THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1914 KING STREET MUD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 207, 26 June 1914, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1914

KING STREET MUD.

" H> nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice."

We think that the mud of King street dnterves arothcr srtlcle all to itself. It is a perpetual reminder that our public men still lack a daring prrgreastvenias and that the people of Fukekohe pefer to trapse through slush rather than pay the comparatively small sum that would get them out of it As a community we are stick-in-the-muds with a vengeance. During the past fen weeks the state of our main thoroughfare has been nothing less than disgraceful. It would not be so bad if it were good business to tolerate the mud; but it isn't. Every year bij{ 6ums of money ate spent—taken from the general funds-on the upkeep of King street and every yeat the street gets more hideously out of o;der. Instead of being a thoroughfare calculated to add to the comfort o! the ptople, promote commerce and induce settlement, the condition of King street breeds discomfort, checks business and repels new-comers. Eighteen months ago we urged that King street should be reconstructed in asphalt or some other process. The borough foreman, we believe, has figures to show what a substantial concrete roadway would cost, and we are glad to know that the Mayor favours prompt and effective action. Id addition to the heavy annual cost of upkeep the borough will presently be faced with the reconstruction of this road. The sum of £6OOO has 'been named as tae possible cost of concreting King Btreet. Six per cent on that sum (including interest and sinking fund) would mean £360 a year during the luan period. If it costs £2OO a year at present to partially maintain King street, and an additional expense of £IOOO has to ba immediately borne in any case (to provide a mad that will have to be patched and replaced at intervals), it appears as if the concrete (or asphalt) road would be cheaper in th<j long run, besides vastly adding to the appearance of Pukekohe and promoting the general comfort and well-being. Thla borough has had its carnival of mud. It is time we aspired to something better.