MADRAS AND BARBADOES STREETS NORTH.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 663, 4 August 1876, Page 3

MADRAS AND BARBADOES STREETS NORTH.

A largely attended meeting of the residents of Madras and Barbadoes streets north was held last Thursday, at the Foresters’ Hotel, to consider the present state of the streets and footpaths in that locality. Mr J. B. Anthony was moved to the chair, The chairman said he need not explain the object of the meeting, as unfortunately they were all too well acquainted with the necessity for its being called. He supposed a number of resolutions would be proposed by gentlemen that evening, but would de-*' sire however to make a few remarks. The present state of the north end of Madras street was a reproach to the works committee of the City Council, and the notice posted up warning people that if they used the street it would be at their own peril, was an insult to the residents. It was an insult to tell them that streets left id a condition which, as he said before, was a scandal to the works committee, and on which they paid rates to the value of 12 per cent on the fee simple of their properties, could not be used, according to notices posted up, unless they did so at their own risk, and if in using them or driving over them they met with an accident, they were not to be allowed to recover damages from the corporation. This he felt was a thorough insult to the common sense of the community, and these streets left, too, in an impassable condition, and without a light to guide them. The excuse made by the Council for not forming the northern portion of Madras street was absurd, as a former works committee had successfully contended with the springs there, and this Mr Lusk had also successfully combated. The present committee not only deprived them of the means of transit, but also prevented the road being any use to them. Mr Lusk made the springs a blessing to the residents, but the committee now in existence used the springs merely as an excuse, thus preventing them from even having goods delivered at their doors, which was thought to be a luxury. Some of the roads had also been broken up when passable, for the purpose of forming them and making them woise ; and he would tell the meeting that this top crust taken off the roads was being sold for three shillings a load, for the benefit of the city funds, while the roads were left to the inhabitants in such a state that to paddle through them was at the risk of losing one’s boots, women and children suffering in a greater proportion. On one occasion he had written to the Council for an estimate for forming the road. He then collected the required*money, with the exception of one moiety (£1 6s), proportion to the frontage of a widow’s land, the whole of which she could not afford to give. In the Council when the letter was read that night, one councillor got up and moved that unless the moiety (£1 6s), were paid, the road should not be formed. This was done by a man who in the old country was a temperance advocate, and in this place made a fortune by selling drams. [Laughter.] There was one councillor, hovyever, that night who acted like a man, and he had no hesitation in naming him. It was Mr John Anderson, and he would say all honor to him. [Applause.] He (the chairman) would suggest that a memorial be drawn up, which they might ask Or Hawkes to present, as he believed it would receive some consideration if presented by that gentleman. Mr Dollan moved the following resolution :—“ That this meeting is of opinion that Madras street, from New street to the North town belt, should be formed without delay.” Mr Cliff seconded the motion, and spoke of the annoyances to which he and his children were subjected by having to wade through the filth and muck every day, with increased danger to those who were compelled to travel it at night time. He cpnsidered it disgraceful that the Council should have money to spend on the Cathedral square business and yet leave Madras street in its present""scandalous condition. If they only patched the street in the meantime, sufficiently to make it passable, some credit might be due to them. He sincerely trusted that at the election to come off in about five weeks the ratepayers would combine to return a man who would try his might and main to alter the present state of the streets, and this while money was being expended in the ornamentation of one portion of the city square. He knew of a woman who had fallen in the creek twice the other night, and a man had lost his life in Salisbury street. He would second the resolution with pleasure, and trusted it would have the desired effect. [Applause.] The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr Cliff moved—“ That this meeting press on the City Council the desirability of placing Barbadoes street in such a position as to secure a safe thoroughfare, and therefore urges that until this is done all works of an ornamental nature be suspended.” Mr Grand seconded the motion, and said in Barbadoes street, where he lived, his children had been prisoners for the last three weeks. In reply to a person in the meeting, the chairman said that the probability of getting some relief from the Drainage Board did not lessen the culpability of the Council in allowing the streets in tho north-east quarter of the city to remain in their present iraj: assable condition. The motion was put and declared to be carried unanimously. Mr Howard moved—“ That this meeting is of opinion that a lamp is required on the Notth town belt at the top of Madras street, as it is very dangerous for passengers at the open drain, and begs to remind the members of the lighting committee that a lamp was promised at the corner of New street some nine months ago.” Mr Dollan seconded the motion, which was carried. Some remarks were made about the lamps in the neighbourhood of Madras and Barbadoes streets not being lighted as regularly as they should be. Several persons referred to the useless waste of money by tho corporation in Cathedral square, while the residents in Madras and Barbadoes streets were compelled to put up with the present state of those streets, and bo compelled to pay doctors’,fees which they would not otherwise have to. Mr Cliff moved—“ That the resolutions passed that evening be embodied in the memorial to be got up, and that Or Hawkes bo requested to present it to the City Council.” \ Mr Howard seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. A vote of thiy&t) to the chairman concluded the business,