THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1914, 13 April 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1880.

Councillors Hulbert and King certainly deserve well of their constituents for the persistent manner in which they have advocated, and are still advocating, the improvement of Latimer square. Whatever may he the opinion as to the desirableness or otherwise of erecting the clock tower in this portion of the city, there can be no doubt that the reserve for public recreation known as Latimer square is sadly neglected. In its present condition it is not oven fit for football playing, lot alone for the purpose of public recreation, for which it was originally reserved. The Drainage Board operations have converted it into almost a morass, and it is probable in tho present season that,sof ar from being a pleasant place to walk in, it will become a series of mud lakes. In advocating that something should bo done to put tho square at least in docent order, wo must not bo understood as desiring to see a largo sum of money spent in converting it into an ornamental flower garden. The state of tho city finances will not admit of this being done. What wo should like to see would bo for the City Council to supplement any local contribution with a fair amount, so that tho square may bo improved somewhat, and its present destitute appearance removed. It must bo remomborod that a

very largo body of tlio ratepayers reside in the eastern portion of tho city, contributing no inconsiderable amount ,in the general city rates, and that they really have no place for recreation, &c., such as they have in tho western portion, where there are Cranmer square, in very good condition, and the public gardens and domain. Therefore, as an act of justice, wo think tho eastern residents have a fair claim to ask that any subscriptions they may raise towards putting Latimer square in a good condition should be supplemented from tho city funds.

We had hoped, in common with the great body of tho public, that the days of using tho exasperating marbles, commonly called shingle, in our streets had passed away. It appears, however, that such is not the case, and in some of the city streets it is once more being put on. Perhaps it is meant to he a mere temporary substitute for the broken metal, or it may ho intended by the Works Committee to use shingle in future instead of broken boulder metal. In either case wo must enter our protest against it. It is neither economical nor effectual as a preservative of the roads, whilst for traffic it is simply abominable. It never hinds, and constantly requires supervision to rake it on to the road it is supposed to preserve. Tho traffic simply cuts two deep ruts, throwing up tho shingle on each side, which in winter fill with water and become small rivulets. Besides this, the foundation of tho road having no protection becomes destroyed, and tho cost of keeping in repair the streets is materially increased. In fact the use of shingle at all is false economy, because it never does the work it is supposed to do, and, in tho long run, entails more costly attention to keep tho streets in anything like decent order than would pay for tho cost of tho broken metal. With the latter material of course, so soon as the traffic has worn it down it forms into a smooth solid surface. So far from the passage to and fro on it of vehicles cutting it up, like the shingle, it consolidates it, and tho street becomes a well made road instead ofaquagmire. Wehope the works committee will if they intend substituting shingle for broken metal, ro-consider their decision. Wo are aware that in these times with tho City Council, as with other bodies, economy is the order of tho day hut, as we have pointed out, so far from the present proceeding being economical, it will be decidedly the reverse. If the Works Committee persist in spoiling our streets and rendering the lives of those who conduct the traffic thereon miserable, they will certainly not deserve well of the ratepayers. With the experience in this matter which has been gained in tho past before them, surely they will not persist. If they do, it is to hoped that some member of the Council will move in the matter, so that an expression of opinion may ho had upon it from the general body of the Council.