of the same amount.
Mayor W F and Mrs Buckland returned after a five month trip to Malaysia where their daughter and her husband were living.
About sixty residences were connected to the gas and the Council had burners, lamps, stoves and elliptic fittings for sale at the Council Chambers.
Trooper E Wallis of D Squadron Waikato Mounted rifles shot well at Trentham in the Rapid Firing Match over 300 yards with a top score of 28 points, and prize of £5.

Mr Geo Hardy, of the late firm Potts & Hardy builders, accompanied by his wife and family, left for Sydney where they intended to settle.
Pukerimu school held an entertainment in aid of their library. The school children entertained with songs, music and recitations for the first half of the programme. Then the ‘grown ups’ and their friends contributed more songs to the second half. After refreshments the floor was cleared and dancing lasted till the small hours.
Waikato Central A&P Association, under president Mr John Fisher, held their 4th Annual Show at Cambridge with 1,469 entries. These included horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, produce and home industry as well as local business stands and side shows.
Mr Chas Hunter made a record with five horses obtaining five red ribbons, three blue and three yellow.
Most of the Maungatautari settlers who had milking machines installed two years ago seemed satisfied. Mr G Batty and Mr J Strawbridge were installing Lawrence-Kennedys for next season.
James Taylor of ‘Bardowie’ was looking for a Trustworthy Man to milk, garden and be generally useful.
Roto-o-rangi tennis players beat the Cambridge players by 7 sets to 3

The Waikato Hunt Club fees were set at three guineas. Honorary members and farmers, over whose land the hounds run, could hunt for one guinea.
The Primitive Methodists were making splendid progress and a church was planned for Hautapu. At their quarterly Tea and Public meeting G Beer and J Jamieson gave a duet and Captain Simpson (of the Salvation Army ) and T F Richards each sang solos.
The Borough Council resolved to erect 20 street lamps in various parts of the Borough – the Mayor, Crs Wilkinson and O’Toole were the committee to decide the location of the lamps.
The Town Band rendered a programme of music at Te Waikato Sanatorium and on the way home they stopped at Miss Jackson’s private sanatorium and played a few more acceptable selections.
R W Sargent, watchmaker and jeweller, started business in the shop next to E B Hill the chemist in Victoria Street.
Miss Bridgmann was appointed matron of Te Waikato Sanatorium in place of Miss Duffyn, who had resigned.
The fruit and vegetables from the Taotaoroa Harvest Festival, held in the schoolroom, was sent on to the Orphan’s Home in Auckland.

Messrs R Hannon, Norman Banks, Harold Crowther and C Potts were to represent the Cambridge Polo Club at the Auckland Provincial Tournament at Easter weekend.
The s.s.Frankdale left New York on 6 March with the material for the new High Level Bridge. It was due in Auckland about the end of May.
Mr Appleby of ‘The Pines’ at Fencourt had a great crop of peaches. One peach weighed 13¼ozs and measures 12 inches in circumference and some others 11 inches and weighed 12ozs. Another resident produced a peach 16oz and 12½ inches.
On the first day of the Autumn Horse Fair 200 horses were offered by the auctioneer, Mr G F McCullagh. Another 250 horses were put up the second day.
The Cambridge Road Board’s report featured the names of Rendall’s Road, Day’s Gully and Pickering’s Gully, Simpson’s Road and Luxton’s Road – named for the families who lived there and those who constructed the roads.
The judgment of the Native Appellate Court with regards to the Maungatautari claim by Ngati Raukawa, went in favour of Ngati Koroki and Ngati Haua.

April 1907

The tender of G M Fraser, for the erection of the High Level Bridge, of £5,692 was accepted by the Cambridge Borough Council.
The Editorial sang the praises of the Telegraph Department for transmitting a cable which arrived in England an hour and a half later. They were not so kind about an urgent message sent from Wellington at 12:2 am which arrived at 2:2 pm. ‘We have complained of this sort of delay, only to be met with the usual stereotyped reply, ‘it was due to the press of work,’ – ‘won’t occur again’ – or words to that effect.’
Over the Easter Holiday two or three parties of motorists passed through Cambridge from Rotorua on their way to Auckland. A large number of excursionists left Cambridge by the outgoing trains for the holiday.
Maungatautari held its 4th annual Athletic and Racing meeting with a credit of about £30. There were very large fields in all events and with a number of bookmakers on the ground, speculation was brisk.
There was one Easter wedding at the Cambridge West Methodist Church as Mr Peter Christian Peterson married Miss Ellen Maria Denton.

Cambridge Polo Team beat Clevedon by 8 goals to 2. In the first spell the Cambridge ponies showed a much greater turn of speed and being better mounted, the Cambridge combination of Crowther, Potts, Hannon and Banks was too good for the Clevedon players.
The Chiming Clock subscriptions reached £222 4/6d and an evening Garden Party and jumble sale was being organised by the committee.

Te Waikato Sanatorium was at capacity with 60 patients and Miss Rochfort, former Matron returned from England after taking a work orientated holiday.
The Land Agent department of Geo Clark & Sons received instructions to sell allotments on the Waterside Estate in Wilson Street. Three lots could be bought for a £10 deposit – ‘This is an exceptional opportunity to secure a Township site, unequalled for residential purposes, being close to town and near the new High Level Bridge.’
The NZ Government Tourist Resorts were being promoted – Te Aroha Health Resort, Rotorua hot mineral baths, Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound, The Hermitage in the Southern Alps, Hamner Hot Mineral Springs, Mount Cook and Lake Wakatipu.

