Wellington Independent 10 January 1873
The Toll Gate Act passed by the Provincial

Council, and recently come into operation,

is creating some dissatisfaction amongst

the public at large and the Hutt settlers,

the latter especially, but chiefly on

account of the inconvenient nature of the

tax. Without discussing the abstract merits

of such a mode of raising a revenue, no one

will doubt the absurdity and inconvenience

of the way in which it is effected. Nothing

certainly could be devised that would be

productive of more awkwardness and

irritation than demanding twopence toll

from every passenger in a vehicle, mail

carts included, and it is not surprising

that people should ridicule the system. A

still further inconvenience has been

superinduced by the same piece of

legislation. For the last three years the

people of the Hutt and Taita have been

accustomed to receive their letters and

papers every morning and afternoon,
the Government having been used to run two

mails a day. As a sort of equivalent for

the service the contractors were allowed to

run their coaches free of tollage. Now,

however, under the new state of things, a

direct subsidy is asked for, and the

Government has reduced the mail service to

once a day. Considering the length of time

which the country people living along the

Hutt line of road have enjoyed two mails

a-day, it is but natural they should be

desirous of seeing the old system

continued. Perhaps the General Government,

in considering the matter, may see their

way to resume the old arrangements,

especially as we understand the cost would

be very small, not exceeding about two

pounds per month.

Evening Post 30 October 1905
Mr. C. W. Brown will address Hutt County electors at Cudby”s Hall, Taita, on Wednesday evening; and at the schoolroom, Epuni Hamlet, on Thursday evening.