MAKING A START 29 



from the Governorship of the Isle of Man to the 

 Commissionership of Woods, but he only re- 

 mained with us a couple of years, and then went 

 as Governor to Cape Colony. 



He was, however, long enough connected with 

 the New Forest to introduce and pass the New 

 Forest Highways Act, 1883 a most valuable 

 and necessary piece of legislation. 



The position of the New Forest roads, par- 

 ticularly the main roads, was so bad as to be 

 almost unique. Prior to the year 1866, the 

 greater part of the New Forest was extra- 

 parochial. There were no rates ; no one was liable 

 to maintain any roads. The Crown did in the 

 way of repairs whatever was deemed necessary 

 for the mere haulage of timber. The main 

 roads were in the hands of turnpike trusts for 

 limited periods of years, and so long as the 

 trusts continued the roads were well maintained. 



In 1866 an Act for the relief of the poor 

 was brought in, to deal with these extra-parochial 

 tracts. They were constituted into townships, 

 and it was intended that all the property within 

 them should contribute to all rural rates, as 

 in rural parishes, the Crown, though not liable 

 to rates, consenting to give an " ex gratia dona- 

 tion in ease of rates," based on assessment and 

 rateable values as in the case of other properties. 



