THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 172, 27 April 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1872.

The present state of the principal streets at the Thames —Pollen-street and Albert-street especially—is simply disgraceful. A large sum was expended in making our leading thoroughfare, when the late Superintendent was in office, and, since that time, scarcely anything has been done to it in the way of repair, and the roadway is now all hills and holes, and liquid mud. The Road Boards have such very small funds at their disposal, and have so many calls upon them that they can

hardly bo expected to undertake the work; but, as this is one of the great arteries of the goldfields traffic, we think the Superintendent should take the matter in hand. Wo do not suppose, however, that he will, as he will probably say it is the business of the ratepayers; but the rates are quite inadequate for the purpose. If something, however, is not done immediately, the road will become worse and worse every day, and will eventually become impassable. Is this such a work as the official now on a visit of inspection here can take cognizance of ? We suppose not. We have not much faith in his visit resulting in anything being done at all for the place; but we devoutly hope we are mistaken. The wet season which is now coming on proves what was pointed out long ago—that the repairs of our streets should have been attended to sooner. The unfortunate difficulty between the local Boards and the Superintendent delayed the expenditure of the money voted by the General and Provincial Governments, and, without this money, we arc aware that the Boards could not undertake the necessary works. It must not be forgotten that the members of these Boards have actually made themselves personally responsible for overdrafts at the bank, in order to keep tilings going, and, when the time of re-election arrives, we have no doubt this will be remembered to their credit. The Boards have done as much, if not more, than could be expected under the circumstances, with the very limited means and powers they possess. Can the holder of delegated powers or the Gold Fields Secretary come to the rescue,and if so, will they? Considering the amount the Thames contributes to the revenue in the shape of taxation, she certainly lias been scurvily treated for the past year or two. We have always been of opinion that the establishment of a Municipality at the Thames would have been one step towards obtaining more control over our own revenue. It is neither just nor right that money raised here should go to make useless railways in out of the way localities, which cannot pay for the next hundred years, and a corporation would have powers to deal with a considerable amount of local taxation. An act should be passed by which the revenue from publicans’ licenses, auctioneers’ fees, Police Court fines in certain cases, and other sources of income, should go into the coffers of the Municipality, and not be paid to the Treasury at Auckland or Wellington. Whether we shall have a corporation here or not for some time to come Appears doubtful, in consequence principally of a want of unanimity of opinion and through rival petitions. In the mean time the Boards can do little or nothing for the roads, and the Government does not appear likely to do more than dob out in miserable driblets a few hundreds after almost endless correspondence, interviews, and a “ conference.” The nature of the soil, the heavy character of the traffic, and the humidity of approaching winter arc forcibly brought to our minds at the present moment. As' population and traffic increase, the wear and tear of the streets necessarily increase, and they require constant attention, and arc an ever recurring expense. But they must he attended to. In some shape or other provision must he made to have the necessary public works carried out, and, above all, the leading streets must be kept in repair. We have already pointed out how public money is beingwasted by millions by the present Government, and how very little has been done for this district, which is one of the most important in the whole colony. If a small moiety of what is being spent on the ridiculous Kaipara railway had been laid out here in making a good and direct road from Tararu to Shortland, can any reasonable man suppose a more statesmanlike appropriation of the public funds could have been . made ? Every pound spent on works of necessity, or of a reproductive character, is of greater and more lasting benefit than twenty times that amount laid out on a useless and abortive undertaking, which will only put money into a contractor’s pocket, and enhance possibly the value of a piece of land here and there, but can be of no permanent benefit. Any stranger who should happen to visit the Thames at the present season must be astonished at the condition of the streets he has to travel over. Whether he wades through mud and mire on foot, or horse, or takes his mile or two of danger in our patent safety omnibusses, the journey will certainly furnish him with food for reflection on the matter in which public works on the Thames goldfield are looked after by our paternal Government.