STREET OBSTRUCTIONS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2609, 28 November 1865, Page 5

STREET OBSTRUCTIONS.

Wit wonder if the Inspector of Nuisances for the city of Auckland, in the discharge of bis duties, ever finds himself in O'Connoll-street ; aud if so, whether he has failed to uotioe the many daugerous obstruction* which at present exist in that street. For several months past tome cartloads of scoria kerbstones have lain on each side of the thoroughfare, usually kept clear as a pavement for foot passengers, aud which, we believe, were at the outset discharged on the spot to the order of the contractors for the formation of Chancerylane and High-street.' The contractor!, it must be admitted, were somewhat unfortunate in causing the preparation of so many scoria blocks in excess of their requirements ; but we cannob understand from what motive they were permitted, whilst forming one street, to block up another — unless with the somewhat pardonable design of further inducing the City Board authoritie to agree to the exteusion of the contract to include the formation oE 0 'Council street. Whilst speaking of the condition of O'Connell-street, we do not mean it tobeundeistood as a singular instance of oversight of the officer, we have named. We have only chosen it as an example of the indifferent superintendence exerciied over the \\ hole of the streets in the city; and vse are sure our observant readers will bear us out iu the assertion. In the business thoroughfares of the town, where building operations are being carried on, or may have been completed, huge blocks of scoria, and heaps of metal, are buffered to lie uudisturbed almost in the very centre of the road — where the blocks may have been left by the builders as superfluous, or rejected by the architect as uulitted for foundation or other purposes for which they might <. have been designed. The works having been completed, of course no one is answerable for the removal of the refuse— and looking at the matter in a utilitarian point of view, it may be thought equally as well that it should remain on the spot, ready to be used in filling up holes and ruts in the sheets, thus saving the City Board the expense of carting metal from Mount Edeu. "We cannot, however, look at the matter in that light, as it would, no doubt, be iuvariably found that the blocks and heaps of metal had been left in the wrong place, and must prove, uutil removed, a great source of danger to travellers through the streets at night, either iu vehicles or on foot. We are aware that it was an instruction front the City Board that all notices of nuisances left at the office for the Inspector would secure prompt attention, but surely it will scarcely be thought necessary to prompt that officer iu every instance before exercising his functions. It is with some regret we are compelled to state that Auckland, iu regard to the condition aud general superintendence exercised over the roads and thoroughfares, stands very low indeed in the scale of New Zealand towns. Considering the manifold commercial advantages Auckland possesses over the whole of the other provinces iu the North Island, the number of its population, and extent of traffic, it is a standing reproach to the community that this should be the case. Contrasted with the condition of the streets of the somewhat maligned cily of Wellington, the thovoughfaies of Auckland are simply execrable. We admit that the houses in Wellington are all of the lightest of wood, and cheapest of corrugated iron, and the traffic, as compared with that of Auckland, is infinitesimal ; but, at the s»me j time, we cannot overlook the fact, that with a City V Board almost always overwhelmed with debt, and lately robbed of an accidental balance by an absconding clerk, the itreets of Wellington are scrupulously scavengered, drains cleared and repaired in every direction, and new roads formed in the outskirts of the city by gang* of prisoners employed by the Board on moit advantageous terms. The footpaths are in the most perfect order, formed of asphalte, and sloped to secure proper drainage. In makiug these observations, our desire is limply to draw the attention of the City Board aud Inspector of N uisances to a state of things which ought nob to exist, and which can easily be remedied at an inappreciable cost if proper measures be taken.