STREETS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 48, 25 August 1905, Page 2

STREETS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — The full extent of the muddle perpetrated by section 3 of the Public Works Amendment Act, 1903, is at last beginning to attract public attention. What strikes one most about it is its absolute futility as regards the object professedly aimed at. Had the Act passed as originally diafted, via., that the frontage should be set back in every case on the next devolution by sale or otherwise of any land fronting a street or road less than 66ft wide, it ould at all events have iiad the merit of ensuring in a clumsy kind of way the ultimate attainment of its object, because all land must change hands sooner or later. It would have had the further merit of raising such a storm as would speedily have swept it from the Statute-book. As Jhe law now stands, it will, whilst harassing a, numbor of mostly small pio-perty-holders, utterly fail to achieve any useful purpose, because in the majority of cases the land along the lines of existing streets is already too minutely _ subdivided to allow of 'further subdivision. The result, therefore, can only be to create a few unsightly niches, some on one side of the street, "some on the other, which unless fenced off will become excellent loafing places ; whilst if the footpaths are altered to suit, our ways will indeed bo crooked and devious. Front gardens in such cases will become things of the past, and street doors will open direct upon squalid streets or loafer-haunted recesses. Obviously the proper way to deal with the. so-called slum question is to enact that no buildings shall be erected within a given distance of the street centre. Front gardens' in residential streets should by all means be encouraged. As to streets which require widening for purposes of traffic, there is already sufficient power. It ia only the question of cost which blocks the way. As to the compensation question, if the law is to remain as at present that question should bo put absolutely beyond the reach of doubt. It is the only element of fairness in the whole business, as it places the burden to some extent on the shoulders of the community instead of on the individual. When the people generally begin to feel the effect, in the form of increasing rates and as. a natural consequence of increasing rentals, they will want to know what they are paying for and whether the game is really worth the candle. And the inconsistency of it: on the one hand we are gonding the unfortunate landowner by unimproved value rating and excessive valuation to part with his property, and. on the other hand we are making it more difficult — in some cases impossible — to do so. I say "unfortunate," because in many cases these ljltle tonn properties represent the savings of a lifetime, and under present circumstances the owner had far better have pill his money into something else. It is not the large landowner as a rule who is going to suffer by this kind of •legislation ; his property is big enough to bear the strain. I trust that before trying any more legislative experiments in this direction Parlhment will refer this matter to a Select Committee to enquire and report as to the working of the present kir, and to make such recommendations as will, it may be hoped, put matters on a more satisfactory footing. — I am, etc., CIVIS. - 22ud August, 1905. TO THE EDITOR. - Sir, — 1 have read with interest the various articles, including your leader, on the above subject, and I must say that 1 fail to sco how in a city like Wellington any hard-and-fast, rule can be laid down. Our legislators are quite right to endeavour to prevent the creation of slums; but, on the other hand, surely there is a ■Hay by which this may be dono without creating an injustice to pro-perty-holders. Many of these narrow streets weio laid out when Wellington was founded, and no blame can be laid oa the score of the founders being speoulatois. Then the proposal to prevent buildings being erected on rights-of-way will press very hard in same cases, and in others will prevent some of the best sites in the city being utilised for building purposes'. I have an acre in my mind at the present moment, the whole frontago of which faces a deep cutting varying from 20 to 40 feet high. On the* back of this acre there are some grand sites for building on, but how is this to be done if a hard-and-fast rule is fo bo established? In this case al2 or 18 foot right-of-way might be managed to give access to the back portion, but a street is an impossibility, and the frontage only of this acre will bo available, whilst the back will be a fowl-run or worse. I think that discretionary power should be given to local bodies to treat all applications to build facing rights-of-way pn their merits, increasing t]»o air-space by all means, if thought advisable. Again, take Wcllington-teirace, for instance; if it was widened out to n 66ft street, it would put moat, if not all, the buildings on the east, or harbour side, over the bluff into the land below; so in this case, at any late, it would seem that the surveyors were right in making it somewhat les3, and what harm has it done pr can it do to this locality? This question, sir, wants looking at all rouud before hu&ty legislation is passed.— l am, etc., NATIVE. Wellington, 24th August,* 1905. EXTU^ME AGONY WITH PILES. «■ ZAM-BUK BRINGS PROMPT RELIEF. Piles often occur in a weakened Byst'm. or may be the consequence of puma <H gestive derangement. The influence qf Piles is iteelf extremely weakening, apart from all the excruciating iigony. H, is most beneficial and soothing to'put ZumBuk into the affected part. It helps to allay the pain, subdues the infiammntion, reduce the swelling, and enables rest and comfort to pome to the worn-out sufferor. The following case is a striking illustration :--" About two aud a half years ago," «iys Mr. J. McPhoe, of 32, Eaganstreet, Richmond, Melbourne, "J was first troubled with itching Piles. How I contracted them I do not know exactly. But this I <lo know, they caused mo considerable pain and inconvenience. Latterly iliey appeared lo bs getting worse, and I was seldom free from pain. After a heavy day's work, the pain was especially nevero. I tried all kinds of so-called Pile cures, but roceived no benefit from any of them. I was induced lo give Zim-Buk a trial, and I wan agreeably #rprised 'at the wonderful soothing effects this bnlnt had. Two or three applications allayed the irritation, md it, id now some months since I experienced <ho agonising pain that accompanies the comjKiint. I never fail to recommend Zum-Btik to fcllow-suftVrors." Ziini-Buk k a proved cure for Piles, Eczema, Boils. Running Sores, Soro Logs, Bnrcoo, Il.'sh, Ringworm, Rheumatism, Lumbigo, Sciatica, eic. An an embrucation for strained muscles and tendona, Ztmi-Buk nibbed well into the parts fffeetirt is unequalled. As a household balm for Cuts, Bruiec-b, Burns, Pim"les, Blackheads, Soiv Throat, Horp Chest, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, and Sore Foot, Zanl-Buk is inviiliiublo. From ull medicine vendors, rtt Is 6d, or 3s 6d family sizo (containing nearly four times tho quantity), or from the Zam-Buk Cp., 39 Pitt-strcct, Sydney.— Advt.

