WIDTH OF STREETS AND LANES.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 167, 24 November 1883, Page 3

WIDTH OF STREETS AND LANES.

In our last issue, in a foot-note to the letter of Mr Charles O'Neill, we promised to give a summary of the Act in force in New. South Wales regulating the, width of streets and lanes, as we deemed that it might convey a useful hint to our legislators. The Act provides that every street laid out or denned shall be 66ft. wide at least, and every lane 20ft. wide. Where any land has been sold, transferred, leased, or built upon in violation of this section, and it is deemed expedient to make such street or lane equal to the requirements of the Act, land . may be taken for the purpose, measuring from, the centre o£ the thoroughfare. Except in the case of allotments having water frontage, the Act renders it unlawful to build any dwelling-house fronting any lane within the operation of the Statute, unless such house and , its appurtenances be 23ft. at least from such lane. Any house built in contravention of the Act is deemed to be an encroachment, and may be dealt with as such by the Corporation or local authorities.

These provisions are exceedingly simple and effective, and it is., to be hoped; that in the! next session of the !New ; Zealand. Parliament some .like measure "will be introduced and passed. Day ; after day the '- great 'lfcndO^arß ' ,a>e cutting; , ibli&ks ' : mi^^^!^^^M^y^ol^^«ii»B^» l the utmost ppssiblb jfoprit^ge out of the land, with

a callous disregard for the' public health. Possessed of ample wealth and palatial mansions surrounded with extensive grounds and gardens, they feel secure from the heritage of disease arid death bequeathed by their sordid selfishness and griping greed to present and future generations, or console themselves with the reflection that they will have been gathei'ed to their fathers, (if they know who they were) before the catastrophe comes, though perhaps the thought rarely, if ever, strikes them that, in addition to. that heritage of disease and misery, they will also have to leave behind the ill-gotten gains which they reaped from it. " . .