PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 31 May 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Letters, Inquiries and Answees thereto, are invited; on Farming. Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea 1 district. Names /of ..'writers, need not be Printed. .

BEDPORD-STEEET LEVELS. Mr J. Milroy, I understand, positively asserts that the proposed alteration to Bedfqrd-street would cost several hundreds above the estimate , (as prepared by the Council’s Engineer.) I have interested myself a little in this matter, examined the plans, and find the works if taken at rates now going for that class of work will not exceed in cost £1,700/' "

I may also add that my observation for the past 4 years in Patea has led me to believe that Mr Milroy, as>a public man, generally favors some 'scheme, some expenditure of public money/ that will enhance the value of some of his own property in particular, and is one of the first to cry “ economy” when ahylmprovements are suggested that will benefit the other ratepayers, even though they may have paid rates for years. If Mr Sherwood had proposed some expenditure of moneys, around the doors of Mr Milroy and two or three other, councillors, or even where they held mortgages on that In time may fall into ther bands, they would have voted for it to a man. .

On Bedford* street we are pow in this position. Levels are now establisbeddn part of the street, but .the road is not made to them. To improve properties is out of the question until the road js made to the permanent levels. One section is 4or 5 feet above the established level: to build on the section as it now stands would probably leave one “ like Mahomet’s coffin, suspended between Heaven and earth ;” or if the section is lowered,to the given level, it may be 20 years before we can find a Council enterprising enough to reduce the grades to the levels established; "and property ..owner!, would have the; satisfaction; that> the tops of their windows would be about on a level with the present side-walk. Something must be done if the town is to progress pro-rata with others ; and if nothing is done, why keep a staff of officers to consume £4OO or £SOO per year waiting like Micawbeir for something to turn up? Probably a scheme to form Leicester-, street, and pave it with Auckland scoria, and light it with electric lights, would find favor in the sight of some of our niore advanced and: enlightened councillors. Try them, Mr Sherwood.-—I ara,&c., ,; ; ■, ; f.:,g.;Mace- •