STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 206, 29 August 1916, Page 9

STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

(To the Editor.) i has been much criticism lately about the manner in which many of our main roads are maintained, and m my opinion, rightly so. Much of the criticism has been centred on Beach Road, Parnell, and other Toads in the proximity. The naming of one of the streets r this vicinity, viz., King's Drive seems at the present time to be somewhat of a misnomer, as the condition of the road would not do credit to a bush track. According to a report in Friday's "Star," one verv> prominent councillor stated in .reference to Beach Road: "What was the wisdom of spending money on permanent works there when the whole road would be torn up again next year, probably to be laid down in permanent material." Sir, it is most desirable that the roaa should be laid down in 6ome permanent material in the near future. But 'while the above councillor's statement may provide an ample excuse for the present administration, it certainly leaves the past administrations open to criticism. The temporary and most expensive patching of Beach Road has been going on for at least seven years to my knowledge, and is still being continued. In the winter the top surface of the road is a mass of stones and mud, and in the summer the stones are left and the mud is blown away in the form of dust, which, as ia well known, is not conducive to the health of the community or to the appearance of the surrounding property. This patching, and with the same results, has been going on not only in this locality, but also in others, and the expense connected therewith would surely cover the interest on capital if expended on roads of a more permanent nature. —I am, etc., PRO BONO PUBLJCO.