THE WERAITI ROAD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4154, 2 July 1892, Page 2

THE WERAITI ROAD.

Proceedings in the RM, Court, On the Ooucc resuming after ltraoh the Board's Olerk was re-called and produced the report of the Engineer to the Eoad Board, showing the difference in the length of the proposed roads through Weraiti and Otahuao. Mr Beard (to the Board's Olerk): What is the ruling grade in the Otahuao road ? •

, Mr Moore: The planshows it tobe ono in ten. Mr Bunny: I object to Mr Moore stating the grade. The plan speaks for itself. Mrßeatd: Then as the plan cannot speak for itself 1 will state that the grade is one in tbn. Dr, Hosking: The grade is one in twenty, Mr Beard: If you say that, you say what is a lie ! Dr. Hosking: I retort, sir I Mr Beard: I will not discuss the question with Dr. Hosking. Mr Bunny: My learned friend will not mislead the Court. The correspondence between Mr Bunny and the Chairman of the Board (Mr W. H. Beetham) with reference to the opinion obtained fram Mr H. D. Ball, was here put in. Dr. W. H. Hosking, on oath, deposed that he was interested in the Weraiti estate' Since the property was his he had felled, grassedj and fenced it, and nearly the whole was wirenetted. He had pushed ahead with his cultivation to avoid a road being taken under the Native Lands Act. The Court: What Apt did you say ?

Dr Hosking: Tho Native Lands Act, There was a disability on the land for roads.

Mr Beard; Dr. Hosking is giving a legal opinion. Dr. Hosking: And a very good opinion too I Mr Beard: Yes, I understand, you know all about it.

Dr. Hosking: I don't want to be interrupted by you, I was asked a question by tho Court, Air Beard: lam going to ask you what I please. The Court: It is not necessary to further discuss the matter,

Dr Hosking, under further examination, stated that if the road was taken through the Weraite Block be would be a heavy loser. There was an action now pending in which Mrs Lucena was claiming from him a reduction of five per cent on the purchase money on account of tho road going through the property. He had been advised that the road could not be taken without compensation, The land on Mr Beetham's side of the Taueru river was very valuable. Dr Hosking : 1 atu taking the present steps merely as a ratepayer. I have a petition of over a hundred ratepayers against the road. Mr Beard; Have you the petition with you? Dr Hosking: No; but I am here to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and I can therefore say what the petition contains,

Mr Beard; Yes, it is because wo want the truth that I desire the petition put in,

Mr Bunny: My friend need not say tbat! Dr Hosting; Then do not try to burk the truth, Mr Beard. Cross-examined by Mr Beard, Dr Hosking stated tbat the Grown grant of the Weraiti estate had matured. He was taking the present proceedings iu the interest of the public and himself as a private ratepayer. He wanted to prevent a soand&l. Mr Beard: You are doing what you are merely in the interest of tho publio ? Witness: Yea, principally.

Mr Beard: Then why did you nol take action some years ago.

Witness: I did not want to take action. I thought the thing would be settled when the Government said the toad was not to go. through the property. 'Besides, I promised to fight this road business to the end for Mr ! Lucena,

Mr Beard: Why fight for Mr Lucena ? Witness: Beoauuebeasked matodo so, He said," J won't have the d—road through my land."

Uross-examftiation continued; There were other settlers beyond Weraiti besides the Beethams, but these had been absorbed. The small settlers had sold at a loss because they had no outlet, Mr Beard: Do you deny the right to take the road through Weraiti ? Witness: 1 do, most certainly I Mr Beard: But cannot the Road Board take the road ? • Witness: I suppose tbey can. But have not the ratepayers to be consulted? There could be an easier grade, Mr Beard.: Has not the Board a right? Witness: Their right is a wrong—a wrong to the ratepayers,

Mr Beard: Which road do you prefer ? Witness: I prefer the Ocahuao road because the grade is less and the route shorter,'

Mr Beard: You have atteuded twi or three meetings of the Board? , Witness: Yes, and a sorry exhibition it was 1

Mr Beard : Why, did you make an exhibition of yourself? Witness': Not exactly 1

Mr Beard; Are you opposed to land being taken for roads before tbo drown grants are matured? Witness: lam not, but I do not tbink it right that settlers should bo turned out and ruined.