When W R C Walker, headmaster of the District High School, returned from his honeymoon he was greeted with his room decorated with flowers and a floral horseshoe hung over the mantelpiece. The teachers presented him with a beautifully chased gold and silver card receiver and the pupils gave him a trefoil fruit stand and unique sweet dish. He married Ethel Louise Roddy at Wanganui. At the Drillshed Captain W R C Walker (Commander of D Squadron of the Waikato Mounted Rifles) received a number of handsome gifts from members of the corps.
The first members of the newly constituted South Hautapu Drainage board were Miss M E Ewen (probably the first lady elected to such a position in New Zealand), Messrs C Roberts, R Morse, W D Shepherd and John Arnold.
Dancing classes conducted by Madam Isherwood were well attended. Learners were Wednesday evening; adults Fridays; children on Saturday afternoons.
Five members of the Cambridge Golf Club put in an afternoon’s work at the links fixing up fences around the green.
The Annual Picnic of the Goodwood School was held on Mr Qualtrough’s farm when each student was presented with a book.

Miss Ewen won champion bloom at the Chrysanthemum show with her Japanese ‘F S Vallis’ and Mrs Sharkey with her Incurved ‘General Bainbridge’. There were 263 entries for flowers and 233 entries for produce. Thos Wells exhibited 100 spikes of gladiolis, which he had imported as tiny bulbs from Canada the previous January. Mr M D Nicholas, late of Westralia bought the saddlery business of the late A J Beuth. Mrs Beuth and her four children sold up and moved back to Auckland.
All the schools in the district held annual meetings of householders to elect new school committees. Eighteen people turned out for Cambridge Primary and High School; there was a poor attendance at Cambridge West; Maungatautari’s affairs were in a satisfactory state; James Hooker was elected chairman of Hautapu; there was a fair attendance at Pukerimu; A Blackman was the chairman for Goodwood; W S Brunskill for Taotaoroa and Cox for Roto-o-rangi.
To promote the bacon industry in the Cambridge district Mr L Isherwood photographed the carcases of 44 dressed pigs all hanging in a row.

May 1907

The North Island Egg Laying Competition received 76 entries (500 hens) from Whangarei to Wellington. This competition was run in Cambridge on Carters Flat – nicknamed ‘Egg Flat’. There were prizes for tests in Winter, Summer, the Moulting Season, monthly and yearly with prizes of over £50.
The Municipal Gasworks were beginning to light up Cambridge as the Alexandra Hall (owned by C Boyce) was lit with 700 candle power Aurora arc lamps and had a gas stove installed. Fifteen businesses were lighted for the first time on Saturday evening. The Borough Chambers were lit on 25 April when the Councillors were reminded that it was only due to the untiring efforts of the Mayor (W F Buckland) that they had a municipal gasworks. Mr F C Bunyard, the borough engineer, was also thanked for his faithfulness and indefatigable energy.
A small boy named Adams fell off the school swing and broke his wrist. Jack Reynolds was kicked in his eye by a horse. A little girl named Hilda Cornfoot fell from a tree and broke her arm. Mr Atkinson’s horse shied and fell breaking Atkinson’s left collarbone.

The Fête committee, raising money for the Chiming Clock fund were allowed to charge people to enter Victoria Square. One shilling adults and sixpence for children. The procession marshalled by W R C Walker had Cadets, a Gypsy caravan, 2 decorated gigs, 13 bicycles, 14 go-carts and perambulators, 20 ponies, 9 children’s pets, 15 movable floral designs, 14 fancy costumes and 12 ladies dressed as advertisements. The fête raised £115.
The official opening of the Gas Works were performed at this fête. ‘His Worship (Mayor Buckland) stepped from the impromptu platform from which he was speaking, and advanced towards the pole in the centre of the tent, from which hung two large double-burner arc lamps, and turned on the gas. (Applause)’.
Rigby and Warren – architects – were calling for tenders for the Club House (Cambridge Club). Geo Clark and Sons (Land Agents) were advertising sections on the ‘Waterside Estate’ at £10 deposit, £5 in six months time, £5 in twelve months time, £5 in eighteen months time. Balance can remain for three years on 5% interest.

Fred Potts’ tender of £664 was accepted for building the Cambridge Club.

G M Fraser, contractor, was beginning the excavations for the high level bridge.

Local shooting parties had been successful with Mr J Tucker securing 6 brace of pheasants, Mr E Souter 12 brace of ducks and Strawbridge and Hicks getting good bags.
W R McVeagh was under the floor of the Arnolds’ butchery engaged in installing the gas. He lit a candle to see, forgetting that the gaspipe was not plugged. The fire brigade was quickly on the scene before much damage was done. 43 people had been connected to the gas and another 21 residents were on the waiting list.
J.A.C. reminisces – ‘A rambling wilderness of scrub and bush, has now, memories that our fathers brought with them. Rows of oaks and elms interspersed with graceful birch, line the road sides whichever way one looks around the town. Thus the early settlers who cleared and broke the virgin soil, planted their memories so as to still live in familiar surroundings.’

