DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2494, 28 April 1871, Page 3

DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —It may be laid down as an axiom that in proportion as a new country becomes populated, so should every available inch of ground near and in the great centre of population in that country be utilized to the utmost extent. At first houses are built at wide intervals, then these intervals are gradually lessened, until a street is formed; the plots "of ground at the rear of the premises . are laid out in gardens ; counter-streets are formed; half of what before formed these back premises now are fronting a new street; ■gardens become yards, and so on until the density of the population has reached its acme, and the before fasfc-increasing value of apace is comparatively determined. These changes are taking place in Christ•church at the present moment. But many ■citizens fail to perceive that it is to their individual interest to see that these changes are taking place in the best possible manner, and in the right direction, at least so far as they themselves are concerned, and so far as •their private interests extend. Too many cozens are allowing their premises to go to ra ck ••ad ruin, " waiting for better times." Bat let mc teH tneee P°°P le that Mahomet I was competed to go to the mountain and' that these bettcT times will never come until they make the best of things as they are and improve their properties to the utmost of their power. It depend? upon them, under the blessing of Providence-, to bring these better times ; they will never some without j being fetched. There is a too widely-spread feeling abroad that all improvements should rest with the municipal authorities. This argument is unstable, and more than this, all the efforts of the City Council in the world are utterly useless unless these efforts are seconded by individual improvements upon private property. It would be invidious to point to any one portion of this city to prove the truth of my j statements : my argument is borne out by; fact in any one hundred yards throughout the length and breadth of it that may be chosen. Some spots are more ■certainly than others: but while such hosts -of " rookeries " on the one part, and wildeTmesses on the other are allowed to " stagnate i and be," so long may the City Council ham- j xner away at the best method of expending the rate funds, and their efforts will be utterly abortive. It is the duty of every citizen to make the best use of his own space, whether as regards utility, decency. comfort, or elegance in detail. * But the scythe-bearer is at our doors, and we have innumerable instances in the past history of many countries to prove that the inhabitants of a city, by postponing too long to follow in the direction I have indicated, have been mown down by the thousand at a *ime by pestilences which have known no distinction of persons. Should yon deem my remarks worthy of publication in your valuable journal, I shall lave much pleasure in addressing you again. Yours. &c, A Sew Comeb,