QUEEN STREET VERANDAHS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 7

QUEEN STREET VERANDAHS.

(To the traitor.) Sir.—Permit mc to exprese an opinion on the advisability or otherwise of allow- . ing 6uspea<ied verandah roofs over the , footpaths in Queeu Street in preference to supporting them on iron columns, as , at present in use. During business houre . traffic of all kinds in Queen Street is r very much congested. The two lines of tram rails in the centre, with a continuous stream of trarocars, practically diverts vehicular traffic to each side, between tho outer rail and the kerbstone, These limits are set apart for heavy traffic, the verandah posts on each side forming a barrier, affording a measure oi protection to pedestrians using the footpaths. No doubt were the verandah posts removed, the street would look more open and free, shop fronts and ail their adornments showup to better advantage, but—and there is a serious but —if a horse and dray make a bolt, as very often happens, with thn verandah posts removed, the runaway, in endeavouring to dodge the tram and motor cars, etc, will make for the footpath, as human beings are more easily knocked out of the way than tramears, and even an entry into some of the shops may be expected. I am convinced that a very serious danger .will await the public if these posts arc removed. The crowds who perambulate • the footpaths, looking, into shop win- ■ dows. and people coming on? of the shop 3, I will have little chance of escaping injury, as to rush into the street, if it were I possible, may only meet another danger, i may say I have never known a single instance of a verandah post carried away by a runaway horse, injuring any person, but it has acted as a means of checking the animal's mad career.—l am, etc™ ROBERT FABRELL.