The Waikato Hounds were out hunting for a new season – last week Hautapu and this week Bruntwood. After killing two hares, the third – ‘After giving a fast twenty minute the hare was lost in the gully, and as everyone was more than satisfied with the day’s sport and the shades of the evening were drawing in, the order was to whip off.’
The Chamber of Commerce met and reported on telephone communication with Hamilton, the chiming clock, getting Cambridge to be the chief polling place for the Tauranga electorate, the Egg Laying Competition and opening up native lands.
T B Hill wrote singing the praises of the 5000 Club, who published the Cambridge promotion booklet, and the work of Tom Wells. He also remembered visiting Pukekura Redoubt when he supplied the troops with medicine during the military days.
Miss Effie Willis, who was about to be married to John B Lusk, received a large number of gifts from the St Andrews parishioners. In thanks, Archdeacon Willis made a happy little speech on behalf of his daughter.

A photograph was taken of the first load of steel arriving by rail for the high level bridge. Mr William Vickers had the contract for unloading and carting the material to the bridge site. £1500 for the £3000 government subsidy also arrived.
The works committee recommended that the trees in Hall Street be taken up from the centre of the street and planted 10 feet from either footpath on each side of the street.
A new pound was established at the saleyards and the poundkeeper, William Hobbs, was given a free house and kept the fees – one shilling per animal. He also had to keep the saleyards clean.
Mr R Peake, who not long since had topped the market for Lincoln rams at the Ohaupo ram fair, sent 20 rams bred on the sunny slopes of Pukekura, to a breeder in Stratford.
A petition to the Cambridge Road Board signed by J D P Morgan, W H Parr, R F Thomas, C H Hargreaves and John Browne asked for all obstructions to be taken off the road near the Waikato River at Tamahere.

June 1907

From 1 June the price of bread rose to 3½ pence a loaf.

Glee Club was formed by Madame Isherwood at ‘Waterside’ in Wilson Street.

John Marjoribanks Steele obtained by false pretence a quantity of clothing, a watch and chain, pendant, cross and ring, a saddle and bridle and three sums of money totaling £5 8s. The constable apprehended Steele and found him in a muddled state through drink. He was charged, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Mr Richard Reynolds of the Pukekura Road Board hoped that farmers would bear in mind the damage that narrow wheels were having on the districts’ roads. It would be an advantage if farmers would have broad tyres put on all new carts and wagons.
Other works by the Pukekura Road Board were reducing the grade on the Parallel Road hill, Potterton’s, Tucker’s and Bell’s hills.
Mr James Keeley, of the Cambridge West Domain Board wanted to see levelling carried on King Edward Park, and sowing it down in English grasses. Also to choose a site for a public bathing place.

The recently formed Dramatic Club was to stage ‘The Outlaws’ at an early date.
A road grader and traction engine were watched by many people with great interest as they re-formed Duke Street in preparation to an experiment in tarring the street.
‘The inspection by members of the Sanitary Committee revealed the fact that some of the backyards of the town are in a very dirty condition, and it is intended to take immediate proceedings against those persons who do not immediately clean up their premises.’
The reason for the streetlights not being lit on Thursday was that the lamp lighter tried to commit suicide. It was said he had a passion for blood and fire ‘Deadwood Dick’ dramas like ‘The Outlaws’ and they seemed to prey on his mind. He was remanded to Auckland for medical treatment.
The secretary of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce received a letter from the Acting Minister of Telegraphs saying that the work on a telegraph wire between Cambridge and Hamilton would be proceeded with as early as possible.

Messrs Death Bros aroused considerable interest and excitement when they announced they had sold the whole of their Horahora Estate of nearly 9,000 acres. Mr E A Death’s departure was regrettable, but the thought of opening the district to more farmers was likely to add to the progress of the district.
Makgill and Middleton were the new owners with Edward Allen taking 400 acres.
The latest to have the gas laid on was the Masonic Hotel, ‘Which was brilliantly illuminated and presented a very attractive appearance.’
Archdeacon Willis presented Miss Ethel Carr with the Bishop’s prize for Scripture – the first Cambridgite to gain this distinction. She received a beautifully bound copy of Keble’s ‘Christian Year’.
Fifty-three householders in Cambridge West signed a petition to form a Town Board District and sent it to Wellington. Mr Lockett was nominated as Returning Officer for the election of officers. Twenty-eight people signed a counter petition.
The passengers from the wreck of the Kia Ora on rocks thirty miles from Kawhia, were stranded on an almost inaccessible beach without food or clothes.

There was a goodly representative audience at the Salvation Army’s Social Evening. The Mayor, W F Buckland addressed the meeting saying, ‘That since the last social meeting was held, the town had been lighted by gas, and there was no longer any need for people to walk in darkness; the erection of the high level bridge was under way, and the Army would soon be able to march across it and conquer Cambridge West; the thoroughfares were being improved, and he hoped the Army would soon have clean streets to parade in; the Domain Board was going to have a Band Rotunda erected in the Domain, where the Army band and other musical organisations could give performances.’
Messrs C Boyce and Sons (No 50) are the latest subscribers to the Telephone Exchange.
Only a small quantity of the limestone metal had arrived from Te Kuiti for the foundations of the high level bridge and this caused a delay.
At a social at the Taotaoroa schoolhouse the Rev J Fussell was farewelled with a handsome bag. Plenteous refreshments were provided by the ladies.

