NOPMANBY PETITION.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 226, 9 June 1877, Page 2

NOPMANBY PETITION.

(To the Editor of the Patka .Mail.) Sup—l noticed .in your last issue that Mr C. E. Gibson attended the County Council meeting with a petition, signed by fifty or sixty settlers or householders, I presume for the purpose of urging upon the Council the desirability of making a road through the township of Normanby, and discontinuing other works which are of less importance to that favoured township. At the present time there is a road on each side of this before mentioned township, and tbo Board will have the greatest difficulty in raising funds sufficient to keep them in any sort of decent repair. At present the roads are in a most deplorable state ; and taking into consideration the shortnes of funds of both flic Road Board and County Council, I consider the proposal monstrous, and should not for one moment bo entertained by the Council. Persons who have settled there, and who purchased property, did it purely as a speculation. It they built hotels, stores, or private dwellings, it was because they thought it would answer their purpose, and the public has no right whatever to be taxed to increase the value of their properties, or to divert any road to the injury of any other land-holders. If they want a road, and it will increase the value of their property, fifty or sixty householders can surely be able to pay for the making of one a few chains long ; but the general public will not be benefitted one way or the other whether they ever have a road through Normanby or not. — I am, &c., RATEPAYER,