New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 24, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 303, 24 June 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 24, 1848.

We have several times lately taken occasion to notice the wretched state of the beach along Lambton Quay. The heavy winter rains have reduced the road, which has never been properly made, to a mass of mud, while the want of wind has prevented it from drying. Its present state has been the cause of great inconvenience aod discomfort to almost every inhabitant whose business leads him from one end of the town to the other ; it appears to be the general opinion that something ought to be done, but no effective steps are taken to remedy the evil. This is one of the evils of the voluntary system, which a corporation would cure, — a work required for the general convenience should be defrayed by general contribution, and not left to individual exertion. It is frequently asked why the Government does not undertake the work? when so much is spent in making roads in the country districts, why something is not ' done to put in a decent state of repair the ! greatest thoroughfare in the town. ? If anything is to be done, it is plain that we must put our shoulders to the wheel and try and help ourselves. If, instead of relying on the Government, the inhabitants of Wellington will take the matter up in earnest, it would soon assume a practical shape. As it is a matter of some importance we venture to throw out the following suggestion. Let some five or six of those who have the greatest amount of property on the beach, canvass the town for subscriptions, taking care to set a good example by heading the list themselves. With a little exertion we have no doubt that a hundred pounds might be raised, and we dare say that the j Government would help those who were I disposed to help themselves by adding a hundred and fifty pounds to the subscriptions. The subscribers could then elect from their number a committee to see that the money was judiciously expended, and the carters in Wellington who have helped most to reduce the beach to its present state might, as we have suggested in ! another part of the paper, each give a week's labour as their contribution towards a work from which they would receive the greatest benefit. If this were done, we might soon hope to see the road along Lambton-quay, from Barrett's Hotel to the corner of Willis-street, put into a good state of repair, and ,well metalled, and a pathway formed for the convenience of foot passengers, who would, by this provision for their comfort, be induced the more readily to subscribe. As most of the town acres along the line belong to absentees, we hope their agents will be induced to contribute to its improvement. The evil owes its origin, in part, to an incident which dates back to the distribution of the town acres'. At the period to which we refer, the road was included in the two sections immediately South of the native reserve at Kumutoto, on the understanding that the owners of them should, at their own expence, make a road of the width of fifty feet in front ; the road has been ap-

propriated to their own use by these persons (both of whom are absentees) but they have neglected to make the road in front of these sections, and the public suffer in consequence. But it is not yet too late to hold them to the ternis of their agreement.

On Thursday last, sixteen carts were employed on the Hutt Road between the bridge and Petoni, in metalling a part, which being not yet re-made, had become almost impassable. They all gave their labour free ; and assisted by Mr. Selling's s road party, completed 200 yards. And when they find what advantage it is to unite together for their mutual benefit, «they will no doubt give another day and as many more days as may be necessary. ! This is not a veiy great work, but it is the true spirit of general combination for the public good, and therefore deserves to be recorded in the annals of the colony ; and is worthy of general imitation. If all the carters in Wellington would give a week's labour, and if they were assisted by a road party from the Hutt Rdad, they could lay with metal the whole of Wellington beach from Barrett's Hotel to the Commissariat Office. The other inhabitants of Wellington might do their part by subscribing to put up posts and rails in front of the houses on the beach to form a footpath the whole way.

During the last fortnight the weather has been remarkably calm, with occasionally a very light wind from the south-east. The Scotia has been lying in harbour nearly a fortnight for want of a wind tv proceed to the southward. This continuance of calm weather is a fact worth recording for the information of those of our neighbours who have so much to say about the high winds of Port Nicholson.

We understand that the dinner at Barrett's Hotel on Tuesday evening, was given by W. Gisborne, Esq., Private Secretary to his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor.

Wk are informed that during the present week thirty sheep belonging to Mr. J. Jones, six belonging to Mr. Luxford, and eight belonging to Mr. Drummond at Evans's Bay, and six sheep belonging to Mr. Gooder at Te Aro, have been destroyed by dogs. If we add to this number the sheep belonging to Messrs. Rhodes & Co., and those belonging to the London, which were destroyed about the same time, the total number of sheep recently destroyed by dogs in the neighbourhood of the town amounts to nearly a hundred. It is quite time that some active measures were taken to check this growing evil.

Mr. Thoms has caught three whales, which are likely to turn out nearly thirty tuns of oil, at his station in Queen Charlotte's Sound. This is a good beginning of the season.