LIABILITIES OF HIGHWAY TRUSTEES

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 596, 16 March 1876, Page 3

LIABILITIES OF HIGHWAY TRUSTEES

Sir, — The one Dickenson v the Alexandra Highway Trustees whioh was to have been tried by the District Court at Hamilton kit week, but which was settled out of Court would, h»t© decided a Question of great interest to the public. Ii the Trustees are personally liable for the ac« cidents which may occur upon the Highways in their district;, and may be fleedod at any moment in a Court of law, and hare their wives and families brought to ruin because some unluoky trarellers had been unfortunate enough to stumble into some miserable little hole which they had overlooked, or of the very existence of which they had not perhaps the remotest idea. I think that their position is not an enviable oqe. Can you not inform the public what the rf sposibilities of Highway trustees really are and whether in any case they are liable personally where carelessness or negligenoe can be proved. If the public were invitsd by advertisement or some other notice to inform them of »11 dangen, as soon as observed, accidents would be of much more rare occurrence, and the rates would be io lets danger of being Watted in vexatious law suits. Many abstain from complaining lest they should be thought officious, who would readily assist the trustees if inrited to call their attention to such matter.— l am, &c. Trust is. I [Who shall decide when doctor's disagree ? It is a oaie for the law Courts to settle, and had the case laid in the District Court been tried, no doubt it would have 'been carried into the Supreme Coart. Modesty prevails, and we admit that our opinion, which " Trustee" asks, is of no worrh. Some day the Court will decide it ; till then Highway trustees must dwell in suspense.—Ed W T.] _