WOODEN PAVEMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 151, 1 June 1877, Page 2

WOODEN PAVEMENT.

As the question of the kind of material to be permanently used in the formation of_ footpaths of the many townships of the colony is one which frequently crops up, it is well that municipal councils should be fully informed as to the experience in this matter in tbe old established towns and cities of tbe world. This would no doubt lead to tbe saving of a great deal of money which would otherwise be spent on mere experiments, and obviate the throwing away of money unon unsuitable materials. Experiments with materials for footpaths have been made in the many old established cities for centuries, and if these have led to the general adoption of one particular material, then it would manifestly be wise tor young townships in New Zealand and elsewhere to commence and use that material. It may prove to be somewhat expensive, but if funds are wanting let the less of the material he used. In Balclutha there is much room for improvement in the matter of footpaths, which are most uncomfortable to walk upon. Indeed, they are only used when there is no alternative, or when tbe roadway is covered wiih mud. We commend to the Town Council the consideration of the following remarks by a writer in the Australasian regarding the , rise of wood for footpaths in the Home*' country. He says : — u Wood pavement is generally superseding the asphalte. Wood-paving is no doubt the most expensive, on account of the comparatively short time it will last, but it isfar the less noisy of any description of pavement in use. In a" town where the traffic is small, and heavy vehicles are not in general use, a wooden pavement- ought to endure for a good many years ; hut in London it is not expected to last for more than five or six, and yet, although this entails such a large I extra expense upon the ratepayers, f there is not a parish in the metropolis ! where the preference i.? net given to wood. One or two recent instances may he quoted. At a meeting of the St. George's (Hanover-square) Board of Guardians, on the 28 th December last, high praise was given to the wooden pavement laid down in Piccadilly, and with respect to its cleanliness it was said that whilst, when there was was a stone pavement, SO loads of slops had to be carted away every clay from the thoroughfare, now one cart was suf- , ficient for the amount swept away. It was also asserted tbat though the actual cost of the wooden pavement was j greater than the granite, in consequence of its much shorter duration, yet there really was a saving to the public, owing to there being nothing like the same wear and tear of vehicles, and to so many other advantages being afforded. Many of the streets of rhe city are now paved with* wo' d, and its use is being rapidly extended in the principal thorough ''ares. Oxford-street has wood ; the inhabitants of the Strand last yeir voted unanimously lor wood, and it has just been laid down. At a meeting of the St. James's Vestry on the 28th ult, it was resolved to put down a wooden pavement throughout the length of Pali Mall, nnd thus one locality adopts it after another. Asphalte superseded granite, and wood is taking the place of asphalte. Testimony has lately been borne by two distinguished foreigners to the benefits of our wooden pavements. Dr Petermann, of St. Gotha, who came over to attend the reception of Sir George Nares, and the officers of the Arctic Expedition at the St. James's Hall, on the 12th December, published on his return an account of his trip to London, which he had not visited for nearly a quarter of a een : tury. Referring to the many changes that had taken place, he said * the streets are better paved than those of any other city in the world ; its wooden pavements are better, smoother, and more level than in some places the rooms of the houses.' "