December 1909

At the Leamington Town Board meeting Mr J E Bell requested that some road work be done at the entrance to his bakery on the corner of Cook and Burns Street. The Lawn Tennis Club forwarded an invitation to members to attend the formal opening of their courts and it was resolved that some seats should be procured; also swings for picnic parties. The secretary was instructed to obtain an estimate of the cost of a pavilion for the Domain.
The Cambridge Domain Board reported they had obtained stencilled plates and the names of the trees would shortly be affixed to them.
Efforts were being made by the YMCA to form a troop of Boy Scouts.
The Cambridge Road Board served notices to occupiers of land adjoining Victoria and Zig Zag Roads to fell the trees overhanging or overshadowing these roads. As there had been no protests lodged the secretary assumed the work was being carried out.
Mrs Hannon, mother of Richard and John Hannon of Hautapu, suffered serious injuries when the buggy she was in collided with an iron lamp post. She fractured the frontal bone in her head.

St Paul 's Methodist choir, under the conductor of C S Stuart, gave a concert to the staff and patients at Te Waikato Sanatorium. The programme consisted of anthems, vocal and instrumental solos, and quartettes. Miss Rochfort, the matron said it was one of the pleasantest musical evenings they had been treated to for a long time.
The Monavale Homestead block of about 700 acres was sold to Channing Buckland.
About 50 boys were present at a meeting to establish a Boy Scout movement in Cambridge. Lieut. Colonel Bell, Scout Commissioner for the Waikato, delivered an address on 'Scoutcraft'. In this he advocated that too much emphasis was placed on sport and not enough on the defence of the country. At the end of the address Master Ken Mullins proposed and Master Leslie Wilkinson seconded that a scout patrol be formed in Cambridge. Carried amidst great applause.
The floor of the new courtroom has been covered with linoleum.
The Waihi Gold Mining Company has secured the water power rights on the Waikato River at the Hora Hora falls twelve miles from Cambridge. The lease is for 42 years at 3 shillings per horse power per annum.

The official opening of the Town Hall took place on the evening of 14 December 1909 with a 'Citizens' At Home'. His Worship the Mayor W F Buckland said he was extremely proud to be present to formally open the new hall. He also said he would impress upon the residents that the hall was their hall. It should be regarded as a sort of drawing room, not only for the people around the district but a rallying point for the whole of the Waikato.
The next afternoon several hundred happy looking children attended the children's entertainment.
Thirty boys took the 'Scout Oath' and five patrols were formed with Scout Master Heath in control. The Patrol Leaders were – Reginald Thomas, James Thompson, Fenton McCullagh, Raymond Butler and Nevin Bell. They discussed their uniform and decided on khaki Baden-Powell hat, blue shirt, shorts, together with haversack, belt and staff.
At their first meeting they were instructed in semaphore signalling by Mr E W B Caddy.
At a meeting of the Library Committee arrangements were made for fitting up the library and passing a constitution. They resolved to call for applications for the position of librarian at £40 per annum.

The flag at the Post Office was flown at half mast on the death of King Leopold of Belgium.
An Industrial Exhibition, Flower Show and sale of work was held at the Alexandra Hall with a large amount of entries from the schools. The exhibition had been organised by the various temperance societies in the town. There were competitions for plain and fancy sewing, crochet, drawn thread, mount mellick work, darnet network, knitting. Brushwork, penmanship, freehand drawing and collection of birds' eggs. Home Industries included home-made bread, scones, seed cake, jam sandwich, jellies, marmalade and tomato sauce. Garden produce and flowers and pot plants.
Prizes were distributed to the Leamington School pupils at their break up for the annual holidays. First in the vegetable plots was Archie McVicar and flower gardens – Gladys Nickle.
The convent school held its annual picnic at a beautiful piece of Native bush at Mr B McGechie at Fencourt. There was a programme of sports with prizes for the successful pupils.
Pukerimu School held a picnic in one of Mr Robert Fisher's fields with a large number of residents and settlers attending. Cricket, rounders and foot racing was joined in by all.

The business people reported that trade was very good in Cambridge during Xmas week and on Xmas Eve it was exceptionally brisk. The streets were crowded until a late hour and the town presented a lively appearance.
The Salvation Army held an open-air service at the fountain on Christmas Eve after which the singing company went around carolling with good success. On Boxing Day they picnicked with Hamilton friends at Mr John Sharp's paddock.
St Andrew's Sunday School picnic was held at Mr John Sharp's grounds on Boxing Day. Various games and sports were promoted and there was an abundance of refreshments.
The amount the Town Band received while carolling around town was nearly £30 and they thanked the residents for their generous donation. The money would be spent on new instruments.
Tuesday 28 December 1909 the Carnegie Library was formally opened by the Mayor W F Buckland – his last public function he would perform in Cambridge . It was decided to place on record the citizens' appreciation of Mr Carnegie's generous gift of £1000, which had enabled the Council to erect the library.

 

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