WHARF AND STREET OBSTRUCTIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1593, 12 September 1873, Page 2

WHARF AND STREET OBSTRUCTIONS.

[to the editor;] Sib— Being a constant reader of your morning paper, it was not possible to overlook your just remarks in yesterday's issue, concerning the disgraceful state of our wharf and front street, and I am very sorry to think that you should have drawn the attention of the public so frequently to the same without any Ef6od : result. You say the Borough Council appear to have given over all control to those persons engaged in the conveyance of timber. If such is the case, what is the use of placing men in the Borough Council to represent us? If the Borough, Council have anything to do with the present grievance, and they totally ignore their duties, and wrong the ratepayers by giving such privileges to a few, I consider yesterday's election, the excitement, canvassing, &c, was quite a farce. But the principal disgrace is the approach to the wharf and stand pipes. The public has gone to very great expense in driving stand pipes to command the principal part of the town, and an expensive and well-stocked engine-house for the suppression of fire. Should it be our misfortune for a fire to break out in any of the front blocks, by the time the Brigade get the alarm, and their engines are on the spot, it is necessary they should he able to get at the stand pipes immediately, instead of having to remove several large logs, which would detain them long enough for the fire to get an alarming hold. : :

In regard to our wharf, that, I am sorry to say, has become a platform fo* lumber, such as derricks, monkeys, large stacks, of timber, small stacks of do, &c. , &c. But whose fault is all this ? Ought not the Harbor-master exercise some little control over the wharf 1 Ought not the Inspectors of Fire (of which we have' three appointed in Greymouth) cause all obstructions to be removed from the stand pipes, and the members of the Borough Council cause such laws to be made and carried out that it would prevent such miserable obstructions being thrown in the public thoroughfare ? Or, are all these offices, which are so eagerly sought after, simply to obtain a handle to their name, and prevent better men from filling the offices and carrying out their duties in a proper manner ? During the last few weeks I have made numerous inquiries as to whose duty itis to prevent these obstructions, but have never met with any definite satisfactory reply. That it is the duty of some one, and that that duty is seriously neglected, there cannot be the slightest doubt. I am, &g. , Ratepayer; Greymouth, Sept. 11, 1873.