HIGHWAY BOARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2342, 28 July 1871, Page 3

HIGHWAY BOARDS.

PAPAROA, KAIPARA. Tho annual meeting of ratepayers was held in the Chapel on the 10th instant, —Mr. T. W. Wilson in the chair. The report; read by tho Secretary, Mr. liook, shewed :—Receipts, £130 7s Od ; expenditure, £156 Its Bd. Mr. Busby condemned the conduct of the trustees in the expenditure of a considerable sum upon that part of the cross-road near the rivrr, and consequent neglect of tho portion nearer his own clearing, and those of several other back settlers. With this exception the report was very favorably received. The meeting—thirty in number, exclusive of proxies—next proceeded to the election of trus'ees, which resulted in the appointment of the following settlers : — \V. Chad wick, ft. Cliff, A. Porter, James Trounson, and T. W. Wilson. Moved by Mr. C'oply, seconded by Mr. Trounson, and carried unanimously, " That a rate of 21. per acre be levied." Messrs. GL Calvert and li. Fenwick were appointed auditors. The completion of the cross-road to the river was referred to by several speakers, in reply to whom the Chairman explained the proceedings of the late Board in reference t~> the matter, from which it appeared that two of the three owners had accepted a payment, equivalent to £L 0 per acre for tho land taken, and 15s. per chain for fencing. The third settler, who at first agreed to the same terms, refused to adhere to bis offer, and now demanded £150 for the threequarters of an acre required. This road, so essential to the progress of the settlement, has been a bone of contention for manj years. It originated in a mistake of the surveyor (so acknowledged by himself) who laid out the roads. The only remedy the trustees can now resort to is that afforded by the Compulsory Land taking Act, a very cumbrous and expensive affair, only to be applied on condition of a payment of £10 to the Provincial Council Library. Can any person explain the connection between roads and the intellectual improvement, of these gentlemen?