July 1907

Frederick William Adams was found in the Masonic Hotel while under a prohibition order. He told the Magistrate that he was greatly worried about a bull and got a little whisky to cheer himself up. The Magistrate thought some excuses were just wonderful.

The Waikato Hounds finished their hunt at Hautapu with the ‘clinking good run’ over Bardowie, Messrs Swayne’s and Qualtrough’s farms. The hares were safe.
Architects Rigby and Warren called tenders for a Creamery at Fencourt.
F Potts’ tender for £256 10 shillings was accepted.

Miss Martha Alice Cubis looked handsome in a dress of cream silk, pin-tucked, and relieved with silk insertions when she married David Williamson at St Paul’s Methodist church. She also carried a bouquet and wore the orthodox veil and orange blossoms.
Miss Amy Qualtrough was attired in a stylish white box dress, and wore the orthodox veil and orange blossom when she married Chas Shaw at her parents’ residence at Fencourt.

A pair of horses ran away with a wagonette in Victoria Street. Fortunately Mr D Hannon was on the scene, and he at once galloped after the fleeting pair; managed to pick up the reins and gamely held on to the runaways as they careered and zig-zagged down the street. When they got down almost opposite the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Hannon, seeing a trap and horse in front made, as they dashed towards it, one last effort to pull them up – this he succeeded in doing. Mr Hannon’s horsemanship and pluck were much admired.
The chairman of the Pukekura Road Board was to make arrangements with the Bank of NZ for raising a loan for their share of the Victoria Bridge.
The Fire Brigade erected a bell opposite Victoria Square but it was of very little use as it was hung too close to the roof and the sound was muffled. Captain Bell had the fire station telephone connected to the waterworks.
A disgraceful act of vandalism was perpetrated some time during Tuesday night when a clothes line of ladies wearing apparel belonging to Mrs Young was torn and thown onto the street.

The North Island Egg Laying Competition was in its ninth week and the total number of eggs laid was 7097 from 82 pens. The highest for the week was A C Jones’ Silver Wyandottes with 32 eggs.
The Minister of Justice wrote to the Chamber of Commerce acknowledging a letter in which they urged the erection of a new courthouse. The Chamber were to ask their member Mr Greenslade to see that a brick building was provided.
The Rev. R M Laverty lectured at the St Paul’s Methodist church on ‘The Story of the Mutineers of the Bounty’. Dr Rev. Nathan said the lecture was ‘instructive, pathetic, humorous, eloquent and highly effective.’
The examination for Pupil Teachers was exceptionally hard but all those from the Cambridge District High School passed, viz.:- Misses L Bell, E Carr and B O’Neill.
Cr F J Marfell spoke to Council on asking Andrew Carnegie for a £1000 grant to erect a new library and reading room. He condemned the present building which he thought was not at all in keeping with a place like Cambridge. (Hear hear.)

‘The following is Captain Edwin’s weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. today : – Heavy easterly gale soon. Glass fall; probably rain. Probably very heavy river, heavy flood.’
At the Cambridge Borough Council meeting Councillor Reid, in a vigorous speech where he often emphasised his remarks by vigorously pounding on the table, said he could not understand how men of honour and integrity could approach Mr Carnegie for money. Cambridge people were willing to provide their own library and not go a-begging to a multi millionaire with ill gotten gains. Letters to the Editor came thick and fast.
A very depleted 5000 Club met to discuss the distribution of their Cambridge booklet. They bought 180 copies to be given away to promote Cambridge. The club was then wound up. The instigator, C C Buckland, had moved back to Vancouver.
The Taylor – Carrington Dramatic Company paid another visit to Cambridge and presented Boucicault’s famous play ‘Rip Van Winkle’.
The committee of the proposed Town Board for Cambridge West was getting close to its goal.

August 1907

The very stormy weather which prevailed in Cambridge during the last week, was experienced in many parts of the colony.
‘For the benefit of the curious, we might explain that the two borough workmen who are at present going around the town armed with long spear-shaped iron rods, which every now and then they suddenly thrust into the ground, are ascertaining if there are any leaks in the municipal gas service pipes. So far they have discovered nothing to occasion any alarm.’
At a concert at Pukerimu Church, Miss E Cubis was presented with a book in recognition for her services to the church. Loud and long applause followed every item at the concert as instrumentalist and singers did their best to please the audience.
J Cowling, J Harris and H Hulse inserted a notice To Trespassers saying that any persons found trespassing on their properties at Whitehall with dog or gun would be prosecuted, and dogs shot.
The Primitive Methodists were about to build a church at Fencourt and the Salvation Army were about to start their barracks in Duke Street.

For Sale: Eighteen Beautiful New Post Cards of the prettiest spots in Cambridge; coloured glosso photos by Winkelman (copyright). Linzey, stationer.
‘A very enjoyable entertainment was given in Mr Qualtrough’s barn at Fencourt when T F Richards exhibited by means of his lantern a large variety of excellent views, and for fully two hours sustained the interest of those present.’
‘Master Joseph Sharkey was today appointed borough lamplighter.’
The Piako County Council raised a loan of £1,600 to cover their contribution to the Victoria Bridge and rated one-fifth of a penny in the £ to cover the interest.
Waipa County Council convened a meeting of Waikato local bodies to call on the government to reduce the number of sparrows, larks, blackbirds, thrushes, yellow hammers and finches. Also to remove the protection from Californian quail and the pukeko as they were damaging to the farmers’ interest.
At the annual meeting of the Presbyterian church it was reported that the roll stood at 168 and 90 youngsters attended Sunday School. The Junior Young Women’s Class were preparing, with considerable enthusiasm and activity, for a Spring Flower Show for September.

