PAPAKURA VALLEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 225, 2 August 1864, Page 4

PAPAKURA VALLEY.

To the Editor of the New Zealand TTerat,b. Sir, —Will vnu favour- me to insert, ns early as convenient, in tho New Zealand llmiAi-b, some -Remarks on the Highways Act. T premise that in Papalcnrft Vnllov, some eielit or ♦on year* ni;o, a line of road wns formed diverging •from the Government lint*—this being bud enough, tho former pood comparatively. Xo precaution whs 4nki-n at the time to M-eure the line as public proConsiderable sums of money were nt, first expended on it, ftVid additional cum l ' nt sundry times ninco. Fomo two vears hgo fliin section pushed over ♦o new hands. Soon the inhabitants «f this district -were made aware that they were pawing throusrh, in thin du'MeUo-n.' on more tmfferaneo, and that, unless rerUiin conditions were mihinittod to—the conditions involvine rtn expenditure ftliinl to two-thirds of tho firm pMd-hv tlie present proprietor for tho land ■through which tho.ro,id misses—this said road would })« oloKsed as a Jitihlii: thoroughfare. These conditions W'p- den"ri'i (l t». Meantime one or two in(dividuals hn-i. it would »&»ni, beoii revolving a sohrme ■which, v V; « iKi.urly t/;. -Vh'-r; v ■ tv:' them ii plausible ground .i-icg 'sumo' new lint-. Two gentlemen ware deputed "froui c. meetinjr of ratepayers to •ptoaolvo soron'legsl point* i-ohitinc to the closing of •the above lino of mad. and to report to the next intuiting what should ho the result of their interview ■jvlth the provincial attorney. On" the very next day," without a breath of in•foifahtiiin as to the matters to he submitted to Mr. ■SVvnn, a Government, surveyor was dispatched, 1 .ostensibly to select tho best line available for tho ■purpose. The superintendent, of course, is no way interested in the matter, fieyond taking duo' precaution to employ professional ability', so that the (Government contribution of a moietv of the neces.sary expenditure be economically," and with tho greatest advantage to the district,'laid out. It was, 4""btlesn, by mere accidivilt that, the professional #renflomiHi sent bv tlie -uperintendent chanced to •wait on hi* 'Honor's well.known find stjir.neh snp--rortcr on his arrival In the Valley. It win, doubtless, hv mere accident that the surveyor's judgement .nnd Messrs. Gardiner's and Heid's should so exactly (Tivinride an to fix on the identical lino tho latter {rrtntlemen had pve.vininly decided on, nnd that, subsequently Mr. Allu'rieht should full in exactly with ■their views. Yet, lam told he (Mr, AUwrlcrht) undeceived them in rejrard to the large extent of works •thev at- first proposed to accomplish. Tho main inpredient in tlie above scheme is this : .—The district is to be in the enonuons sum nf Is. per nero; amounting to a sum available for 4hn present of Home £430, which sum, added to the Government contribution of an equal amount, makes fi total of £900. Of course Messrs, Gardiner and Beid, always acting together, and so forming n minority of the quorum',' control'and mannsro this large sum of jnonov; and the projected line would be the very for its ndvantasreous disposal, but tho very worst in even - other point of view. "Mi. Allwright informs these gentlemen, with ■jnuch gravity, that the suhstance of 'the above rate ranv bp safely embedded in one or two snillies. For the carrying of'the above scheme into effect, a meeting of the ratepayers is advertised. The proposition of a shilling rate is not even whispered, except to parties on whorii the onus of the contracts— it was rather shrewdly guessed—was intended to bo placed. The surveyor sent over bv the superintendent, Mr. All Wright, inspector of ronds, those who figured as trustees, seem all remarkable at unity. Those who have to pay the bulk of the '•ate deem this business far intra being right. Tho first name on the list is that of Mr. Abraham, £54 375., nnd several others of nearlv equal amounts,, nnd these from merely waste lands. If things lmd been managed as onn would manage his own matters, there was not the least need for a rate of more than 2d. per acre. _T will, if favoured with space, enter further into this thing. I will only now remark that a Higliwav Act that brings about such a condition of thintrs, the sooner it is thrown to tho winds tho better. Let this Act, I sftv,.be thrown to the winds, and let the Government contribution go along with it. This diVtrict. for one would be far better, have better roads than now exist, at a quarter the expense, if left to it-n own resources and untrammelled by Government interference. The pre.-exit svstoin makes a thousand pounds to be scrambled for by two or three individuals. I aril, sir, yours, &c., Beta. July 30, 1864.

To Hie Editor of the New Zealand TTkkai/d. Sih, —A few of the inhabitants of Newtown, feeling the great want of a place of rational amusement and instruction for the people of this very, thriving suburb of Auckland, are desirous of establishing a literary institution at Newtown, to be held at Mr. Dewar's new school, rooms, who has kindly placed them at the disposal of* the pqople of Newtown, provided the necessary steps are.taken to cany out the above object, for which purpose a meeting will be held-oni the. I0?h i.uti'aitt.at (he wjliool rooms as per advertisement. Your, kindly aid is therefore solicited to assist those gentlemen who are desirou» of promoting innocent,aTi)i)sei]ient.and mutual instruction. It is in contemplaticn to 'establish.a reading-room— elocution, music, Hinging, discussion, and other classes, with lectures. 'Mr. T. Robert, "Sir. Horepath, Mr. G . V". I Mr. TT. I^r-rrf'"r.. Sir. D.ivis, and others havi.' Ui-.ully proini.-od thrir as--i?t»nee. Trusting these vimy.:. will meet, with support, I am, Sir, yours, very obediently, TVm. Eastwood.