A NEEDED LOCAL WORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7823, 16 June 1909, Page 2

A NEEDED LOCAL WORK.

A great deal of adverse comment h»8 been made m regard to the cold water i thrown—at a recent meeting m Hamp-j stead—on the proposal to asphalt the: footpath leading to the saleyards, showgrounds, racecourse and cemetery m the continuation of East street m the Hampstead town district. It appears that the ratepayers m the Hampstead district who own property abutting on the footpath are strongly m favour of the proposal being carried into effect, and they have expressed their willingness to contribute their share towards the cost of the work. The original apportionment of the cost was as follows: Hampstead Town Board, £50; Cemetery Board, £50; County Council, £50; and the remainder by private owners, estimated to provide about £30, making m all a total of £180. It was ascertained that the County Council could not, legally make a grant towards the cost of the work, but as the Council holds property adjoining the footpath, the law provides that half the cost of such works as asphalting and kerbing can be egally discharged. As this footpath is m a very rough state, and is used extensively by practically every ratepayer m the county,' it is most regrettable that there should be delay m carrying out the work. Under the circumstances, would it be unreasonable to expect the A. and P. Association, the Saleyards Company, and the Racing and Trotting Clubs to contribute towards the cost of the work ? Patrons of all these bodies are m the habit of frequently using the path. Mr Peter Stewart, chairman,of the Works Committee of the Ashburton Borough Council, m speaking to one of our reporters on the question, said he had gone carefully into figures regarding the proposal to asphalt the path, and he believed that, notwithstanding the inability of the County Council to make a straight-out grant of £50, the work could be carried out for less than the original estimate. Mr Stewart, who cannot be accused of advocating works that are of no utility, has expressed himself as being strongly m favour of this path being asphalted; and he considers that, while being a fine asset to the Hampstead Town Board, the work, if carried out, would prove a boon to the ratepayers m the whole county. All things considered, and apart from a little feeling that has been introduced as a side issue into the question, it can be safely said that the demands of a large section of people would- be met by all the local bodies interested meeting m conference to devise means to have the work carried out.