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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4153, 13 July 1874, Page 2

There should not be any divergent opinions in the City Council when the motion of Councillor Dransfield is discussed affirming the desirability of, at one bold stroke, forming the whole of the streets of the City that are as yet unformed, and permanently constructing them out of a loan to be repaid by a special rate, as provided ifl the Municipal Corporations Act of 1869 - There is no disputing the fact that the work is more than dosirable—that it is necessary. In fact, it should have been done piecemeal, as the streets were built upon, and no doubt it would but for other urgent claims on tho funds of the Council. Now it has become one of such magnitude and pressing necessity, that it should not ba postponed to the indefinite period it would be if left to be dealt with in the ordinary way. Besides the inconvenience that would result from this course being pursued, the check that it would impose upon tho development of the trade of the City, and the unsightly appearance some streets that really might be made ornamental would present" for many years to come, dolay would be much the more costly process. In this case the best way is literally the cheapest. Keeping bad streets in something like repair is a costly proceeding, and an eminently unsatisfactory process. But if they are well formed and properly metalled, they may be kept in fine condition at a minimum of trouble and expense. The only member of the Council who would be opposed, to this view of tho oase will, we presume, be the Mayor; and surely wo may hope that he will consider the desirability of having good carriago-ways instead of streets which are simply wide gutters. The townspeople are interested on another account. There is a very close relation between dirt and disease. As some of the streets now are, it is impossible for moisture to drain from the lowest -parts of them, and therefore it remains stagnant until dried by either tho sun or the wind. After a heavy fall of rain, instead of the water escaping at once down proper water-tables, it remains forming a chain of miniature lakes that in process of time degenerato into deposits of filth. This cannot be satisfactory to anyone who understands sanitary laws, or considers tho impediment that is thereby caused to traffic.

The 239th clauso of the Municipal Corporaiicms Act would appear to have been especially drafted in view of such a contingency arising as Councillor Drausfiold proposes to remedy. It empowers Municipal Councils to borrow money for permanent works or undertakings, by issuing debentures for £SO each, secured by a special rate to be imposed, tho proceeds of which should be devoted to paying the interest due, and providing a sinking fund for the redemption of tho debt in the way that the Covincil may deem most desirable. The amount borrowed may not be more than five times the amount of the annual rate, and it must be repaid in not less than fifteen years. Then follow directions for initiating the loan. Before tho Council may consider a proposition for borrowing the . money, the amount required, with the interest proposed, and tho time and places for payment of both, must have been gazetted twice, and published twice in a. newspaper having a general circulation in tho borough affected. In the further steps to be taken, the Council will do well to consult its solicitor. The 241st clause of tho Act subjects the resolution to borrow to certain condi-

tions, but in consequence of it being originally drawn in a slipshod fashion, or amended in Parliament so as to become unintelligible, and also being printed without any attempt being made at punctuation, it may be made to mean anything or nothing. However, the fact remains that the Council has power to borrow, and we submit that this would be the most economical course to pursue. If the work were once done, there is no reason why the rates, including the special one, need be much larger than the amount that is nowpaid. The present arrangement, it must be confessed, is not a fair one. Every householder pays rates, but some have streets in front of their dwellings, whilst others have not. A good road in front of a row of houses always increases their value, and the property of some ratepayers has been thus improved whilst that of others remains in its normal condition. Those who have not a proper approach to their residences will have no objection to paying upon an' increased rateable value, if to their property be given a corresponding increase in desirability and marketable value. The work is also rendered necessary by the rapid growth of the City. There must be other business streets in it than its main arteries.

Should the proposition to borrow money for the entire work be affirmed, it by no means follows that active measures should at once be taken. Nor is it desirable that there should be. It is understood that the Provincial Government will furnish a plan of the City with the levels defined at some time or other, so that the drainage of those streets which are as yet innocent of this may be proceeded with. By then we may expect that tenders will have been called for the reclamation of the Te Aro foreshore. All these works, it will be manifest, can best bo proceeded with simultaneously. When the shore is partiallyreclaimedtherewillbeagood business street in frontof the houses and places of business now abutting on the street ; and in the drainage of the City this must be considered. The materials taken from the cuttings that would have to be made for the stroets to be rendered uniform would be valuable in reclaiming the foreshore. But by bringing the subject forward thus early, the mover probably intends to familiarize the Council and the ratepayers with its details. The latter have a right, if they think proper, to disapprove of the scheme, and that disapproval. To some of them it will seem to imply increased taxation, which is rarely an acceptable proposal. As we have shown this apprehension is scarcely a just one. The acceptance of the proposition would remedy so much inequality, contribute so greatly to the improvement of the City, and be of such benefit to the whole population, that we hope the step will commend itself to everyone. The plan forms one section of a whole that is of more importance to Wellington than anyone can estimate. There seems to be something more than a possibility that it may be carried out in its entirety before much time should have elapsed ; and we wish we could say the same for the twin one of producing a tug service for the harbor, and possibly a dredge, so that a quay alongside which large vessels could anchor might semi-circle the foreshore. These two latter rest with an authority whose inertia in such matters it seems difficult to disturb.