THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 October 1908, Page 3

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

(from our srFxiAi, connr.sroNDENT.)

Sydney, Octobcr 3. While overyone admits that Sydney is a beautiful city, it must also bo agreed that its inhabitants havo not dono their best to keep it so. The condition of somo of tho streets from mud in wot' weather, and from dust when high wind is prevailing, is a reproach. Tho other day at Circular Quay, the dust from a little bit of unblocked roadway was so great that evoryono within a wide radius was covcred with it, and this was in one of the busiest spots in Sydney, where hundreds of thousands of citizens pass by daily on their way to and from tho ferry steamers. Tho City Council is now endeavouring to end this state of things, and accordingly it is proposed to spend about £100.000 in putting down wood-paving in thoroughfares that are at present macadamised. Amongst the principal streets to be so treated are Elizabeth Street, one of the most important in, the city; Queen's Square, at the head of King Street; St. James's Road, behind the Supremo Court; Darlinghurst Road, and College Street. The approaches to the Central Railway Station are also to be dealt , with in this way. At tho present time, wood-blocking is being laid in Eddy Avenue, near the station, for an area of 10,000 square yards.. The street bill of a city like Sydney runs into an enormous sum every year. It is estimated that it costs £23,000 to maintain macadamised roadways, and. that the upkeep of the footpaths costs another £11,500. Then there is a big sum paid for cleansing. This amount is _ much heavier, of course, than it would be if .the streets were wood-blocked, and thus the extension of this system of paving will materially reduce tho item, so that in the long run there will bo a very considerable saving to the city. Coincidentally with this improvement of tho streets, a movement is proceeding by which the parks are to bo made_ more beautiful. Already a great deal, has been done in this direction, and thero is now much more, extensive growing of flowers, by which a note of real boauty has been introduced into tho harsh discords .of business life. , When one may sit in his office and look out upon a park where tho grass is trim and beautiful, and there aro gorgeous, speciriieiis of carpetbedding to catch his oye, invoices cease to vex him, and become items of simple delight. In another' year or "two Sydney will be a really fine city.