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Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 March 1889, Page 2

The case of Phillips v. the Alfredton Eoad Board in which the plaintifi obtained a verdict of £SO is one of considerable importance. As far as Mr .Phillips himself is concerned it was abundantly evident that he had a substantial grievance, and 110 one will grudge him a penny .of the' money whioh the Court awards him. But, apart from this, the case is an Illustration of a remark made by Mr W, H„ Beetham somo time ago to the effect tliai lip'titles to the bulk of the roads m the Wairarapa are touched with some illegality or other and that js hardly one Mt can, liold'its own iri a -Court' of law: Local ijcwSies diligence pusli iriw sls. though

bush and swamp, opening up the country and developing its resources only to find thai from some erroriri; detail,: some accidental oversight, they are in,the meshes of the law and liable for damages, At the present time the Manawatu Road Board is virtually killed by- an action for damages and its revenues have been seized by ' order of the Supreme Court. We trust, the Government will make. some inquiry in this and similar cases. It will not do for local self government to be arrested and road construction stopped in country districts through causes of this kind. Should another dispute,, similar to that of Pliillips v. The Alfredton Road Board Board, let us hope it will be settled by arbitration. . The cost of deciding such an issue in our District Court is evidently very heavy, and it is doubtful whether even the successful plaintiff will find his receipts at all adequate to cover, his loss of time and hie* general expenses involved in the action. - -. _