THE WERAITE ROAD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4245, 17 October 1892, Page 2

THE WERAITE ROAD.

[To the Editor op the Wairaeapa Daily Times,] Sir, t-I have been supplwd with a copy of the following petition, in reference to this matter Masterton, September 7th, 1892, To the Honorable the Minister for Lands, IP« the undersigned ratepayers of

tlio Masterton Road District respectfully submit That certain members of the Masterton Road Board (Messrs Bcetliam, Harris nnd Wardoll) bave by roaolution decided to indemnify tbe Crown in respect of any compensation demanded and awarded if the warrant to take a road through tbe Weraiti Blook / is exercised. ** That tho contemplated proceedings ■ are likely to occasion heavy compensation (estimated at £1500) besides legal coals the amount of which is uncertain. That considering tlio present indebtedness of tho lload District and the necessity of tbe wliolo of the nvaiN able revenuo boing devoted to urgent works your petitioners think it inexpedient 10 incur such b heavy risk in connection with a road which has not been doinanded by tho public and the evontual necessity for which is doubtful,

Thai one hundred and ten ratopayera of No 2 ward (being nearly tlio whole of the settlers) havo already petitioned against this road being taken. Thai the bond or gtwranteo which tlirco members of tho Board liaye have resolved to execute bus notbron submitted in any way to the ratepayers whose interests and money are concerned, nnd we aro advised that the Board as n body has no powor to f enter into such a guarauteo. We therefore pray that before such bond is accepted by tho Government; you will require a poll of tho ratepayers to bo taken authorising the said guarantee to be given, and your petitioners will ever pray. D. McKenzie, W. H. Hosking, C. E. Chambjrlaiu, Roderick McKenzie, Alexander Stuart, M. Meredith, JBlatchford, Fred Lee, 0. H. Osborne, L. Donovan, Geo Mackay, John Mackay, Henry Jones, John Harvey, A. McLeod, John Colquboun, John Bannister, R. Kibhlo'.vliite, A. \V. Cave, D. Guild, D. J. Cameron, Chaa, McKiilop, John Morris, W. Donovan, J, J, Donovau, W. L. Falconer, Christen Carlson, Jos. Falconer, Edwin Meredith, M. McKenssie, John Judd, J, P, Perry, A. W. Camerou. I observe amongst tho above the names of several intelligent and respectable ratepayers whose signatures attached to any petition would, under ordinary circumstances, bo a sutlicient guarantee for the genuine I 7 character of tho prayer thereof, But I regret to tiud that in the present instanco, they have apparently neglected to take tho very necessary precaution of ascertaining tho truth of the statement set out in tho document to which they have attached their names. lam convinced that nothing but the grossest misrepresentation has been mado uso of to induce these gentlemen to sign the potition now under notice. As a proof of this I inevaly give the public tbe assurance that before incurring any expense whatever in connection with tho Weraiti road tbe Board passed a resolution that any costs incurred should be a oharge agaiust tho Wainuioru subdivision ot tho Masterton Boad District. It was never even proposed to pledgo a sixpence of the rates collected m subdivisions 1 and 2 towards the acquirement of the road. Moreover it was further distinctly understood, that if the matter came to a question of compensation, the proposal to take the road must necessarily be abandoned for want of funds. The promotors of the proposal to secure this road, which in the course of time will bo found to be necessary in the interests of the district, have been heavily handicapped in their efforts, They have been quite unable to fight their battle with the weapons, which their opponents have not scrupled to use, The interests of the next genflration, and truth have been their watclwvord, while those opposed to the road have not hesitated to strike below the bolt, and have misrepresented and distorted facts, (to put it mildly), to an extent hardly credibly, with tho object of defeating the legitimate efforts of the Board in carrying out their duty to the publio, William H. Bketham.