MEANEE ROAD BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3901, 28 April 1877, Page 2

MEANEE ROAD BOARD.

Sir, — I can assure " Watchman" that the Meanee settlers — the greater part of whom have signed the petition for abolishing the road board — are perfectly aware of the contents of the petition they have signed. The main roads in the district have already been taken over by the county — the new Taraclale-road and also the old Meance-road. The road board have no power to improve these roads. The drains over which there was some discussion at their last meeting are in the hands of the county. Tenders have been accepted for forming and metalling from Po\vdreH's, by Marshall's corner, to Cleary's ; also from Hawkin's, by Guppy's corner, to the new Taraclale-road. The remaining roads are from deary's to Taraclale-road by the Purimu, from Meanee Bridge to Baldwin's fellmongery, and also a road, which requires very little making, through Mr Tiffen's property at Greenmeadows. The reason I give for merging the road board into the county is simply this, that by doing so we save a 5 per cent, valuation of one shilling in the pound. The county have also the power, by clause 107 of the County Act, to rate us to a like amount, making a tax of 10 per cent, on the value of land and buildings. They have also the power, by petition, of levying a special rate. By abolishing the road board, which we can do, we save ourselves being doubly taxed. We have no power to prevent the county taxing us. Most of us will be quite contented with having to pay one rate, for there are now two taxing bodies where one would be sufficient. It would be better, in my humble opinion, if all the road boards were done away with, more particularly the Meanee, which would put an end to all petty jealousies, which have long, and do still exist, between the Meanee and Taradale. The AYaipawa County have declared all their roads county roads, which virtually does away with road boards. — I am, &c, Old Settler.