COMMON ROADS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 14, 29 April 1871, Page 11

COMMON ROADS.

The Provincial Government has announced its intention to introduce a new bill relative to District Highways into the'Council on its re-opening; and has also invited suggestions from the chairmen of the several road boards on the subject. Specisl attention is directed to the following, amongst other points:—The division and size of districts; the mode of levying rates; the maintenance ot main roads ; and the management of townships. With reference to each a few brief remarks will not be out of place in a journal enjoying a large circulation in country districts in which much interest is naturally felt in this subject. . Districts. —lnstead of the boundaries of the several districts being virtually determined by a few residents therein, the whole province should be mapped out and divided by act of Council, and made to include all the lands of the province. 'These districts should be of medium size, and not be divided into wards; but each road district should constitute a ward of a group of districts, or county, as in Victoria, The chairmen of the district boards constituting the county board, and having charge of all roads, not main roads, running through and connecting one road districts with another. In England an act was recently passed placing the highways under district boards, and transferring their management from ft single parish to ft group

of parishes; but as each parish bears its own expenses, tli6 notisn is fostered that interests are not common but conflicting. This would be the case here if road districts were so large as to require to be divided into wards as suggested; but would be obviated in the case of the county, if all the “ through” roads were maintained out of a common fund.

Bates. —An average rate in country towns, villages, thickly settled and cultivated districts would be manifestly improper. In all other districts the present system would be the best; and it is the most politic and popular system that could be devised. The parties, however, who assess the rate, should not be the parties to hear and decide appeals. Either an assessor should be appointed, or a local court of appeal be established.

Main Boads. —If there is one duty more incumbent on the Provincial Government than another, it is that of keeping in good order and repair the whole of the main lines of communication throughout the province. In Erance the roads are divided into three, classes, viz:—National roads, departmental roads, and vicinal or parish roads. The first are maintained at the cost of the nation; the second at the cost of the department; and the third at the cost of the parish. . This is the natural division, though it has been ignored in our highway legislation. In Victoria the Government contributes a fixed amount in proportion to the rates of the district, and so much per mile for the main lines passing through it. In New South Wales all the principal roads are maintained out of the general revenue. The total expenditure in 1870, exclusive of grants to bye-roads, amounted to £157,813, no less than £IS,OOO of which heing contributed by tolls. Eor the maintenance of bridges, tolls should be established, and of main roads a general and special land tax might be imposed, and also a tax on saddle horses; the balance remaining, after the cost of the foregoing has been paid, being handed to the county boards for the maintenance of the “ through” roads. Townships. —A special law is required for the management of country towns and villages; because within them other matters beside cart roads demand attention. The minimum, as well as the maximum, amount of rate to be levied should be fixed by law. There is more danger that the ratepayers will impose too small than too large a rate, as has been proved in repeated instances, too numerous, in fact, to be enumerated.