SLUGGISH TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 282, 17 August 1880, Page 2

SLUGGISH TEMUKA.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —ISTou have on several occasions accused other places of being behind the times ; but I think, before you attempt again to cast stones at these places, it would be more in keeping if you were to ask yourself, is Temuka keeping pace with the times. I venture to say you would fird the answer to be in the negative. A more sluggish placo than this one could not find if he were to travel all New Zealand, and the residents appear to be quite centent to allow things to remain as they are. The consequence is that this promising little township is allowed to drop a long way behind others. We have a Road Board, with a large sum of money I believe, yet they refuse to grant a small sum of money to procure a few lamps to light the streets, so that travellers and others would be able to pick their way on dark nights, and after rainy weather, through the slush that speedily accumulates on our footpaths, save the mark ! Road Boards are, no doubt, very useful, but I contend, that while Temuka allows itself to be ruled by such, it will make but little progress in improvements necessary for the place. To secure these improvements, (viz., lamps for the streets, footpaths properly formed, and a number of other things attended to), it will be necessary for the townspeople to take the matter in their own hands, and have Temuka proclaimed a borough. Thea, and not till then, will the place go-ahead. The forming of the town into a borough means further taxation, but the advantages to be gained in having our streets and footpaths properly attended to, and our sanitary measures (the most important of all) properly carried out, besides the great increase in value of town property, will more than compensate the people for the extra taxation. Let some of those, who have an interest in the place, bestir themselves, and call a meeting for the purpose of ascertaining the views of the ratepayers on the matter, when, I feel sure, the verdict would be favorable to forming the town into a borough. Before concluding, I would like to draw the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances to several matters thet requires immediate attention. If he will look into a pool of water at the railway crossing, nearly opposite the Road Baord Office, and also in a hollow a little further on, in the direction of the railway station, he will find the bodies of a dead dog and a dead c*t, that will, in a few days, unless removed, be very disagreeable to passers by. Apologising for trespassing on your space.—l am etc., WELL WISHER.