ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1085, 6 January 1869, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

WE DO NOT IDENTIFY OOE3ELVE9 IN ANT WAY ! WITH THE OPINIONS EXPBESSKD BY OUR OOBBE9PONDENTB. » THE CONDITION OF OUR STREETS. (to the edi'tob op the southland times.) Sib, — I noticed in your paper one day last week some remarks respecting the condition of the footpaths. I quite agree with you that something Bhould be done, but what can we do ? I know that several householders in my neighborhood are anxious to petition for a municipality, bat when it is spoken about somebody throws up the old Town Board debt. I am under the impression that this- liability was included in the Consolidation of Pebts Act, and forms part of the total liability of Southland, but be this right or wrong something must be done. With. an indifference to the present or the future, we are allowing the town to be polluted by neglected drains ; indeed the footpaths which were once a credit to the town is rotting and becoming dangerous. It appears to me that an urgent necessity exists for some public expression of opinion being given upon the matter. Some six or ten months since, the prisoners were employed in opening the drains in Esk-streef , to clean and repair them. What has been done ? The covering has been removed, and for months the putrid matter that had accumulated has been allowed to send forth the poison there generated. It is true that tenders for drain boxes were called for, and one accepted. These boxes have been allowed to remain unlaid week after week becoming a public obstruction, and the malaria of the drains to spread disease in every direction, to the. disgrace of the G-overament and the people. And again, Sir, the wooden footpaths ia decaying with a rapidity that will before next winter render them dangerous if not useless, without something is done to preserve them. Ido not think it necessary to repair the wood- work as that would cost too much, but it is essential that a few nails Bhould be driven in, and good gravel spread throughout the town. It appears folly to look to the Government to do this ; they have either no funds or no inclination to do the work, and it is pur duty as land and householders, to take other steps to secure its accomplishment. I hope some one will take up this subject and start a movement to obtain a Municipal Council. — I am, Sir, your's Ac, Tbadebmajst. Invercargill, 4th January, 1869.