His Worship the Mayor (W F Buckland), when asked how work on the Victoria Bridge was progressing, stated that he visited the bridge two or three times a day and work was progressing satisfactorily.
Cambridge, Hamilton and Auckland were finally connected by telephone and a number of townspeople assembled at the Borough Offices for a little ceremony. (Our Mayor rang the Mayor in Auckland – but nobody in the office could find him.)
A party of bushmen working on a bushfelling contract at Maungakawa, left camp at midday to indulge in some wild-pig shooting. But they got ‘bushed’, wandered on and on in the rain and found themselves at Richmond Downs near Matamata. Next day they returned to camp half famished and drenched.
1,000 acres of the Bruntwood estate were offered for sale but only 211 acres, opposite the homestead to Mr Thomson of Opotiki, sold for about £20 an acre.
‘Jumbo’ Reese, Morse, J Tucker and Keeley were selected for inclusion in the Waikato Reps football team.
Gay bunting was displayed from the ceiling and band instruments hung round the walls of the Alexandra Hall for the Cambridge Band’s Plain and Poster Ball.

At the Cambridge Band’s Plain and Poster Ball Miss Ada Boyce won the ladies ‘Poster’ costume as ‘Butterfly Teas’ with Miss M Taylor second as ‘Good Old Butter Fat’. Mr Arthur Reese won the men’s costume with ‘Champion Muscle Raiser’ and Mr ‘Jumbo’ Reese was second representing Brockelsby Bros. Butcher.
Miss Kathleen Ruth Wright, youngest daughter of Walter Wright married Arthur Hammond Nicoll at St Andrew’s church in Cambridge. After the reception the couple left for Hamilton en route for Okoroire, where they spent their honeymoon.
Mr Hugh Fitzgerald was congratulated by the auditor of the Pukekura Road Board, for having the whole of last year’s rates and all arrears of previous rates collected. The auditor said this was only the second board, out of forty-five inspected by him, in a similar position.
John Ferguson, chairman of the Cambridge Domain Board, stated the black and white swans had disappeared from Lake Te Koutu. He thought they’d probably been killed.
Eight young men petitioned the Board to be allowed to ride their bikes in the Domain – as the ladies were allowed to do. But their request was unanimously refused.

The derrick at the High Level bridge, composed of two large bluegum poles, fell on the concrete abutment and the nearby workmen just dodged the falling timber. Mr G M Fraser, the contractor suspected malicious tampering with the three inch hemp rope supporting the derrick.
Mr Archie Kingdon, who had been injured in a railway accident at Putaruru, was progressing slowly in the Rotorua hospital suffering from injury and shock.
T B Hill from Raglan, wrote a letter to the paper praising the new Seventh Day Adventist’s ‘School Farm’ which was being built at Pukekura. Here pupils in addition to the ordinary curriculum, would acquire practical knowledge in fruit growing, agricultural, horticultural, dairying, and the raising of poultry and stock.
The Salvation Army’s building permit for their new barracks in Duke Street, was remitted as the Borough Council considered them to be a philanthropic institution.
The new pumping plant for the waterworks was about to arrive. Gas consumers had risen to 95 and Mr Hugh Fitzgerald was given a five guineas bonus for gathering all the Pukekura Road Board rates.

September 1907

1,170 scholars entered the examination of the Auckland Sunday School Union. Cambridge Presbyterian successes were Ethel Ward, Louie Booth, Gladys Perkins, Margaret Grey, Ida Butler, Millie Smith, Mary Semmens, Agnes Johnston, Margaret Hopkirk, Hilda Russell, Pearl McCandlish, Muriel E Butler, Elsie Hardy, Dorothy Hopkirk, Lornie Perkins, Emma Christie, Clare Richards, Joseph Butler, W B Souter, Ken Hooker, Ken Butler, Newton Hooker, Ray Butler, Chas Sharp, Stan Wallis, Douglas Gow. Methodist were Evelyn Trythall, Olive Bycroft, Kathleen Treadgold and Ella Bycroft.
A roaring business was done at all the stalls, side shows and competitions of the Methodist Church bazaar and they made £75.
The Post Office made the ruling that locked letter boxes must be provided at the street as delivering letters to the door of a residence was too time consuming.
A poll was taken (of freeholders and ratepayers) on the proposal to borrow £5,650 for improvements to the gasworks; additions to the saleyards; repairing Karapiro bridge; tarring footpaths; building swimming baths and town hall.
(Footpaths, swimming baths and town hall were lost.) Mayor Buckland was overheard to remark, “That’ll do; I’m satisfied. We’ll get the others directly.”

