January 1905

"The old year did not pass out without a parting sob." It rained for three days but many people were "promenading the principle thoroughfares" on New Year's Eve. "When the hour of midnight arrived, the Band struck up a farewell tune to 1904 and St Andrew's bells rang out a parting peal."
Cambridge Oddfellows' second annual sports on Victoria Square were nearly postponed as the "atmospheric conditions were decidedly of a wintry nature. The afternoon broke fine, although heavy winds blew across the ground, and one or two light showers fell". About 700 people braved the elements.
Mr C C Tarrant (one of 16 farmers at Maungatautari) sold his farm for £3 15s an acre.
E A Jones resigned as Captain of the Fire Brigade and T Kite was appointed in his place. The Cambridge Anglers' Club fenced in about 30 yards of the water-race by the water tower for a trout nursery and the Borough Council gave 10/- for £1 subsidy (up to £10) to get it up and running.
Mrs Bartlett moved her nursing home to 'Treborough House' formerly occupied by H J Davys - corner Queen and Lake Streets.

Cambridge Borough Council was considering asphalting Victoria and Duke Street footpaths and would go ahead - providing applicants guaranteed half the cost of the work. They were also looking at curbing at 2/- a foot - but funds weren't available.
70 members and friends turned out when Mrs Sarah Earl started the ball rolling at the new Croquet Club on George Hewitt's lawn in Queen Street .
His Excellency, Lord Plunket, Governor of New Zealand, accompanied by Lady Plunket paid an official visit to Cambridge. Union Jacks and NZ Ensigns were unfurled to the breeze and there was a good display of bunting. The party visited the Cambridge Domain, St Andrews Church then travelled around the Pukerimu and Pukekura districts. Lord Plunket was most impressed with the dairy farms. They stayed overnight at the National Hotel and the following day visited Te Waikato Sanatorium.
In Fencourt, the settlers who at this time had leased their land for 999 years, came to realise that they had to form a Drainage Board (under the provisions of the Land Drainage Act) to get financial help from the government to help drain their farms.

Preparations were made for the second Annual A & P Show and a number of newly invented milking machines were to be on show. The Maungatautari Racing and Athletic Sports were being more properly organised this year with more prizes and a varied programme. The local turnip growers were hoping for a bit more rain.
The Cambridge Library had spent £52 13/- on 211 new books over the previous year. The Borough Council sold its piano and gave the money, £32 1/-, to the Library as a nucleus for a new library building fund.
The Gricedale (Roto-o-Rangi Estate) correspondent reported that - "The want of a mail service in our thriving district is badly felt". They either had to journey to Cambridge or rely on the butcher or baker for deliveries. They had 13 suppliers to the creamery and the school was to be opened shortly. A recent social was delayed as the pianist, Mrs R Simpson, had an accident when a wheel came off her buggy and she had to walk to the school.

The contractors for the High Level Bridge offered to make a name-plate and the Council wanted to keep away from Governors and Premiers. 'Constant Reader' thought the name Kotahitanga (Unity) was euphonious and pretty. 'Old Resident' thought 'Victoria ' was a pleasant sounding name.
Anniversary Day was spent with bowls and tennis, the Methodist choir had a picnic at Chas Lake's Fencourt property, there was a trip to the Hora Hora Rapids, there were trout and deer stalking expeditions and picnics in the country.
Fitzgerald's Circus set up their tent on an allotment near the railway and the Australian wombat created as much interest as the wild animals. Clowns created merriment, the trapeze and wire walking were much applauded and the performing horses and dogs seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the audience.
A crowd assembled at the fountain and cheered the cyclists who had raced from Hamilton. Ireland came in first in 48 minutes 59 seconds and C Hally second.

 

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