CITY WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 127, 25 November 1926, Page 10

CITY WORKS

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Some years ago I overheard a well-known citizen boast that he would get certain work done if a particular candidate won the election. A council elected by the ratepayers should conscientiously concentrate on the most necessary and urgent works, irrespective of personal influence or private interests. The modus operandi in Wellington seems to be for the ratepayers in any particular street or suburb to call a meeting and send a deputation to the Mayor to voice their demands. The chances are that at least something will be granted, and the greater the agitation the greater the results. On the other hand, districts that do not agitate are neglected. A considerable time ago £400 was allocated for the repair of footpaths in Devon street. I suppose that the money was required for some more popular work and Devon street still remains in a state that in a disgrace to any council. Apart from the state of the footpaths there are many bends that could be straightened at very little cost which would improve the thoroughfare out of all knowledge. Take again access to Kelburn from Fairlie terrace or Kelburn parade. There are only two, possible | routes, both extensively used for motor traffic, and neither of which is provided with footpaths; consequently instead of the children being seat to the Kelburn School the majority lor safety sake are sent to the city schools. There is an absolute death-trap at the junction of Kelburn parade and Fairlie terrace, where an unsightly bank projects a sharp angle to the middle of the road, completely destroying all visibility. . There is no footpath, and on at least four occasions I have witnessed hair-breadth escapes and have heard of maDy others. A gang of men could cut this bank away .in a few days, giving a straight view down to the top of Devon street. I think if the owner of the property concerned were approached he would probably pay part of the cost of the removal of what is undoubtedly an eyesore as well as a public danTo my mind the most necessary work in or about Wellington is the improvement of Glasgow street. For adult pedestrians it is distinctly dangerous, and for children simplyl suicidal. This is the mam motor hishway to Kelburn and Karon, and is at some points only about lstt wide, and the visibility owing to the' rank growth of acacia and other rubbish on council property is bad indeed. I have counted eighteen motor vehicles, including the largest size council bus and several motor-lorries swing around these sharp narrow bends in the space of five minutes. As a matter of extreme urgency a timber pathway could be built out from the road at a trifling cost, and would at least be a safety zone for such of us as still walk from necessity or^ choice. 1 would invite members of the City Council, either individually or collectively, to make the trip down Glasgow street along the Kelburn parade through Fairlie terrace down to Aro street. I venture to predict that many projects that they now conceive to be of burning urgency will seem relatively not really urgent at all.— I am, etc., FAIRLIB TERRACE.

Voting papers for the election of a member of the Wellington Education Board to fill the vacancy caused by tb<? death of the late Mr. F. Pirani, are returnable until 5 p.m. on 6th December at the board's office. The candidates are Charles Henry William Nicholls and Joseph Isaac Goldsmith.