Mr C Boyce, proprietor of the Alexandra Hall, had six gas rings and water installed in the supper room for the convenience of those providing for social functions.
Boyce and Sons, baker and confectioners also installed the latest Peter Kupper dough kneading machine with the capacity for kneading 1,100 loaves of bread per hour.
Lost – On night of Town Band ball, pair white flannel trousers. Return to Independent Office.
Adjutant Elder, of the Salvation Army, arrived in Cambridge to superintend the building of the new Barracks.
Mr W R C Walker, headmaster at the District High School, interested himself in fitting up a rifle range at the rear of the school grounds. ‘There was no danger of serious consequences resulting from stray shots.’ Arms and ammunition could be procured at a small cost.
The Chamber of Commerce was agitating for telephone connections for Karapiro, Maungatautari and Pukeroro. The secretary for the Post Office wrote saying the tower for the chiming clock on the new post office had been approved.
Milking Machines were coming into favour in the district. Mr B Lund of Hautapu the latest to install one – the Hartnett.

Oscar Sayoll nearly lost his life while working on the Victoria Bridge. While removing some ‘staging’ from the Cambridge West end, he slipped and fell about 60 feet onto a shelf of sand. Fortunately he was only bruised and no limbs broken.
Philip McShane, a worker on the bridge, tried to get double wages of £3 16s by going to the foreman and the contractor’s clerk – both on the same day.
The new refreshment room erected at the Borough saleyards was used for the first time by the lessee Miss Blackmore.
The government finally agreed to call the local T B sanatorium ‘Te Waikato’ instead of Cambridge Sanatorium so as not to cast a slur on the town. 114 cases had been admitted during the last year – 48 cases were discharged apparently in good health. There was trouble getting suitable nurses, and probationers got no certificate for the work they did.
On 13 September the Mayor (W F Buckland) opened the Presbyterian Fancy Fair and Flower Show saying he believed this to be the first year a spring flower show was held in Cambridge. He went on to take four of the eight prizes for best daffodils. £110 was raised.

On 26 September 1907 the name of New Zealand was gazetted Dominion of New Zealand and proclaimed a public holiday. A medal was struck for the children. In Cambridge flags were flown and the Mayor read the proclamation from the King. Captain W R C Walker, Officer commanding the D Squadron Waikato Mounted Rifles spoke on the possibility of compulsory training if a greater interest was not taken in volunteering. A new lamp was erected on the corner of Fort and Victoria Streets to commemorate the day.
A new By-Law came into effect ‘to make it unlawful to ride or drive over Victoria Bridge at other than a walking pace.’
The Salvation Army purchased Bell’s Island in the Auckland Harbour to establish a home for inebriates.
The spring horse fair was in progress at the saleyards with railway trucks dispersing about 1,800 horses all over the country. Mr Underwood had his application for a bar at the saleyards refused and there were reports of buckjumping exhibitions, run away wagons and Mr Adams ‘drunk in charge of a horse’.
The Catholic Bazaar was well patronised with an Art Union, competitions, entertainment and goods for sale.

October 1907

The Editorial mused that New Zealand had been called ‘God’s Own Country’ – did that mean that it was inhabited by ‘a class of angelic spirits?’
G M Fraser, contractor for the Victoria Bridge, asked the Borough Council for an extension of time owing to the difficulties in getting the stone for the foundations and the phenomenally wet weather. Mr Fraser was a cautious man, and even though the bridge was the first of its kind in the colony, the Council would not alter the terms of the contract.
On 1 October the connection was made between the east and west sides of the bridge. This was witnessed by quite a crowd of interested spectators and the foreman Mr R Brownie, was the first to walk over the planks.
A large macrocarpa tree was felled from in front of the Post Office. ‘The removal was regretable but absolutely necessary.’
The Cambridge Borough Council was taking steps to place signposts, with the names of the streets, at the corners of streets.
Four cases of scarlet fever were reported at the Hautapu School and during the week’s holiday for Michaelmas, the buildings etc were thoroughly fumigated.
A good number of Primitive Methodists attended the laying of the foundation stone ceremony at the Fencourt church. The young people formed a choir and sang several favourite hymns and Mesdames Jamieson, Beer, Simpson and Beer provided afternoon tea.
Planking was laid across the entire length of the Victoria Bridge and two members of the Independent were the first residents (other than the workmen) to walk across the structure.
There were 27 criminal cases (including 10 for drunkeness) and 90 civil cases heard at the Cambridge Court during the quarter ending 30 September 1907.
Messrs James Fisher, J Rathbone, R T Tudehope, E B Hill, C H Treadgold and E Veale were the bondsmen for the £10 10 shillings per year guarantee for connecting the Karapiro telephone service.
The Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Company’s Hautapu factory was making one and a half tons of butter a day and they were selling it for about 11 pence per pound to a firm in Auckland.
During an hour long storm of thunder, sheet lightening, rain and hail some local residents saw a brilliant ball of fire falling and exploding over the town during the height of the storm.

A great number of townspeople visited the Victoria Bridge on Sunday and availed themselves of the opportunity of walking across the planking to the opposite side.
Victoria Road was cutting up so badly during the phenomenally wet period that the farmers were encouraged to cut down pine trees and put them in the holes until something more permanent could be done.
A tornado hit Mr G Way’s farm at Tamahere and – ‘his stable, which contained four draught horses, was blown to atoms. Fortunately the horses were removed just before the wreck occurred.’
The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce held its second annual meeting and reported that during the year they had instigated a new Post Office with chiming clock; extended the time between the arrival and departure of the mid-day train; obtained a promise of a new Courthouse; a Post office for Karapiro and telephone connections for Karapiro and Kaipaki.
Councillor McVeagh was against changing the name of Wharf Street to Dominion Avenue as it was associated with the early history of the town. Councillor Hartly also did not favour the change as he thought the Dominion business was “a lot of Tommy-rot”.

