HALF-WAY BUSH ROAD BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3454, 18 March 1874, Page 3

HALF-WAY BUSH ROAD BOARD.

To the Editor. Sir, —The report of the appeal meeting at the Half-way Bush, which appeared in your issue of the 9th instant, must have been written with the evident intention of misleading the ratepayers. I, as one present, cannot understand what inducement there could have been to make such a misstatement. The feeling of the numerous body of ratepayers, who attended at great inconvenience, was that of indignation at the way they were systematically treated by the

Board—not only on this occasion, but in previous years—and when it was plainly shown that tho ratepayers would stand it no longer, the Board themselves prepared, without going into a single case of appeal, that the valuation should stand the same as. last year’s. Thus, those present were precluded from doing anything further, and the meeting being only for appeals, other business could not be entertained; consequently we were thoroughly hoodwinked, and if we wish

any other important matter discussed we have another dreary tramp of many miles, with, pos sibly, a similar result. . As instances of the Board’s peculiar valuations. I may give one or two. Thus, a property worth, and under offer for L 2,000, valuation, L4sperannum; another, for which LX,500 has been refused, L 75 per annum ; a cottage of three rooms and quarter-acre, L 46 per annum ; and many others equally unjust. It is surely a question for the’General Road Board to inquire into : i no wonder the people of Maori Hill want separation. Land unimproved, and no road, yalued at L 7 10s per acre 1 ; land alongside, with good road and improvements, leased at 10* per acre; andvalued at LI per atfre, : I hone you excuse my somewhat long letter, but as it concerns the welfare of a large number of your subscribers, and is of much public importance, aiidslibwing the unsatisfactoryworking.of the -hew rqml Ordinance,, I trust yop wUi bo to find space for insertion ip th® Star. Not of Maori Hill. Dunedin, March 16,