THE WERAITI ROAD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4153, 1 July 1892, Page 3

THE WERAITI ROAD.

Proceedings in the RM Court,

In the Masterton R.M, Court this morning, before Colonel Roberts, R.M,, William Heury Beeiham, chairman of the Masterton Road Board, was charged on the inlormation of Dr W. H, Hosking that he did on the 28th of May last preside at a meeting of tho Board and at such meeting did take part in the discussion of the question of taking a road through (lie To Weraiti Block, boing a matter in | which be had a direot, or indirect i interest apart from that in common with the public

Mr Bunny appeared for the prosecution and Mr Beard for the defence Tho constitution of the Board was admitted, together with the fact that the To Weraile and Brancepeth stations were in the Road District, that the defondant was part proprietor of the former station, that Dr Hosking retained an interest in the latter, and that both parties were ratepayers in the district.

Mr Bunny briefly Btated the circumstances of the case, explaining that the information had been laid under Section G8 of the Road Boards Act. Ho nverrod that at no less than ten meetings of the Board Mr Bcetham had moved resolutions with the object of forcing the road through the Te Weraiti Block before the Crown grant bad matured, so as to prevent compensation being paid the owners, Tho taking of a road through tho Te Weraiti block would prove disastrous to the owners, and the property most benefited would be that of Messrs Williams and Beethnm. He asked was it honest or just that the Brancepeth station should 1)8 made valuablo at the expense of To Weraiti ? He would show that a shorter road, one that would cost less to maintain, and one that would meet Mr Beetham's object, could be taken through the Otahuao estate, The interest of Mr Beethaui, he maintained was distinctly apart from that in common with the public, He (Mr Beeiham) had been warned that he had no right to discuss the question of the Weraiti road, being an interested paity, but ho had taken no notice of that warning. Ho would thcreforo ask that a substantial penalty be imposed, and one that would meet the gravity of the case. Frederick George Moore, clerk to the Road Board, produced tho minutes of the meetings of that body. Ho declined to produce the legal opinion of Mr H. D. Bell with reference to the Weraiti road, Acting on instructions reciived from the Board he had called for tenders for the survey of this road. The Brancopetb ostate was a little oyer 46,000 acres in extent, and was entered upon the valuation roll as the property of Williams and Beetkuin, The remark of the Chairman of tho Board (Mr W. H, Beetham) which ap: peared in tho Board's minutes were to the effect that from his individual point of view as far as his. firm was concorned the Otahuao route would be tho best, but in the interests of the ratepayers as a whole the Weraiti Road would be preferable.

A legal opinion from Mr Bell was received as to whether the word " cultivation" had been properly interpreted by the Government in tho' case of Dr. Hosking's property, but the Board did not go into Committee or the subject. By Mr Beard: Dr Hosking admitted to witness that he believed in roading the country, and if the road had been taken at an earlier date through Weraite he (Dr Hosking) would not have objected, (A letter wua at this stage read from the Lands Department stating that the Government would not advise taking tho road through Weraite in its present state of cultivation unless under the Public Works Act.) Re-examined by Mr Bunny, tho witness stated: Dr Hosking was never asked to give a guarantee to Mr Bennett. [left sitting.]