THE GLOBE. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1880 OUR DUSTY WAYS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2045, 13 September 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1880 OUR DUSTY WAYS.

Councillor Thomson Las brought under the notice of the Council a state of things with regard to the watering of the streets which it is strange has never been attended to before. Tho surprise is intensified when we remember that a number of citizens have had to pay rates on very highly assessed properties without any return. The case cited by Councillor Thomson is a very striking one, but there are many in Christchurch almost as much so. But this is not all, inasmuch as the public suffer in a double sense. They have to pay for what they do not get, and in addition their merchandise is deteriorated. The Works Committee will therefore, wo hope, see that in future tho ends of those streets leading into tho main thoroughfares are watered, as without this tho work is practically rendered useless. Whilst on this subject, there is ouo point we wish to bring before tho committee under whoso supervision the work of watering the streets is carried out. Last season, and so far as has been seen of this, tho carts failed to make their appearance in tho streets until after the dust had been blowing about for some hours. Tho consequence was that when tho carts did arrive tho work was all but completed for them, inasmuch as the wind had carried off the greater part of tho dust and deposited it in tho shops. It must bo remembered that this is not an act of grace on tbe part of tho Council towards the ratepayers. The latter pay a certain price, and for this they are entitled to have a certain work done and done properly. Tho Council have, in fact, entered into a contract with tho ratepayers residing on the streets mentioned in the petition for a special rate, and it is their duty to carry out their work in an effective manner. This, we contend, is not done by tho carts coming on to tho streets an hour or so after tho nor’-wester has been working its swoet will with tho dust on tbe streets. What they should do is, during the summer season to have the carts in tbe streets early in the morning prior to the wind getting up. Then instead of tbe unpleasantness both to pedestrians and shopkeepers which now prevails, the water cart would be a boon capable of appreciation. Under the present system, so far far as can be seen, tbe carts and horses are kept at homo until tbe city is covered with dust as with a pall, and then only is the order given to go forth. What should be done is, that every morning at an early hour, whether a nor’-wester is blowing or not, the carts should be sent out. By this means, when the wind came on the streets would he so well saturated as to entirely preclude the duet blowing.