STOPPING PUBLIC ROADS. TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5650, 25 December 1879, Page 6

STOPPING PUBLIC ROADS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Iu perusing the columns of your valuable paper of Saturday last I saw a short paragraph, iuitialed "1.M.," asking you if a public meeting called by the Highway Board, to have the voice of the ratepayers on the stopping of certain roads, was legal or not, simply because the public notice calling the said meeting was posted up in the district. I have no; the leist doubt, if " I. M." is the individual I take him to be, he would go at once and get legal advice on the subject; but I say, without fear of contradict on. that it would take a e'ever lawyer to deGne some of our public Acts. Y«t the portion of the Public Works Act relating to the stopping of roads seemn to me to be plain and simple, especially that portion of the 93rJ clause which says : '' Within oue week after the said twelve weeks tbc Board shall, by puWi: notice, call a meeting of the ratepayers of the district, for a day not less than 10 days after tuch notices." Then the question arise?, ii a public notice posted up in the mosi conspicuous place in the district sufficient for the said meeting, or ought the notice couvenißg the meeting to have been advertised?—because, )f Highway Boanb lia-1 to advertisa every little thing in cDncestiou v/ith their duties, it wouli take the year's rates to pay the same, and if such was the case, "1.M." wou'.d be one of the first to cry out against the Board for their advertising extravagance. 1 fully believe the present Highway Board are doing their bait for the public good, and if "1.M." and o'.hera (who are what we commonly ca'l bash lawyers) would allow the Bjard to work out their own silvation, it would be be'.ter for all concerned, because they are like the dog in the manger—they will not do the work themselves, an J, if th*y could help it, would not allow others to do it.—l am, &c, Ratepayer.