The opinion of the Court was by
The object of this petition is to have certain proceedings of the commissioners, in reference to the location of a town way in North Berwick, quashed. The road had been located by the selectmen of that town, and, by the town, had been refused to be approved and allowed. On the application to the County Commissioners by three individuals, alleging said way to lead from land, under their possession and improvement, to a certain highway or road ; and that the refusal of the town to approve and allow it, was unreasonable, the County Commissioners established it.
It is now contended, that, the County Commissioners had not jurisdiction in the premises. They took cognizance of the matter, it may be presumed, supposing themselves to have a right so to do, under c. 25, § 34, of the Revised Statutes, which is to the effect, “ That if any town shall unreasonably refuse or delay to approve and allow any town or private way, laid out or altered by the selectmen thereof, and to put the same on record, any person aggrieved by such refusal or delay, if such way lead from land under his possession and improvement to any highway or town way, may” petition, &e. It is insisted by the petitioners here, that unless the termini of the road were at the land of the petitioners, under their possession and improvement, and at some other road, the County Commissioners had no jurisdiction of the subject matter; and the provision before recited is attempted to be assimilated to that of the statute of 1839, c. 367 ; the language of which was, that,
