The Bainfield Special Rating District.

Southland Times, Issue 4860, 11 February 1884, Page 2

The Bainfield Special Rating District.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — A poll will be taken on Monday (to-day) of tbe ratepayers in the Waikiwi district to test the question whether ornot the road running from Bainfield towards Myross Bush is to be formed at their "expense. While admitting the desirableness of having the road formed, I must enter my emphatic protest against the boundaries that have been assigned to the rating district. It seems impossible to discover who the mysterious person is that has manipulated the boundaries so astutely. Ihe spirit of self-sacrifice is so apparent on the part of the framer that the least thing the district can do is to find out -'his name and habitation and reveal his blushing merits to the world. A leather, medal would not be an inadequate reward for services that have called forth the gratitude of nearly every resident in the Waikiwi. Speaking seriously, sir, a gross injustice is now being attempted to be perpetrated by one or two men, whoever they may be, upon a large number of residents. There is a road, the formation of which is, no doubt, essential to those who have lands fronting on it, as also to those who have lands that are tapped by it in the interior of the bush ; but how the residents along North Road can have any personal interest in the matter it would be difficult to say. They have no doubt a general interest in everything that concerns their fellow creatures, whether these live in Waikiwi Bush or in Timbuctoo. But this is probably the first time in colonial history a " special " rating district has been proposed to be formed on purely philanthropic grounds, of this kind. I trust that the lesson whicb will be taught the promoters by the poll will show them tbe propriety of being reasonably just, and of iefraining for the future from attempting to make tools of their fellow men. The system of boundary lines adroitly, so as carefully to exclude your own land and take in that of your neighbors, some of whom have no earthly interest in the work in hand, shows CYQxy appearance of becoawjjf a qgience j

and I am ready to admit that the temDta tion of getting roads formed to your owi door at your neighbor's cost is at all tunei a strong one to uuregenerate hnmar nature. It does not do always, however to act on the supposition tbat your fellow men are fools : though, by the way, a higi authority has affirmed " that there are ii England thirty millions, mostly fools. Sir the indignation tbat has been evoked, which I feel sure will manifest itseli strongly en Monday, will, I trust, have the effect of showing the inexpediency— to use a mild term — that must appeal to the highest instim U of the promoters of indulging for the future in " ways that are dark, or tricks that are vain."— l am, &c, Argus. 9th February, 1884.