THE STREETS.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 286, 17 July 1860, Page 3

THE STREETS.

To the Editor,—My excuse fbr troubling you with this letter, tjhould you consider it worthy of

insertion; must be, that-as an old settler, driven for refuge within the precincts of' the town, I have found the state'of: its streets so far short of its other improvements as to render it a matter of surprise that something cannot be done towards improving their condition. Though for some years a resident in other towns in New Zealand, I have never seen so reckless a mode of procedure as has been observed in the planning, and levelling ofthe streets, with regard to the necessity for surveys and other requisites for towns of any consideration. Assuming that a certain want of forethought in the originators of this city is observable in the fact of many ofthe mahxstreets running nearly at right angles with what we term gullies; still much may be done to obviate the evils necessarily arising from an ill-considered plan not adapted to the natural features of the town. The embankments formed to facilitate the transport of merchandise from point to point, have in • many instances stopped: the natural drainage, or diverted it in such a manner as to create artificial reservoirs for the debris from the rising grounds, which, accumulating in the lower portions of our present town, cause excessive filth, and consequent unhealthiness. . * The injury to all sorts of property arising from this state of things, must bo patent to any one who will withdraw his attention from his other pursuits to consider the subject, or who, wading as an invalid ankle-deep to his accustomed walk on the jetty, cannot but have forced upon his mind the loss the,community are sustaining from the want of attention to -their own interests in these matters.. . The necessity of sewerage will I think, be better understood by our towsmen should we meet with one of the heavy falls of rain we occasionally have during winter. In the meantime, before the inhabitants are in a position to incur heavy expense in rendering their position more comfortable, it would be perhaps as well to examine whether the means at present used are the most efficient for the purpose of removing the disgusting filth which absolutely poisons our atmosphere, The fact of metalling roads or streets before proper precaution is taken to secure the durability of the, superadded material, is a great mistake. It is well known by all having any acquaintance with the subject, that to render a road good and serviceable it must be kept as dry as circumstances will permit: consequently the necessity for drainage, y As the area of level surface in the present business part of our town is small, and adjacent to the sea level, the comparative cost of sewerage would be small, and less of course before artificial means are allowed to interfere with it. If nothing else can be done, let us give over tho present foolish system of raking the mud from, one place to another without removing it, and let us remember that such stirring causes the abominable mixture to settle to the lowest level, thereby sapping the foundation of our wooden buildings, and leaving in the most difficult position for removal, foetid masses of debris ready to give off its noxious gases upon the first approach of warm weather. There are numbers of gardens and a large suburban district, which would be much benefited by the deposits I have spoken of, and were there procured two or three of the, street cleaning apparatus attachable to carts, much might be done towards re-establishing the health and promoting the general benefit of our town and its inhabitants. ' The Town Board, who in my own case have assessed me as an absentee proprietor of town lands, could, I think, bring about all that I have spoken of by applying a very small portion of the funds at their disposal to, in ray mind, so very necessary an object. • Should no other person with more pertinence have brought this subject before the public, perhaps you might consider this letter worthy of attention, either as it stands, or as commented upon by your more able pen.—Anonymous.