THE TOLL.GATE QUESTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2698, 12 September 1887, Page 2

THE TOLL.GATE QUESTION.

MEETING AT MAURICEYILLE.

A well-attended meeting wag held in the Mauricevillo Sohoolhouae on Tuesday evening last lor the purpose of discussing the Toll-gate question. On the motion of Mr Jessen, Mr. Blade was voted to the ehair.

The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called Waccount of .a petition, that had been presented to the Board, requesting that' 'the Toll'gate ba abolished. ~Hs then called on Mr'Jescen to more folly, explain the objeofc of the meeting. : ;; Mr Jesseu said that the petition referred to by the Chairman stated three reasons why tb'o Toll-gate should be abolished, . First, that tho ereotion of thn Toll-gate was premature, which he understood 1 to'mean' too ' early, meaning, tberefove, that it would be better to' wait, and erect the Gate when the road was utterly, ruined. The second. reason was that it was arbitary, which ho would like to have explained, as ho did not understand it himself. The third • reason was that the Toll-gate could be diipenaed with; but in the opinion of the Board the Gate was necessary, bo it would be for the petitioners to give their views on ihe subject in order that th« Board would be enlightened, on what -course it would be best to adopt with a view to .the interests of the district, la conoludiug, Mr Jessen expressed a hope that, the iipeakers would leave personal matters out.

Mi' Auliii said that as he had preseated tho petition, he would speak tirst. He commenced by reading part of the leport of the last meeting of the Board, as follows:—"The Chairman asked Mr Aulin whether those who had signed tho petition ware acquainted with its contents, Mr Aulin declined to answer." He said this was not a true report, as he had said (, he could only answor for himself," He then, with the assistance of Mr Deadman, read the petitjoa, and called upon' Mrßoisjard to state to the meeting, whether the petition as read waß the one he had signed f

Mr Roigard, in response stated that he was told by Mr Aulin that the petition was about the toll gate, m something must have bcea put on since then. In faot, ho only signed a blank sheet of paper, Mr Aulin next referred to the Board as those big men, bosses, or rathor servants, for they were theirsarvaata, They were doing things upsidadown, as that meeting ought to have been called .before the toll gate bad been erected , instead of afterwards. ']

Mr. Jesuit eaid that Mr Aulin had referred to a. question and aijswor •given at the last meeting of the .Board, but would not give them his version. He (Mr Jessen) asked Mr Aulin whether thfige who had signed the petition wbre'acquainted with its con-, tentn, to which Mr Aulin answered, "I decline ta answer the question," lie would lew -it to the 'sutlers whether they would believe his or Mr Aulin's version, but he would wy that if Mr Aulin intended fair play, why then evade a question instead of giving a straightforward answer; furthermore ;Mr Aulin had called a witness to prove i his case, and that witness had contra- J dioted him. Mr Aulin had referred to the. Board as "tboae big men," but 'how was it that Mr Aulin .was not one of them?' He had 'had a better opportunity, for when he first came out Mr Aulin .could speak fair English, but it was only now he seemed to know a little about Road Board matters, thus, showing he was comingout of his shell; but at this rate how long would it taVe before Mr Atjlla would be fully developed. Mr Aulin had also called the Board bosses, or servants. It was immaterial what they were oalled, but thev ought to receive fair treatment,' With regard: to calling {ho meeting- now, instead -of belore the toll-gate was erected, he .cotild point out that it would only have caused dulay, and. consequently lossJ in-:fact, the road would by this time have become impassable, if the toll-gate hnd'hot been there to throw the traffio on to the amis road. (Prolonged applause,) : .... Mr Brodersen said the toll-gate

uhould tie pulled down, as .traffic was good for tho district, even if they had a bad road, But what could they expect of Mr Jensen? flit (Mr Broderaefi) was 53 years old, whereaa Mr Jesaen was young, nor was he married nor had any children, and he came from Uopetl-. >. hagen. (Liusjhtar.) ... . Mr.Jessen roac-sayiDg. thfl^ltbough He did not wish" to. ;Bppftk.Jtoii still he. would clajm.it •wheftevef. .anybody; attack paV Ibim. Mr. hsd . said that he (Mr J?s3gn) ( •but as-.-8 matter ; he aty older Rtvthe tirpand still'.the electora'.had ahWqj'hjjir coo* fideace in. him, hprj-c<>ald • haw been deluded, as most of. tfratgi, Mr Brodorsen: included, had; ,koo$; him when he was. a mere i)ov;.V- : 0e was not married now, but norVas he, at the time of the election, and .it new that he came from, Copjj&jjgen, ;Mr Broderseu: Yes ;. i)i4|Srißpeakß : too nrnph English j I iantipt'.. undsr* atand him.-r . ; ; |