Mr Beard: And liavo you been ruinad ? Witness: I would have been if I had not got a person tool enough to buy me out I Mr Beard: lam not going to discuss the question with a person who speaks thus of the dead. Witness: Never you mind the dead I •

(A heated cross-fire between Mr Beard and the witness here took plaoe). Mr Beard: The letters written to Beethain were written by your instructions?

Witness: My solicitor writes all letters by my instructions. Mr Beard: Then why did you want to see Mr Bell's opinion? . Witness: Because 1 wished to see if there was anything bearing on the Lucena trial, ' ; v " Mr Beard: Oh 11 thought bo, Witness: I wished to pick' up a few ctumbs. '■ Mr Beard: You say you have a petition against the road being taken I tbrougli Weraite, signed by over a hundred ratepayers! Witneas: I have. .. ... ! Mr Beard; Where is it! Witness; It is either in the hands of the Minister of Lands or Mr Hogg, or has been destroyed by me. Mr Beard | Has the Minister of Lands been on the property 1

Witness: He has not and does not intend to go. Mr Beard: Has theSurveyor-Qene-raH Witness: He has not. Mr Beard: Has any Government Surveyor 1 ■ Witness: Yes, and a very dishonest one, too.. Mr Beard: Oh, a dishonest one! Witness: Yes, Mr Baker wentup, but hewasinterviewos3s> at the railway station by Mr William Beetham, who had a long chat with him, : • ' . Re-examined by Mr-Bunny, the witness stated, that Mr Beetham was the only person who would benefit by the Weraiti road. If the road had been taken when he first bought his land there would havo been no harm done. This was the case for the prosecution, 1 • For the defence Mr Beard maintained that Mr Beetham, in what he had done, had acted in the interests of the public. By the evidence of tho informant himself it was Bhown that it did not materially affeoi him which way the road was taken. After the question of taking a road through the Weraiti had long been before the Road Board, it had been decided in the interests of the public to take the road. It waß purely a coincidence that the Branoepeth station adjoined the Weraiii. : If Mr Beetham was to be made liable in this instance, member of a Road Board would be safe. Mr Beetham would render . himself liable" for making roads in nearly every pa&of the district. It was monstrous to think that a member of a Eoad Board was to be prosecuted for having voted on a question in which he happened to derive a little benefit. The whole question lied in a nutshell, Dr Hosking was not taking these proceedings in the interests of the public, but his objeot was revealed in his letters to Mr Beetham, Ho was only seeking to find a few orumbs for tho action which ; wos pending with Mrs Luoena. Bobert D. Dagg, an ex-member of the Masterton Eoad Board, depoßed that in taking tho road through the Weraiti block the interests of tho t ratepayers had solely been considered. He had at one time favoured the Otahuao route. He did this merely ! on the report of the Engineer and on condition that Dr Hosking defrayed ! the expenses. The Weruiti route ! was the only one the Board couht\ take, seeing that the Otahuao (m would be.expensive and tho Crown grant of Weraiti had not matured, I By Mr Bunny; Mr Beetham had i not said that if the Weraiti road was j made he would he enabled to out up j his station into hundred aore farms. The road , would of course enhance the ; value of the Brancepeth station. After the meeting when the road was [ placed on the schedule, Mr Beetham was the prime mover in the question. The Board was actuated by two 1 motives in taking the road, first the interests of the ratepayers,' and 3 secondly tho taking advantage of the 1 unmatured grant. Dr Hosking's i property would certainly he injured - by the road, though as a matter of course all roads enhanced the values 3 of property. He was still of opinion - that the Otahuao route was the better one. Mr Beetham never spoke, to t hiin privately to influence him in favour of the Weraiti route. Ho did ) not think Mr Beetham had influenced the Board with regard to the rouia r more than any other member. *i t 41 this stage the Court adjourned, , and the further hearing of the case - was fixed for Thursday next.