THE TENUI-TAUERU ROAD

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2882, 25 April 1888, Page 2

THE TENUI-TAUERU ROAD

The ,£3OOO Loan,

A special meeting of the Wairarapa North County Council was held yesterday afternoon. Present Messrs Tlios. Maokay, (Chairman), W. 11. Beetham, Maunsell, T. Chamberlain, E. I). Dagg and E, Meredith. The Chairman said the meeting was called in connection with the proposed £3OOO loan, aud the question of levying a toll on stock, and also the possibility of the toll which was pledged as security afterwards being abolished before the principal had been repaid and the burden tints falling solely on the rating area. Regarding the latter point he read a letter from-Mr Geo. Beetham, which from a legal and authoritative opinion advised as follows

" Tlio Act clearly, provides that if the proposal of the Council is in correct form, that the toll must ho primarily responsible, and only in the case of need, such as an unprecedented or unlooked for divergence of the traffic, that the ratepayers of the rating area could be called upon to supply any deficiency. It is also suggested as an additional precaution that in the agreement with the Government preceding the granting of the loan, that it should be understood by the contracting parties that the toll should in no case be abolished, even partially, without the consent of the Government being obtained." Mr Beetham's letter also added that he considered the speaker's (Mr TJios. i Mackay's) interpretation of the Act as expressed in his letter to the Wairv rapa Daily correct in every particular. Cr Maiinsell said that the Tonui ratepayers had at a meeting looked at the fact that future Councillors might abolish the toll, and thus throw the burden of paying the interest upon the ratepayers within the limited area in which the loan was expended. The meeting was, he might say, in favor of a light tax on stock besides the fees on horses and vehicles, The reason assigned for taxing stock was that cattle, on their passage along the roads damaged them to a considerable extent.

Cr Meredith expressed an opinion against there being a.toll on stock. If the road were being improved or maintained throughout its length, there would not bo so much objection to it.

The Chairman remarked tliat although , they lwd not been able to get a formal .meeting at Car,swell's, the feeling there; V, seemed in favor of a toll on stock. •' Cr Maunseil pointed out .the "A tages of improving the roaclAthe . way the loan would grades and pinches might be termed the key of the district. At some future day all the produce might be sent into Masierton. As long as the', pinches.; existed only heavy and ■first class teams could be used; with a better roadj-v. lighter teams could be put: on and thero would be more competition, and lower rates. • ■.;

Cr Meredith pointed out that a toll on stock would cripple, dealing. It would greatly. interfere with at any, rate the lower-value class of stock being brought into the sale yards or being taken out into the Country.

Cr Maunseil remarked-that the land': ' would have a greatly increased value with better access, Cr Meredith considered that t|it proposal to tax stock, came with ™,/ particularly bad grace from Tetnii,. where the people got the benefit of • botli works, and only contributed to one.

.Or Maunseil said that rather than j the intended good work should mis- V carry,lie would favour a tax-upon ■'' everything so as not to risk losjft the ; " support of those people who were inclined'to favor the loan on this ground. The Council could afterwards , r equalise the fees and lower or remove - the charges on stock. ■ Cr Beetham said the loan was being : applied to a road over which little stock travelled, while at considerable expense, a road had been provided over the Black Hill. He was in favor of stock being, exempt. • The Chairman remarked, that he would prefer not seeing stock taxed, •'. but lie feared that as popular feeling stood there would have to be a slight toll to enable the loan to be carried, , Cr Maunseil moved that a.lightfoll on stock in addition to that on horse- ■' men and vehicles be levied at the . : Taueni for the purpose of paying the ■ interest on the loan. The Chairman seconded the motion. :

Several Councillors commented upon the absence of any public opinion on the subject, owing to ratepayers not having attended the meetings j^alled-. Or Meredith considered tha® hose ratepayers who were interested badbeen aware that there was no possibility of the toll being abolished, and no fear of the interest payment consequently falling upon the rating area solely, they would not call for' the toll upon stock, but would be satisfied to haye it limited to vehicles and horses, in •consideration of the reduced freight rates that would result.. - There was, however, no advantage whatever to stock by the road improvements, aud this was recognised. -

The Chairman, was afraid that after. . so many failures, if the loan were not obtained now, people would regardUw matter as hopeless, and despondently settle down to the present very inefficient road, After further discussion had taken place, Or Maunsell was allowed to withdraw his motion, the following resolution, proposed by the Chairman, and seconded by Cr Beetlia Abeing carried in its stead: "TW the Council having received information that a toll established for the payment of interest on loan under the Local Bodies Loans Act cannot be abolished unless with the' conseut of Government , ratepayers within the special rating area for the proposed .-83000 loan for improving the grades on the Taueru road and metalling near Tenui bo informed to that effect; also that - the Council further binds itself to establish such toll and enter into an agreement witli the Government not , to abolish the same until such'time as sufficient money has accrued therefrom to pay off all liabilities under the loan, and that the scale of charges shall not include a toll on stock so long as a reasonable wheel and horse tariff sufficient to cover the interest and annual charges on the sum borrowed." Cr Meredith then moved, and it was carried, after being seconded by Cr Beetham, " that.a postcard embracing the above be sent to each ratepayer in the special rating area." A AOHONGA I'EHHY HKSEUVijSr It was resolved that the Chairman be authorised to engage the services of Mr W. lorns to arrange for a renewal of (lie lease.

CHARITABLE AID. At Cr Meredith's request Cr Dagg's namo was substituted for his as delegate at the coming Local Bodies Conference on the Charitable Aid question, to be held on Ist May. This concluded the business and the meeting adjourned.