Mr Jeeaen oaid ' out tljere acouplo of years.Wms him, aud he remembered {3 years ago .when UraC* he came out ho was unable'to. understand Mr Broderseu, because that geu* tleman- was mixing English,with Danish, : and: jpow. : 13 years. affer Mr Broderseu. told Ihonj that'le. doeg not uQderßta&d.him beceueo be spoke Ecglish, (laughter andapplpße.)" ■■Mr Auliu.'agajn. referred'; to tho signatures on the petition'.'iaud' his answer to the Chairman of the; Board, and asked Mr Gundorsen. what reallf' was his answer! Mr Guaderson rev replied that Mr Aulin .declined to answer the question. . d-j MrGunderaen expressed hie opiuion that tho tollgulo Wit.s.iicoessary but may be opened during tho summer months, but no certain tirno could be fixed for in oas« the rail way ; line again got blooked, it would be. necessary toenforoe tho toll.

Mr Aulin thought it would.'ho bettfcr to take tho toll gate away oven if the' road got ruined, they couWJwin apply tothe Government they got £BO, and .they ui.igljt get £lßo' this year if it be required, jio would) move that the .toll gate be pulled dowm this was seconded by Mr JC 'Jensen. Mr Jessen explained that .'the £Bo' they got last year was on' nfoount of' the extra heavy traffic of. railway; aleepers which was Government rial, there would be no such thing thi© year and the Government had intimatfidi that it would be the last' grant. Bai further .thought that it was Mr Anltu's duty to acquaint, himself ■ o£ the easy befovo making ffaise atate--menta. in , : or.<jer to.. 34uSe ..the -meeting.- . ; ;.v'C ; ::v

. Mr amendment, "That'in the opliuoii of this meeting a ptsti'tioii sbotild'.bel' pteaented to the Board : aaking to aio.liih jthe 101 l gate during the.summer, ; seconded by Mr Larson. 25 voted 'for this, but only sis for the motion, 1m Mr Deadman next' refewfp- to the other part of the petition, vi?, That the. petitioners were surprised to learn the Board had; rai&ad tho salary of the v Clerk from £ls to J2O por year, instead of invitingi'pplioations and ajceptinjf the lowest offer. Mr Jeaaeu drew attention to .the faet 1 . that .this meetiug had been called to difecues the toll-gate quefltion only though he would not oiler any objection to having'other qoestior.s discussed but would leave it to the meeting. The Chairman gave it as his opiniom that such petty questions should note be discussed. They bad elected the Board thereby showing they had the confidence of the majority of tho rats» payer?. _ The Board again ele^f^ jr own chairman and to him j, 8 Mtsuoh minor things as chiK OB L a clerk, if suoh choice had tb an n rova i of the Board,. y

Mr Derail did noVchink it should bo dom that way a 8 m\A tell a friend * 0 put jg£ loff offer and promise to his salary afterwards. Ha wo/jj no j; inijily that it had been dono ; u this instance, but still it could be d'one.

Mr said that although Mr P«adm# n hud said that'he did not imply that such had been the case in the present instance, what other reason GQUId ho have said it for. In the proSent case the facts were that at the first meeting of the Board'last ye&v lis (Mr JeBsoo) had opposed the appointment of a dork but the Board decided to have one, and Mr Franklin offered to do the duties for on when the deferred payment thirds involved a lot of work, he (Mr Jessen) moved that the salary be raised to' anybody who.'.jiuow the of work would not think excessive. Now if there was anybody.to blame in tbo matter it would bo bim,. b'ufc even JJr Dsadman had come to! iiitn.-and gaisl-; that he was glad'to'seeitbuy'biid recognised the services of, tjje clerk by Iraiaiog his salary, aahe was n .paltry sum. '' ~W». '•

Mr Doidman tare explained that 1? ; the clerk wag vof tlPf 5jQ bo should baw> il, ■• : . • •.«,

hearty to t&e