The Stock Department had a small ‘lake’ on one of their properties [now the Cambridge Middle School] which was the habitat of thousands of joyously croaking frogs. ‘The recent floods carried the waters over the adjoining properties and their unfortunate owners were using language, which is painful, frequent, and free, regarding the apathy of the Stock Department in allowing its ‘lakelet’ to wander over the country without making any effort to stop it trespassing or pay for the damage it causes.’ During the previous four months there had not been a week without rain.
Miss K Willis won the Ladies Golf Championship – the President’s Trophy being a gold bracelet.
Armed with shovels and spades, hammers, axes and saws, an enthusiastic ‘working bee’ made a start on laying out a lawn tennis court for the Presbyterian Bible Classes in the Manse ground. It wasn’t long before the grafters had big drops of sweat rolling down their faces as they dug post holes, shifted stumps, rolled logs and upturned Mother Earth. Fresh energy was infused after the ladies of the committee ‘hove in sight with an abundant and very appetising supply of comestibles.’

Three compressed air rivetters and two forges were being used by five gangs of men as they set to work and rivetted all the ironwork on the Victoria Bridge.
The Cambridge Club building was completed by – ‘Fred Potts who carried out the work in a thoroughly satisfactory manner, reflecting the highest credit on himself and his capable staff’. The architect was W S Rigby and the painting and decorating done by Mr Arthur Curtain.

Several blockages occured in the sanitary system by people using hard paper so Council regulated that the owners pay to unblock a private drain if the fault is not caused by defective work by the borough drainage contractor.

The train was over an hour late to Cambridge owing to it running into a cow and derailing the engine and several carriages.

The Cambridge Domain Board sought advice from Professor W E Thomas of the School of Music at the University of Auckland, as to whether it would be better to have a concrete or wooden floor in the new Band Rotunda. Concrete reflected sound and was more sanitary and won the day.

November 1907

Patients at Te Waikato TB Sanatorium, who were strong enough to move about, were encouraged to do gardening, poultry breeding, pottery, photography or wood carving.
The number of subscribers on the Cambridge Telephone Exchange list was 50, and 15 more were required before the office would be kept open continuously from 8 am till 8 pm.
With the erection of the Band Rotunda in the Cambridge Domain there was a want for more seats. ‘At present the number of seats is rather limited, and very often many of them are found stowed away in some secluded spot, presumably removed there by the Romeos and Juliets.’
Although about a dozen fishing licences had been issued, and the fishermen had been out and about in all directions, there was no sign of any trout.
Mrs J Martyn of ‘Broadmeadows’ bought 150 acres of the Bruntwood Estate at £22 an acre.
Having spent 41 years in New Zealand, Mr and Mrs George Watt of ‘Abergeldie’ in Cambridge returned on a visit to Aberdeenshire, returning via Canada. (The sons of George Watt operated a cheese factory in Cambridge.)

A very handsome challenge cup, presented for competition by Surgeon Captain Roberts to the No 3 Waikato Mounted Rifles, was on view at Mr R T Tudehope’s shop.
During the military events at the Waikato Show, Trooper Ranstead’s horse took charge of him and ran over Captain W R C Walker, who was assisting with the events. The captain was knocked down and trodden on, the horse falling over him; but he fortunately escaped with a couple of small scalp wounds.
The Primitive Methodist Church at Fencourt was opened with Rev P J Mairs the preacher. Later at a social Mesdames Jamieson, Simpson, Read, Beer, H Jamieson and Misses Jamieson, Simpson and Beer presided over the tea tables. Mr C Reid provided the plans gratis and W J White was builder.
Stray cows and horses were becoming a nuisance since Joseph Sharkey, the ranger, had resigned. Four cows broke into the Town Clerk’s paddock and feasted on a luxuriant crop of oats.
Mr Mervyn Wells, while standing by the wire fence at the railway at the height of the thunderstorm, was suddenly knocked to the ground by the shock of a thunder-clap.

The people of Karapiro bought a piano which they kept at the Gorton School for use at church and social purposes.
A small boy at the Bowling and Tennis Clubs opening would have liked a drink but didn’t like tea. It was suggested he could have had milk, he replied, “I waited for the ladies to stop talking; but as they didn’t stop, I didn’t get a chance to ask – that’s the worst of ladies.”
An accident occurred at the Victoria Bridge when the removing of some ‘staying’ fell on the leg of a lad named George Kelly. He returned to work a few days later.
The Oddfellows Sports Committee held a working bee on Victoria Square to put the cycle track in order for their New Years Sports Day. The sharp corner at the western end of the track was ploughed up and reshaped in the hope that the risk of mishaps to the wheelmen would be greatly minimised.
A large number of young ladies attended a social at the St Andrew’s Schoolroom and handed in handmade gifts for the upcoming Rose Show and Fancy Fair.

There was a revival of cricket and the ‘Cambridge Cricket Club’ was formed with W F Buckland (an old cricketer) elected president. He advised members that Victoria Square was available for the Club.

