THE TOLL GATE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1158, 3 June 1870, Page 2

THE TOLL GATE.

Sib, — I wish, through your paper, to bring to the notice of the public my position as toll-gate keeper, and the serious losses I have suffered by the Act not being clear on some points. About this time last year the Government called for tenders for the toll-gate, and mine was accepted, being the highest. From the commencement of my duties I ] have been fighting against difficulties. The firsfc was, the natives evading the toll, by riding through Torr's paddock and crossing by Munn's old place. I reported this, and was told I must summon the natives, and make known the decision. This was rather difficult for me to do ; I could not leave the gate, on the chance of catching the natives, and could nofc afford to employ a person for this duty ; but I think the Government ought to have supported me, and assisted in preventing so many of them evading the toll. I feel sure that I have lost between £10 and £12 a month in this way. Another loss was from the fence being carried away, which was erected for the purpose of preventing people evading the toll. During the time this was down, many persons passed, especially after dark, without paying ; the only persons I caught in the act were not punished by the magistrate. In fact the cases which I took to the magistrate's court cost me so much that I was prevented trying to obtain justice. During the time that native expeditions were prepnring to go oufc, every native who went to town declared he was in somo way connected with the force, and for days on these occasions, I could not get anything from them, although T knew that half of them were not going on service. Another and a very serious loss was occasioned by the Government allowing the principal country conveyances to carry mails, and thus pass free. All the passengers who used at one time to ride to Napier, came by the mail conveyance, which was a loss of some pounds every month. In the case of fche Meanee mail trap he had no regular authority for going free. I took tbis case into the magistrate's

mmßammaammmmtmmmmmmaKmmammmmßmM&mm*ammw^mmim court and the deoision was against me; It ,is a very hard case that I can receive no support in obtaining the toll charges allowed. -'--•:_'- I always considered thafc evading the toll meant that any one turning off the highway and taking a track through the fields to reach the town, where the direct: road had a toll-gate, was evading in every sense. This has been going on through Torr's paddocktfor thieJasfc twelve months, and nothing has been done to prevent it ; the consequence is, T am the sufferer. If the toll-gate had proved as remunerative as I was led to expect,-! would not have mentioned these losses ; but ifc is very hard to think,, whatever happens, the same, amount must be paid fco Government, and no protection is given to secure the charges, that by law I am supposed to receive.— r I am, &o. . Thomas Gilligan. ,