THE TURNPIKE QUESTION.

Evening Star, Issue 4198, 10 August 1876, Page 2

THE TURNPIKE QUESTION.

This morning a very large and influential deputation waited upon his Honor the DeputySupenn-'euvk-ut wilh regard to the removal of t~e toll-bars som« distance b«y*ud the City boundaries. It was introduced by * The Mavob, who stated that the gentlemen present represented the suburbs around Dunedin. They were met for the purpose of bringing under his Honor's n otic- a resolution passed on the last day of the lust session of the Provincial Council referring to the removal of the toll-gates beyond the City houndarit hj. The City was divided, as it were, from the suburbs by those relics of barbarism in the shape of toll-gates. The deputation urged on the Government the removing of the oil bars beyond the immediate neighborhood of the Ci-y, and trusted that the Executive would give the matter that favorable consideration which it deserved, Mr Caroill mentioned that when these toll-gates were fixed in their present position—a good many years a'O-r-the fe.'liug of the inhabitants of the City was that'it was agreit hardship that they should he so placed. It was not originally intended that they should be placed so close to the City, but great pressure was brought to bear by the *epreie»taiives of the country districts, who were then potent in the Provincial Counoil, and they got the toll-gates so plac d as to take up all traffic passing in and out of the City. Then there was a certain degree of excuse in the fact that the Provincial Government were paying the whole cost of maintaining the roads through the City, phafc, however, had been discontinued for some time, apd that piece of road now leading i o the railway was all the Provincial Government now maintained. Mr Oargill argued that since the citizens of Dunedin were heavily taxed for maintaining the roads it was a great hardship (hat they could not remove to a suburban residence without having tp pay tv 11 iu addition thereto. It was but an act of Justice to the City that the toll-bars should be removed and placed iu a position where they would take the traffic of the country road*, leaving the cU(*ej)S to enjoy tho use of *He roods for the maintenance ei wh}s]j they were hj j heavily twttd. Mr A. C. Rr.ao. as representing the Roslyn Road Board and dirdriot. mentioned tost although the Kaikoroi tolhgftlg brought in a considerable revenue io the Provincial Uoyerpment' almost nothing had oeeu spent in improving V9&>

Oawtehtm dls* triot, Instanced tha Hillside toll, from which LSOO a-year waadrawn, and only some LBo spent In taiinnjr that little fragment of aroaoL The toll* lK»ok int 8f k* a^>o^ie^OT placed beyond

The Mayor believed fhat the suburbs were unanimous on the question of removing toll-eates The Mayor of South Dunedin was to hare been at fb'pultVion. In that district the opinion decidedly was that the Anderson's Bay toll should he ™V d - A 1 ? 0 bavin? removed one toll, tliac at the North-east Va'ley, the residents in the subari.a claimed that the other tolls should also he reiiv'ved.

Hia Honor said that in the Council he had always support 'd the rim iviu< of toil-bars, not only from town U'Mimlit.ries but of abolishing them altogether He promised to bring the matter before the Execnl Uvo to-morrow, and to afford them what iuforluatxou he could supply.