The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17,, 1907. THE STATE OF THE ROADS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2065, 17 December 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17,, 1907. THE STATE OF THE ROADS.

Tho shocking condition of tlio streets and roads of Gisborne is tho subject of great inconvenience, to residents and of uncomplimentary remarks from all who visit us. Tho position is really becoming intolerable. Tho gullies and mounds that constitute the centre of the roadways make travelling a.fc anything hut a- snail s pace most unpleasant in the daytime and distinctly dangerous ill tho dark, whilst the dust on, tho sides is so thick as to literally smother all who pass along. At the first show or of rain all this becomes transformed into mud, and one shudders at the prospects of another winter. The least disturbed of the community at this deplorable state of affairs appears to he those who have accepted positions involving as a .special duty the remedying of such defects. This is no new complaint; past winters have been bad enough in all conscience, yet the Council has shown no disposition to bring about an improvement before another 'winter. Metal' should be laid tho autumn, but so far there is no supply of any consequence arranged for. AVe shall, of course, bo told that the Council is making headway with the proposal to get stone from AVaihirero, and that legal difficulties have been the cause of tho delay, but as against this there are the persistent remarks of some who declar e that a. section of tho Council is simply deliberately blocking anything in the shape of definite action. Color is lent to such statements by tho fact that although a lengthy period has elapsed since the Council arrived, tardily enough, at tho decision to get- stone from AVaihirero, we seem just, at .present to he as fair off the actual object as ever. To-night the Council will again have the matter under consideration, when at ;is to be hoped its .attitude will bo sufficiently pronounced to absolve it from any charges of this kind. Action: should bo taken immediately, so that some sort of am attempt can be made to provide the town with passable thoroughfares for the coming winter.

"STICK TO THE TANKS.” In a burst of enthusiasm' consequent upon the securing of a iiilgh.pmssuro supply, many residents declared that they' would l soli tlioir tanks, whilst others who wore having now houses built informed their contractors that there was no need»to include a. tank iii the building particulars of the 'water service. “AVhero is the uso of keeping a tank when wo havo the high-pressure water always rushing through our pipes?” said they. “Other towns do without tanks; why should wo have them.” All of wluch sounds very' convincing, yet, notwithstanding, ,tlie cautious householder smiled —and kept his tank. Now there are a good many of his way of thinking. It would, of course, be manifestly unfair to condemn in any way tiro installation of tho system, but the number of times upon which it has been 'found necessary to stop the supply because of some necessary repairs is by no means ■reassuring to the layman. All' sorts of disquieting rumors have been circulated recently regarding the condition of the pipes and the causes of leakages, concerning which a simple and satisfactory explanation can probably be given, but in the meantime it is well that the Borough Council has not yet taken' tire system over. AVe, have, been told that we have the boLst water supply service in the Dominion, and trust the boast may still be made good, ’but in the- meantime the incidents of the preliminary installation should serve as a. useful 1 reminder that the supply may sometimes fail, and that in such an event a- tank full’ to the brim is a most excellent stand-by.