FOOTPATHS.

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 34, 8 September 1887, Page 2

FOOTPATHS.

TO THI? EDITOR OF THE STAH. Si^-^-Ybur V, having honored my communication re Jpptptjrths with a leader on*the subject tempts me to reply. Your information,, that provission is made for the completion of the Jaet^works opmmenoed^by^erCknweil is acceptable and satisfactory. I take your remarks about footpaths as a little ■ inconsistent. You say . " tliere caube no two ppinions^f^thjair desirableness," and later on you allude to them as "varnish and shoddy .ornamentation," .again you say " that property bwndrs in the main streets, where footpaths are most /needed would like to throw the burden of making them, on the general body, of ratepayr ers, while the latter in their turmhol4 strongly to the belief, that those '^jid derivethe benefits should pay Iho cost; 1 * As the main- streets are certainly for the accommodation of every ratepayer, the words are rhott needM -must to the public as "those who are, to ; derive the - 1 ehirald lite to know whether it is nMih« rate^ayerg generally, who arc- constantly using the footpaths on the main^streetsi'litiat are most accommodated by them? aStf not the merchant or mechanic who is : indoors most of the day. I think. Sir jr the ratepayers have a more intelligent idea of their own interests than your arguments giro tnem credit Ipr.^ _.£ still maintain that footpaths are neewk sary to induce desirable eettlers, BifcE as pensioners and independent men, to visit and stay 'with us. lf we are careless of the safely - and convenience of ladies and children, they will not be. Further I can*t -beKeye that ou, are -sincere in^aiFeNCting indifferdfice^to the impressions made by theioutward appearance of things on the travelling public, as you must be must beiawaro there i* always a certa^-pertientago of them seeking for a suitable loctijit* to settle in.' The' introducing" of outside works such as the Aorangi bridg^ however desirable, when 'constructed by the body it belongs to seemp, to ma, wide of the mark. Especially whSenf we remember that the question has been already decided on by the ratepayers, • - !l '■■ ' ; T i; \ y \ ; --- I '--^' > '-'d^*\ Finally, as we expect thepreßsto-be-always inrthe vanirbf progress "and' improvement, I ihope will recofti sider your conclusions, and lend.ymHr influence to the qarryiiig but of 6! wJMrt that m^ustbe an advantage to all hah'di and feet-tob.— 4l ami &cv^ ; : *■ yvj n ! 1.-ti-i- td ■.;)-^-'::ii^.-j FiijJDtsatrEJ J : u [Our correspondent his wiHully fi mssii :i ! understood our article commenting on his ioriner letter; 'ViTe do not i object to footpaths per & t but to ; borrowing ' money to be spent |oii unproductive works. We are jpm^i f ectly serious when we confess lour ■ perfect indifference to the opißions ' of that section of the mere trarellirig:? public who would find attraction in - " shoddy ornamentation." Feilding, and the Manchester block generall^il can afford to stand on its merits.—- --; Ed.F.B.-] : .;;