‘It was reported that some gear belonging to a former cricket club in the town was in the possesion of Mr Langmuir jnr., and no doubt that if that gentleman was approached he would be willing to hand it over to the new club.’

‘His Worship the Mayor (Mr W F Buckland) is the latest local resident to invest in a motor car, the machine being a ten horse power Cadillac.’

A new main water pipe of 5 inches was laid to the tank on the Water Tower and a new engine installed for pumping purposes. 10,000 gallons of water per hour could now be pumped in an emergency.

The High Level Bridge Opening Ceremony Committee put forward a programme which was accepted by the Cambridge Borough Council. The Mayor, W F Buckland, said they should rise to the occasion, paint up the place, and brush the bees off the verandah posts. (Two swarms had been recently captured by enterprising apiarists.)

December 1907

The name plates of the streets in the town were put on the corner of buildings at the corner of the streets. Where this was not practicable, the names were painted on the gas lamps.
The fourth annual Rose Show and Fancy Fair was held by St Andrew’s Church with proceeds going towards the installation of gas lighting in the church. The energetic Ladies Guild of the church produced useful and ornamental needlework and fancy goods which added to stalls of produce, sweets, toys and refreshments. Champion Rose was Martin McDermott’s ‘Mrs J Lang’.

Wedding Bells were ringing when Margaret J Gardiner, dressed in pale lavender silk phanton voile with white tuscan hat with plumes, married Hugh Ferguson. ‘The newly married couple left for their honeymoon amidst a perfect shower of rice, rose petals and old shoes.’

Also Hazel Popple married Clynick Graham McKechnie at a quiet ceremony at the Manse.
A very successful clearing sale was held at Karapiro when when G J Neal’s herd of 40 choice dairy cows averaged £10 a head.

Two new bats were bought for the Cricket Club, six foot matting was laid on Victoria Square and the pitch put in order. The first match was Married Men 22 versus Single 103.
40 new books were placed on the shelves of the local Library as well as the latest ten volumes of the Harmsworth’s Encyclopaedia.
The official opening of Victoria Bridge (by the Governor Lord Plunket) was set for Saturday, 21 December so the NZ Loan and Merchantile Agency moved their monthly sale forward to the 19th.
Mr L Isherwood (President of the Cambridge Lawn Tennis Club) presented two trophies to encourage junior members to play.
The new Presbyterian Bible Class tennis courts, next to the Manse in Alpha Street, were officially opened by the Mayor W F Buckland. He referred to the social advantages of the game and said such recreations should be heartily encouraged.
The No. 3 Waikato Mounted Rifles were inspected by the Inspector General of the NZ forces and aquitted themselves well as they were put through various movements.

The first motor car, a 12 h.p. Darracq, was driven by Miss Jeffries across Victoria Bridge at 9:45 a.m. on 14 December 1907. The first buggy also traversed the bridge with Mayor W F Buckland, Robert Fisher (Chairman of the Pukekura Road Board) and John Fisher (Chairman Waipa County Council).
Madame Isherwood held a Breaking-up Concert at ‘Waterside’ when all her music and dance pupils performed to an enthusiastic crowd of parents and guests.
After a musical programme at the Methodists’ Sunday School concert, to raise money for a Missionary in the South Sea Islands, each child was given a prize off the Christmas tree.
The Cambridge Library Committee was not consulted before the Borough Council wrote to Andrew Carnegie asking for money to build a new library – and they were miffed.
Constable Connor, late of Cambridge, was proving that a policeman’s lot was not always a happy one. He had been bitten by a woman while escorting her to prison; he was struck on the head with a bottle by an inebriate; and stabbed in the stomach by another drunk.

After Adjutant Thurkettle made a few introductory remarks, Mayor W F Buckland turned the key and opened the door of the Salvation Army’s new hall in Duke Street on 14 December 1907.
The opening ceremonies for the Victoria Bridge (the first steel arched bridge in Australasia) was on 21 December 1907. It rained but there was a good crowd. His Excellency the Governor Lord Plunkett arrived at 1 o’clock and the cutting of the ribbon was held on the west end of the bridge. The Governor then visited the newly opened Cambridge Club and sat down to a banquet at the Alexandra Hall at 2 pm. He left by his special train a bit after 4 pm.
Business premises closed from 12.30 to 2 pm in honour of the occasion.

‘The Town Band played carols etc on Christmas Eve, and despite the rain, some of the players stuck to it throughout the night, but we are informed they presented a rather bedraggled appearance next morning.’
‘A fair number of visitors came to Cambridge and not a few of them intended staying for a time. The rain on Christmas Day dampened the ardour of many who comtemplated having a good time in the open air and they had to be content with indoor amusements.’
‘Cambridge kept up its good name for sobriety during the holidays, there being an entire absence of drunkenness, and consequently the duties of the police were considerably lightened.’
On Boxing Day the united Sunday Schools held a picnic at the Show Grounds. Messrs Fogarty, Hastie, Wells, Reynolds, Summers, Waite and Atkinson provided wagons to convey the children. To give them an extra drive they were taken across Victoria Bridge, and around the West end, before going to the grounds. Mr G Henson conveyed the eatables and Mr Powell boiled the water.’
‘Those familiar with the story of ‘Oliver Twist’ will have the pleasure of witnessing for the first time in Cambridge a bioscopic representation of Charles Dickens’ famous novel, on New Year’s night.’