THE RATES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4883, 15 November 1876, Page 3

THE RATES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —I was much struck with the able articles in the New Zealand Times on Thursday and Friday last, setting forth such good reasons why the present general rate should not be reduced as was proposed. The part having reference to the unformed streets in this city should be enough in itself to quash any such proposition. Now a few facts corroborative of your statements may not be amiss. In the first place, take that part of the • town from Sussex-square southwards to Hunter’s farm, which comprises some 400 acres, and on which for the last twenty-five years many settlers have been residing, and of course paying rates, two of whom to my own knowledge have paid over £6O per annum for rates and Town-belt during the greater part of that period. ■ Besides this, the rates on the unoccupied acres have had to be paid, and, for want of roads, without any increase in their value. Until 1866 scarcely a pound was spent in the whole district by the Town Board, the only means of getting anything to the different houses being by the bullock dray ; and only this week has the road (such as it is) to the end of the town been completed. Who can wonder at the ratepayers grumbling at having to pay their taxes when they knew that the money was to be spent in Willis-street and a few other favored parts ? Now, in the district I have mentioned there are still some twenty-five streets which can only be found by the surveyors, and it is the duty of the City Council to have these made without delay, not only in justice to those who have lived so long without scarcely any means of conveyance to the centre of the city, but also with a view to lessen the death-rate of this city, for it is very natural to suppose that if the streets were formed the majority of the working classes would sooner live in their own little freeholds, than be cooped up in such slums as Little Taranaki-street and several other little streets of a like dirty nature ; and there are many persons who would sell allotments cheap if they could only get at the land to cut it up. The cry of the Corporation is, “ Where is the money to come from to form all these streets 2” Why, if the general revenue will not provide the necessary funds, borrow the money, for surely it is as necessary to provide against the overcrowding of back streets as it is to provide drainage for the same, and by keeping the rate as it is at present, viz., Is. in the £, they would easily be able to pay the interest on such a loan. In conclusion, I would say that the making of these streets is next in importance to the health of the city—to providing a proper drainage system —I am, &c., Ngakake. Wellington, November 10.