ROAD THROUGH MATSON'S PROPERTY.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 316, 19 July 1898, Page 4

ROAD THROUGH MATSON'S PROPERTY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Will you kindly 6pare me a small space in your valuable paper to contradict some of the statements made by Mr Matson to your Cambridge correspondent, which appeared in your issue of July 7th. Before Ido so, perhaps a fewfacts in reference to the district may not be out of place. The first settlers came up here some four years ago and obtained permission from the late Mr Seddon (then manager of the Gorton Estate) to make a road where they liked ; and since then there have been over three thousand acres disposed of to six separate purchasers, and they have no other outlet except the road in dispute ; besides it is the key road to thousands of acres of good back country, and as we are under the jurisdiction of neither Council nor Road Board, we are applying to the Government for a road ; but 1 may say if a lawyer's opinion is a guide, our lawyer says Mr Matson cannot legally lock the gate as at present. We have what is called a road of necessity "re" Mr Matson's statements. If the locks have been destroyed, how is it our keys have always fitted ? How does Mr Matson know the lock was taken off before the fastener was destroyed ? Was he there to see ? The thing he calls a fastener yi.u must understand, is a piece of barb wire fastened round the back gate post, and the gate to prevent people lifting it off its hinges. Again, who did Mr Matson make his agreement with that the settlers should pay for the use of the road ? Certainly this is the first we have heard of it. I think lam safe in saying that the three settlers who have keys would not stoop to do such a thing as Mr Matson accuses us of.—l am, etc., Settler. P.S.—I have heard on good authority that there is a percentage set aside for road making, and at present there is not an inch taken for that purpose.