ROAD TO SMITH'S BUSH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 122, 9 June 1870, Page 5

ROAD TO SMITH'S BUSH.

A special meeting of the Town Council was held on Friday evening last, to consider the following memorial sent to the Council.

All the Councillors were present, and in the absence of the Mayor, Cr. Mears was called to the chair. MEMORIAL. To the Mayor and Town Councillors of Lawrence. Gentlemen, — We, the undersigned citizens of Lawrence, beg to call your immediate attention to the fact tH*at the read used for carting timber and firewood from what is known as Smith's Bush and the Tuapeka Mouth Saw Mill, has been obstructed by a fence put across it by Mr. James Smith at the boundary of his run near Falconer's Valley, thereby depriving the inhabitants of this town of access to the bush and saw mill.

"We would remind the Council that about two years ago the Government expended the sum of £200 on this road, and that within the last fortnight two petitions have been forwarded to the Government requesting a further expenditure of money as being absolutely necessary to improve the same road.

We trust you will take immediate steps to represent this very urgent matter to the Government, and you will confer a public good upon the entire community. We are, gentlemen, &c, (Here follow the signatures.)

Cr. Walker remarked that the road in question had been open for traffic for three or four years. The Government had acknowledged it to be a bush, and he considered that on that ground it should be kept open. So far as the boundary of the run was concerned, the Government, he believed, provided for the public convenience in such cases, and he thought Mr. Smith could be compelled to keep the road open. He remembered a case at Court in which some bullock drivers complained against a similar road being closed by locked gates, and the Warden recommended that they should tackle the bullocks to the gate posts and make way.

Cr. Herbert said that if the road complained of was a district road, then neither Mr. Smith nor anyone else could stop it against traffic. He believed Mr. Smith, as a rule, was very obliging, and thought if a petition was submitted to him he would accommodate the public in the matter. He understood Mr. Mnith would be in Lawrence on the following day, and would move " That Crs. Mears, Coverlid, Harrop, and the mover wait upon him with reference to the subject, and in the event of Mr. Smith not complying with the memorialists, immediate steps be taken to represent the matter to the Government." The motion was seconded and carried. The Council then adjourned till Saturday evening.

DEPUTATION The deputation waited udon Mr. Smith in Messrs. Herbert & Co's store, on Saturday morning, and after reciting the grievance complained of,

Mr. Smith stated that he had put a fence across the track referred to that he might save several chains of fencing. He had no other object in view. So far as interfering with the road to the bush, he believed the surveyed district road, which went by the adjoining spur, would not add more than a mile and a-half to the distance ; and, besides, was a much better road. However, if the public of Lawrence considered the track complained of as of so very great importance, he was quite willing that it should be kept open, provided they paid for the extra fencing, and put a gate on it. He would be in Tuapeka on the following week, and

would gladly accompany any gentlemen they might name to inspect the road, and judge for themselves.

The deputation thanked Mr. Smith for the courteous manner in which they had been received, and retired.

On the same evening the Council held a special meeting, when the deputation reported their interview. The Council went fully into the discussion of the question. It appeared that the divergence in the road instead of making a difference of seven miles, as had been reported, would not be above two and a-half or three miles, and the extra time likely to be occupied by a loaded dray would be three or four hours. It was thought advisable that one or two of the Councillors should visit the place, and Cr. Herbert moved that Crs. Walker, Mears, and Coverlid do so, and report at next meeting of Council. Cr. Barnett seconded. Carried. The Council then adjourned.