MATTERS MUNICIPAL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1300, 20 May 1878, Page 2

MATTERS MUNICIPAL.

To the Editor of the Globe, Sir, —On the 7th of this month an article appeared in your contemporary, the “Lyttelton Times,” under the above heading, which deserves to be noticed. His opening paragraph calls for no remark, beyond that, to my mind, it betiays most un j mistakeably the source from whence bis very minute information came, and by whom the article was inspired. The first few lines of his second paragraph are worth quoting. Here they are “ The work that has been done in Christchurch during the past four years, seems, when one looks back upon it, a’most incredible, and the long list, combined with the fact that the whole has been passed over by the public with a silence born of satisfaction, shows one thing most plainly—that the City Surveyor must all along have been the right man in the right place.” Then follow a dozen lines or so of fulsome adulation, which to any but the vainest of men would be absolutely Bickering. I wonder if it ever occurred to the welter in the “ Times, when he was enumerating the long list of works done during the past four years, that during that time there hud been many changes in the Municipal body, and that the works committee had, durng that period, consisted of, and been headed by some of the most able and energetic of or* citizens, I don’t tbmk it could have done, as not one word of praise is bestowed upon them. The masters are left out in the cold, wlr’st the servant is extolled greatly. Speaking of the difficulties often met with in executing city improvements, this writer says: —“Witness the formation of Barbadoes street north, a place which was a terror to contractors, none of whom were to be found with sufficient pluck to face the work. Admittedly, the task was an awkard one, but from the moment it was taken in hand by the City Surveyor not a word was heard respecting it, and now the thoroughfare w :, l compare favorably with any other v. Ithin the municipal boundaries.”

At the last municipal election, when the candidates were before the electors on the platform of the Oddfellows’ Hall, I remember a question by Mr E. B. Bishop being asked of one of the aspHng Councillors -with reference to this very street. The answer, if I remember rightly, was that the expense alone stood in the way. The surveyor estimated the cost of the work at £BSO, which was beyond the means at command. On making inquiry, I find that two sets of contractors have, after a few days’ work, abandoned the job, but I have failed to gather the reason why. Some say one thing, and some another. Some aver that, under the specifications, it might have been insisted upon their digging a hole to the centre of the earth—a task these foolish men declined at the price. But the queerest pai j of the story is that the actual cost of putting Barbadoes street into its present first-rate condition is said to be less than half the surveyor’s original estimate, and he did the work himself. And what a strange thing that the Counc'T should, in eacli of the cases, hare refunded the contractors’ deposits! Surely some ratepayer should demand to know the reason why. v

The “Ljotelton Times ” writer also says—- “ The old watering pls?e by the Victoria bridge, which doubtless every one concerned will agree in describing as an unmitigated and dangerous nuisance has disappeared, and a new and safe watering place nas been constructed in its stead at the Armagh street bridge. There is another matter which has disappeared, almost as entirely from the recollections as from the sight. Great works were once in progress in L’chfield street, along which the river was to send an imlimited supply of water to save the town from fire when the need arose. Seventeen chams were opened up, and huge pipes were laid in the trench, but the all-absorbmg and insidious nature of the abounding quicksand speedily asserted itself, and the * Lichfield street water supply ’ scheme was a splendid failure. As to whether or not ‘ Mr Su-veyor ’ was responsible for this undertaking, it is not now necessary to inqmre.” Did you ever pass by the said waterng place when a horse was endeavoring to pr 1 l a cart out of the river ? And have you any idea which you would prefer to use—the old watering place or the new one ? I hked the old one best, because there Iwe not in danger of breaking my springs or drowrmg my ’horse.

The reference to the Lichfield street -water supply opens up a question of vital importance at the present time. Mr Clark proposes to provide for sub-so :i , and other drainage, by means of earthenware pipes laid in a sirr'lar manner to those attempted to be used for firo prevention purposes in Lichfield street. Now, if it was found impossible to keep the qr;cksand out of those pipes, how is Mr Clark’s scheme to be carried out, seeing that quicksands abound in all parts of the district ? Yet Mr Clark does not apprehend any insuperable difficulty arising, nor did either Mr Carruthers or Mr Bell. I think the ratepayers have a right to demand some further information on this exceedingly important point. A very unfortunate reference is made to the brick sewer on the South tovn belt. What might have been, and should have been, a very useful work, is stated to be almost useless. At whose door the fav’t I: es I did not enquire. Perhaps the chairman of the works committee could give some information if applied to. Then again, who suggested the importation of the road roller and other valuable machinery now possessed by the Corporation ? The surveyor? The concluding paragraph of the “ Times’ ” article states that in Wellington the city surveyor gets £BOO a year, and has an assistant. Is this strictly correct ? I vei y much doubt whether the Wellington surveyor could have constructed a work displaying such transcendent ability as the spout recently attached to the lamp-post at the Bank of New Zealand corner. Can you tell mo by whose authority it was removed ? Such an effort of genius should certainly 'have been left alone. Fancy the labor it must have taken to produce so wonderful a contrivance, and the fearful “ sweat of intellect” bestowed upon its conception. By the way, can you tell me why the beautiful drinking fountain, presented to tho city by Mr John Anderson, remains in its present condition ? It used to he nicely bronzed, and to supply a refreshing draught of pure artesian. Now it is a nasty brova color, and has apparently run dry. Please ask some Councillor to see to it, and oblige, Yours, See., TEIHSTY.