CORRSPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1177, 13 September 1882, Page 2

CORRSPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-I am a daily reader of your journal—or I might rather say weekly, ' for i get my papers in a lump—and in ~ your issues of the 2nd and 4th I read with interest your report of the Highway . Board meeting held at Masterton./ Although at election time, Mr Editor, you and I may differ, yet Itk'now your paper is open to any correspondence that has a grievance to explain, .and where public interests' are at stake 1 see you give your opposition in such matters without favor. I therefore crave space ia your journal to make some, remarks on a case in which I am interested. /I Hin indeed sorry that legaLaMgjjhg. ings have to be taken to Masterton Highway No doubt the powjr vestecnif\,!e Beardis great, bilt the 'public will not allojjSl that body to l overatep that power, 1 About eighteen months ago, I was one of a great many settlers-and ratepayers who presented a petition to the Masterton Highway Board to have a fence removed from the centre of the road leading from Mr Walier Murison's residence at ; Manaia to. the river r-a distance of 40 ohains,—and put upon the proper road line As the fence now stands, it givea Mr Rhodes Donald two acres of land which belong to the public, aud are securely fenced into his paddock. But for ' some reason never explained to me, the Board, ignored our petition; it .waa shelved, and there the fence still stands, although a resolution was passed three years ago for the fence *o be removed by the Board, yet they ueyer caused the grievance to be removed, and so give the public : their rights'. ' ' : I am one of many ratepayers who have ■ instructed a solicitor to take action against the Board uuless the fenee is removed within a reasonable time. You see they received notice, but wha> was the result 1, In spite of the motion of Mr Dags, our. representative (Mr Beetham) had'it ruled that the matter he referred to the engineer. 1 What, in the name of wonder, has. the engineer tn do with it? ' Mr A. McMaster, who had some little dispute I see, at the. last meeting said the engineer was one of Mr Buchanau's convenient initrauients, aud perhaps Mr Beutbam might think his report would be final in this matter;. but I think Mr Beelham' will be that'the Board, with all its powers, cannot bestow two acres'.of Itind belonging to a public highway on a private individual. ButMrWm. Beethambeloos;BtOiilitieral hearted family and perhaps is going to take example from his brother Nortnao, who handed over to Mr Buchanan £BOO from No. 4 ward to usi-it him (Mr Buuhanan) in his Scotch navigation, and has put the public and - the ratepayers also m any amount of trouble. I wonder how Mr Farquhar Gray and Mr John Rayner would look if Mr B. P. Pe tv wmud fence them off with a half chain load, wliuae properties front the same line of roid, for some two miles. I am sorry to say, Mr Editor, that suspicion is aroused against some of the wardens, as being selfish, where better things might be expected. I would ad- - vise those' who are invested with a little public power to treat everyone acoording to their rights, li is true,-Mr Editor, a half chain road might be sufficient for the traffic, but what right have we to tip cp- . tent with half loaf when a whole oue belonsjs to us. About four or live years ago the road was not much used, as travellers in our qu-rter were not so often ia Masterton then, and the Manaia plains were unfenced. But since fences were put up, it is our principal road to and from Masterton, and the only road Messrs John Harding, Youle, Taplin, and Miller have to their farms. All cattle for Lowes & Lirns' sales from our quarter come by that road, and I would think Mr Buchanan ought to know the difference in driving cattle on a chain road beside a half chain one, ami also consider the interest of the ;.'Ublio. Trusting you will insert the encl 'secl and that I have not encroached too far on your space, lam&c., JIiSMH tl .NALL.