A QUESTION OF LIGHT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7728, 23 February 1909, Page 2

A QUESTION OF LIGHT.

No light, but rather darkness visible, —Milton. A stranger might have experienced some difficulty m groping Ins way Jirough tho unlimited streets of Ashburton last night, and he would be very fortunate if lie did not tumble into a drain or make undesirable acquaintance with a lamp post, fence, or building. The darkness almost defied penetration and gave the ■sense of touch an advantage over that of sight. At the- best of times the town is none too well lighted, but last night it seemed as though wo had harked back to the days of the curiW, and that it was a crime for anyone to bo awake, or at least having a light after 8 o'clock. Truly we progress backwards. If a little.forward movement is made sometimes we seem to think we have committed a great wrong and must make reparation by taking a retrograde step. Water we are to have, but we forget to be thankful, when the hand that gives is the same hand that withholds the light. Why is it that our city fathers love darkness rather than light. Perhaps this is a hard question, and let no man answer it hastily, but, anyway, those whose business or pleasure took them out of doors last evening will probably be pleased to know that most of the Borough Councillors were out also, it being the night of the fortnightly meeting. They were all out—every man of them—but whether they barked their shins or fell into any ditches is yet unknown. Should such prove to be the case, the renort will no doubt be read with sympathetic interest by all concerned m the lighting of the public streets.