The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 401, 19 February 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1879.

The proposal of the Patea County Council to erect a toll-gate this side of the Waitotara Bridge, does not seem to be relished by the settlers at Waverley and Waitotara. ‘While not advocating the system of tolls, we do not think the County Council to blame in the action they took, for no doubt a decided step of some sort or another was required, in order to prevent Wanganui County from removing St. John’s Hill gate to Waitotara. It seems to ns a very onesided and mean way of conducting public affairs, for while Wanganui reaps the benefit of their own drays travelling on our roads, and doing them considerable damage, Patea County must stand by and say nothing. This is,not as it should be, and it is a pity Waugai u'

1 County couU noi. luvu couio to porno arrangement with Pa Lea, .in regard to the matter.;; However, they do not seem inclined: to entertain propositions which will in any way benefit this district, and it is time Patea County took the matter in their own hands. At the meeting held at Wailotaraon Friday evening last, a great deed was sail against the erection of a toll-gate in that town, and amongst the speakers were Councillors Milne and Brewer. "We are rather astonished that those gentlemen should have gone away from the last meeting of the County Council with such a poor idea ol what was the real intention of the Council. It was distinctly stated that unless Wanganui attempted to remove the St. .John’s Hill gate to Kai Iwi or Waitotara, nothing would be done in the matter; and further, that the Chairman write to Wanganui, in order that some mutual arrangement might be come to. Members of the Council who voted for the erection of the gate, spoke strongly against the system, bnt thought this proceeding the only one by which they could hold their own against Wanganui. We believe that if the erection of a tollgate within any port of the County is not forced upon Patea by the oppression of others, such an objectionable thing will never be done. Bnt there is nothing like being prepared for an emergency, and by passing the resolution they did, the Patea County Council have put themselves in a. position to prevent Wanganui removing Bt, John’s Hill toll-gate to any spot they choose. A resolution was passed at the meeting on Friday evening, to the effect that the Council be asked to re-consider its action; but as far as we can see, it has nothing to re-consider.