TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 357, 18 September 1878, Page 2

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

(To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, — As the conduct of every member of a public body is supposed to be open to fair scrutiny, I beg forward, for insertion, copies of propositions moved by me last Monday, which lapsed for want of seconder. 1. That Clause 6, referring to NorfoUcstreet M,'2o be struck off, as being totally inadequate for any requirements of said street.

2. As an amendment to £3O being expended on Norfolk and Kent-streets I proposed £IOO. 3. That the portion of the Town on the eastern side of Devon-street is, according to the plan laid out by. the working committee, most unfair, in comparison with rates paid by that portion as compared with the amount paid by the western side. I regret that the above did not appear in 3'our report, and in justice to myself and the other ratepayers at this —the eastern portionof the Town—l assert that the expenditure is most unfairly divided. I take Leicester-street to Dorset-street —Doisetstreet to Taranaki Hoad. This piece of work, which is estimated to cost £9O, surrounds the properties of Messrs Milroy, Dale, and Adams (the latter of whom was unavoidably ■■'absent from the meeting). In addition there is an item for curbing and regravelling footpath in front of above properties. Then I noticed some curbing and gravelling to be continued round Taplin’s corner to a lake in Devon-street—l presume for bathing purposes. The estimates also provide for the lowering-of the footpath (formed at considerable expense not a year ago) in front of St. George’s Church, and so forth, leading, I may say, to nowhere. I failed at the Board meeting to see the usefulness of formation of road and footpath in Cambriclge-street to “ cutting” footpaths both sides, £4O, in asmuch as that street will and must become a very important one ; and why form the street and footpaths now, when in a very short time, a cutting will have to be made trom Taranaki Road to a point near the rubbish depot—fin the river bank. Ido not know where Chester-street is, but on referring to the map X find it is on the eastern side of Devon-street. The item being only £ls is not work argument. The item of £lO from York-street to my wharf I consider money wasted, as I can keep the road open to my wharf without aid from the Board. Altogether I find the expenditure proposed and carried by the Board to be on the eastern side of Devon-street £65, on the western side of Devon-street £462. Total, £527. '

Now, sir, I ask through your columns if this is fair, or judicious, towards the best interests of the Town as a whole. I And great difficulty in obtaining information from the Town Board office, but on referring to my own map, I And 28 Blocks on the eastern side of Devon-street, and G Blocks on the western side, to which must be added the lands which have been acquired since the original plan of the Town was made, viz., the Recreation ground i.e. St. George’s to Wray's corner, thence to McGuire’s, boundary. As to the amount of rates, rents, &c., receivable by the Board. .1 cannot ascertain, but even halving the amount between the eastern and western portions, I maintain that I was justified in opposing the scheme as tJ-Avhole.—l am, &c., JAMES HIRST, Junior member Carlyle Town Board. Patea, September 14th, 1878.