CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2467, 18 November 1868, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

HAGLEY PARK ROAD. tO IHI EDITOR OF *HB LTTTBLTON TIMKS. '„ &V-I shall be obliged if you will allow me a little space in your paper for a few remarks upon the,above subject, as I think fheremaybemany persons present at the pnblic meeting who will declare for or against the proposed road through the Park Without having fairly, or perhaps only lightly considered, how much the ratepayers tif the city and suburbs will be the losers or gainers by the proposed road, r Setting aside the battle with the tradespeople of the north and south portions of the town, whose claims should be equally respected, although they are only the minority tt the persons interested in the scheme, I believe that everyone of the ratepayers is, or should be, interested for the following, among many other reasons: The City Councillors are from time to time spending the City rates in ornamenting the town belts with trees and fences, and I suppose they think of contmuihg, the : same until the whole Of the city is' surrounded with' what they consider a very pretty—(but I consider very expensive) ornament. Although a bold question, I would ask, for what purpose is all this town belt planting ? lithink it would be far better to discontinue the waste of money in planting the town MtSj and if necessary, although it be from the city rates, apply some of the money so savid, to forming' a good road, with planted ride walks,through the park not'only to the Plough Inn, but to Fendaltown road like l ■wise. In the case of such a road being fanned, it would be a great boon.to the citizens, as well as the country people, without disappointing the "upper ten," who,it seems to me, would be the only few to enjoy the town belt plantations, although the whole of the citizen3-arenow bearing, and will have to bear, the heavy expenses-of keeping up tiie town belts for the enjoyment of the few. Wehave only to realise in our minds the parks ;■ with roads and planted .Bide walks through them in London and elsewhere, to picture to ourselveß what a blessing such an improvement would confer upon the present and future population of the city and suburbs, as much for the recreation as for the convenience : of all who choose to avail themselves of it.. Such a road would have the effect of giving to the people something of the pleasurable, as well as useful, for the least possible expense, which is not the case with the town belt plantations. In that case theiatepayers have to pay heavily for something worse than useless. I believe if the planting of the'belte is carried out that they will become a harbour for crime and disease, and that it will not be safe for females or children to pass to or from the thicklypopulated districts springing up around the town It i 3 easy to see what scope and temptation there would be to commit crime under such a cover. The walks through the Park, if-the gates aTe closed at a proper hour at night, would not be open to the same objection. ; Another reminder should be, that if it now costs £39 for six months to keep the present planted portion of the town belts m order, how much will it cost ratepayers to complete the planting and then keep the whole of, it in order. As to distance saved by the proposed toad, the up-country people from the- southwest and north-west portions of the province have a fair claim for its formation,as it would jave a great distance in reaching the following places of importance:—The Government Buildings and Museum, the General Postoffice and Market square, the Police station and Theatre. TheßankofNewZealandwould also be reached nearer than by the present load. The above reasons, coupled with the great saving to the ratepayers, have induced me to argue that the forming of a road with planted side walks through Haeley Park, and discontinuing the planting of the town belts; should be the policy supported at the public meeting. The ratepayers should not' allow themselves to be led away by the few interested tradespeople at either end of the town. They should be guided by greater principles -one of which if believe is, that if the road with walks whb formed through the Park, it would confer the greatest improvement and blessing to the greatest number at the least possible expense. Tour obedient servant, C. P. W