TOLL-GATES IN TARANAKI.

Shannon News, 3 April 1925, Page 3

TOLL-GATES IN TARANAKI.

■MAURI SCHEDULE" UF 1862. POLICEMEN TO PAY £SOO. Toll-gates in Taranaki passed away on Tuesday after playing a notable part in building up the main roads to their present excellent standard. Perhaps it is not generally known that the Maoris first conceived tlie idea of collecting toll fees, in Taranaki. They resolved during war period to impose toils and set up a notice of the schedule in 186;2, but probably no one paid any of the fees so prescribed. Certainly a. "P'akeha policeman" would refuse to pay £5.00 and a minister of the gospel might hesitate to part with £SQ in such circumstances. Particulars are given hi Wells' "History of Taranaki." •When a. fore©, under General Cameron captured the Maoris.' position at Katikara, near Tataraiinaku, on June 4, 1863, the most interesting oif the spoils taken by the troops was the hst of tolhs which was set up; by the rebels near to Te Ika roa. a Maui, the great' assembly house at Kapoaiaia, near Warea, but which, was afterwards brought up to Puketehe, just beyond Tataraimaka. The following is a translation of this singular notice:—

Taranaki. Te Ika a Maui. The house where lie the laws which are in force here of King Matutaera Potatau, near' the. gate for payment of offences which stands here.

£ s. i a 1. Minister of the gospel 50 0 0 .2. $00 0 0 3. Maori disciple of the 200 0 0 4. Wealthy Pakeha—don't let them go through the gate, if the& do ...; 5 0 0 5. 500 0 0 6. Maori policeman 5 0 0 7. Maori assessor 5 0 0 3. If he comes as a Kingite. 0 15 0 9. A King's letter in the ma.il 0 5 0 10. A letter against the authority of the King i 0 0 11. Letters from kinsmen out-, 0 5 0 12. Letters tempting the tribe 0 15 0 13. Letters hot sent by the 1 0 0 14. A neutral coming as a 0 5 0 15. , A preaching Maori minis- . Letter badly tempting the 55 0 0 Hi. tribe, seize it and make 0 5 0 17 . The above is the law for the Pakeha tolls of the Maori.

£, i j. < Li. 1. A cart of wheal or 'Other 1 0 0 •L Things carried on a 0 0 1 3. A pig carried in a cart 0. 0 6 0 Qs 6 0 0 6 6. There are no rui.es referring to neutrals outside, but a. load carried from inside the gate .. v 0 0 1 7. Money of the tribe for 8. The iaw of *the Maoris imside arid outside of y. Do not steal, 0 Man (or evade the tolls), if you do you will pay 5 0 0 By auiihority of the keepers > of tiie gate of Matutaera, KERE, Policeman. ROPOMA, Policeman 8th July, 18CS.