PETITION AGAINST THE TOLLGATE BILL

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, 21 October 1867, Page 261

PETITION AGAINST THE TOLLGATE BILL

To the Honorable the Provincial Council oe Hawke’s Bay, in Session ASSEMBLED. The Petition of the undersigned, electors of the town of Napier, respectfully Mieweth, — Tiiat your petitioners have heard with much regret that it is in contemplation to erect a tollgate at Tareha’s Bridge, 3£ miles from Napier. That, however necessary it may be that a tax of some kind should be imposed for road purposes, such tax should be made to fall equally upon all sections of the community; but the levies at the proposed Tollgate would in the opinion of your petitioners, fell chiefly upon Napier and surrounding districts. That Napier has only one outlet to the interior —the road across which it is proposed to place the'Tollgate. That such road/except for a few chains beyond the Town-boundary, is in its natural state ; and that such of your petitioners as wished to ride or drive out of Town for purposes of health, business, or recreation, would be compelled to pay toll for travelling over a road upon which no money whatever has; been expended. That your petitioners learn with extreme regret that although there is a good metalled road from Wahaparata to Waipawa, a distance of about 32 miles, the only place where it is deemed advisable to establish a Tollgate; should be close to the Town of Napier, upon a road which, for nearly six miles in one direction, has not been improved in any way. • - - That- on- those and other grounds, which-your petitioners need not enumerate, your petitioners would respectfully pray your Honorable Council to substitute in lieu of tolls such other tax as may be calculated to effect the object in view without pressing unduly or injuriously upon one section of the community. And your petitioners, as in duly bound, will ever pray. ;; . [Here follow 92. signatures.] ,