MEMORIAL TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY WAIKATO DISTRICT TRUSTEES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4401, 22 September 1871, Page 3

MEMORIAL TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY WAIKATO DISTRICT TRUSTEES.

The following memorial was adopted at a meeting of the Chairmen of the local Highway Boards, held at Ohaupo last week, Major Wilson, 'chairman of the Newcastle district, presiding :—": — " To the Honourable House of of the colony of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, from the undersigned Chairmen of District Boards in the Waikato, in the province of Auckland, respectfully showeth — That the grant in aid of Highway Boards in th& province of Auckland has been attended with great advantages to the settlers in those district which participated in it. That in the opinion of your petitioners it is very desirable that the grant should be increased, as the expenditure of money in roadmaking through the medium of the , District Boards is the most economical way of laying it out. The members of the Boards are directly interested in making the money go as far ias possible, and th,eir expenditure is watched with great jealousy by the ratepayers to whom they are responsible. "The members of the District Boards are also intimately acquainted with the wants of their respective district. But while acknowledging the benefits derived from this grant, your petitioners beg to draw the attention of your honourable House to the manner in which the money has been distributed during th« past year. The money was apparently granted more especially for country districts, in which, from the small number of gettlers, and the great length of road to be made, Government assistance was essentially necessary. But a large proportion of this money has been allotted to the suburban districts of the town of Auckland, which hare all received large sums, whilst the country districts, and especially those which are thinly settled, and iv which the money collected as rates is of small amount, have received comparatively little assistance. The main roads in the suburban district have been already made at the public expense, not at that of the ratepayers, whilst the country districts are altogether without main roads, or such small portions as exist have been made at the expense of the ratepayers. The suburban districts, therefore, do not appear to be entitled to receive the large amount of assistance they have hitherto done, to the detriment of the country districts. Your petitioners therefore pray that the grant in aid of Highway Boards in the province of Auckland may be increased, and that a more equitable mode of allotting the said grant may be adopted. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.— Thomas Wilson, Chairman of Newcastle Board ; Patrick Leslie, Chairman of Cambridge Board ; Edward McMinn, Chairman of Pirongia Board ; Thomas Rothwell, Chairman of j Hamilton Board ; Charles Innis, Chairman of Wgaruawahia Board ; William Steele. Chairman of Kirikiriroa Board ; G-. B. Walker, Chairman of Pukekuru Board; Alexander Grant, Chairman of Alexaudra Board ; Andrew Kay, Chairman of Rangiaohia Board ; John D. Hill, Chairman of Mangapiko Hoard ; Thomas Farrell, Chairman of Hamilton West Board."