TOLL GATES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 139, 4 August 1911, Page 5

TOLL GATES.

■ At the Hawera Courthouse for three days last week Mr. W. S. Short, solicitor and Assistant Under-Secrctary of Piiblic.Wrks, as Commissioner, conducted an inquiry between tho Waiiildtc West County Council ami tho Hdwora County Council. In 11)07 the Hawera County Council demanded' from Waimate £4OO per annum tottdhds the upkeep of the main South ltdad between Hawera and Manaia. TVdhnate offered £3OO, which offer was roflised by Hawora. Tho Hawera Cdilllty thereupon erected a toll-gate nqdr, Manaia, and on tho Normanby Hoad near Okaiawa. Waimate recently petitioned His Excellency the Governor to abolish the toll gates and substitute in lieu thereof a fair yearly payment to bo made by Waimate to Hawera. His Excellency thereupon directed tho above commission. The nldih questions were what amount of traffic Waimato sent over the main South Road and what was the annual cost of upkeepiug tho road in question. A largo number of witnesses ,wtire called on each side. Quito an array of engineers gave evidence. For Waimato Messrs J. R. Mac Kay and E. C. Robinson, of Stratford, Mr F. Basbam, of Eltbam, and Mr. Spencer, of Te Kuiti gave expert evidence as to the cost of upkeep. For Hawera Messrs Sladden and Skinner, of Now Plymouth, gave expert evidence on the same point. A large number of other wittibsses were called on each side and voluminous correspondence, records, plans, tallies of traffic were put in evidence. Mr. C. B. Mori son, 01 Wellington, summed up for Hawera, occupying in his speech an hour and three-quarters. Mr. R. Sponco, of Stratford, summed up for Waimato, his speech occupying two hours and a, Quarter. . The Commissioner complimented counsel on both sides on tho groat energy and ability with which the case had ’.been presented. Ho said he coujd give no indication at present of yrhat his report to his Excellency the. governor would’ bo, but in due co\irso ho would make that repent and paqh side would be presented with

*r .Tr a qdjjjjr. Throughout the commission Mr. J. B. &py, of New Plymouth, and Mr. R. Spejipe, of Stratford, appeared for the WJVlippte Council, while the Hawera Cmju’cil was represented by Mr. C. B^’Prison, of , Wellington, and Mr. E. Welsh, of Hawera.