PORT OF WELLINGTON. PHASES OF THE MOON FOR AUGUST. (Caloulated for New Zealand Mean time.) D. H. M. New Moon „ .. _ 1 3 33 p.m. First Quarter _, « - 8 946 a.m. Full Moon _ « ~ 15 3 1 p.m. Last Quarter _ - - 23 540 p.m. New Moon .. .. - 31 0 43 a.m. HIGH WATER. To-day— ll.43 a.m.; 0 p.m. To-morrow— o.2 a.m.; 0.25 p.m. SUN. Bets to-day— sh 18m 44» p.m. Rises to-morrow— oh 26m 393 a.m.; sets, 5h i' 19m 43s p.m. ARRIVALS. . August 24— Wanalia, as, 1200 tons, Rutter, from Oamaru and Titnsru. August 24— Wakatu, ss, 95 tons, Wills, from tiyttelton, via Port Robinson and KalUoura. Passengers— Mrs. MiXer and child, Mr. Miller. August 24— Queen of the South, es, 121 tons, Manly, from Foxton. August 25— Moana,' 63, 2414 tons, Gibb, from Sydney via Auckland and East Co.i3t. Passengers : Saloon — Misiies Barns and child, Barran, .Jl'Leod, Mesdauies Henderson, Clarke and infant, Messrs. Clarke, Jenkins, Norton, Yon Sadelzen, Andrews. Marshall. Curnow, Kesshau, Henderson, Levie, Reukes, Bond, and Niven; 16 steerage. August 25— Tasman, ss, 87 tons, Gibbons, from Nelson. August 25— Rotomahana, ss, 915 tons, Manning, from Lytteltou. Passengers : SaloonMisses . Bagn'cll, Hickey. Rayuer, Withers, Nurse Longman, Mcsdames Ball, Bell, Graj', Dant and 3 children, Meisrs. Bagnell, Ball, Dunlop, Dilncr, Branson, Weller, Butts, Kuhori, Ben Fuller, Wood, Stnderson, Hawkins, Nicholson, Wutkins, Price, Strachan, Quiun, Malain, Burnett, Hugiies, Carmichaelr Chisholm, Aitchlson, Overton. Henry, Barnett, Tasker, Healy, Riithcrford, Davira, Divett, Sutherland, Ivcson, Waters; 35 steerage. August 25— Moa, 63, 95 tons, Sawjer, from Wanganui. August 1 25— Kennedy, ss, 77 tons, Vickcrman, from Nelson. DEPARTURES. August 24 — Athenic, ss, 7853 tons, Kempsou, for bvttelton. August 24 — Ngunguru, es, 54 tons, Stevens, for Blenhrim. August 24 — Aorere, ss, 49 tons, Tinney, for Vittn and' Opunake. August 24 — Opawa, es, 64 tons, Eckford, for Blenheim. • August 2^ — Ngaru, scow, 120 tons, Fletcher, for Lyttelton. August 2-1 — Wanalta, S3, 1200 tons, Eutter, for Napier and Auckland. KXPKCTED ARRIVALS. • Taviuni. Fiji and Auckland, 25th Mana. Patea, 2£th Pateena, Nelson and Picton, 26th Rotoiti, Onehunga and New Plymouth, 26th Wimmera, Melbourne, Hobart, South, 26th Rnkanoa, Wesipoit, 26th Ngunguru. Blenheim, 26th Opawa, Blenheim, 26th Talune, Dunedin and JJytteHon, 27th Mapourika. West Coast and Nelson, 27th Poherua, Southern ports. 27th Tongariro, Lyttelton. 27th Aorere, Patea and Opunake, 27th - Taruwcra, Auckland, Gitborne, Napier, 29tU Honowai, Sydney, 30th PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Rotamnlmna, Lyttelton, 25th Kennedy, Nelson and West Coast, 25th Queen of the South, Foxton, 25th Moana, Lyttelton nnd Dunedin. 25th Takapuna, New Plymouth and Onehunga, 25th Tasman, Nelson and Motueka, 25th Wakatu, Lyttelton, via coast, 25th Taviuni, Westport, 26th / 7aieena, Lyttelton, 26th Wainui, PlctOn, Nelson, West Coast, 26th Wimmerai Sydney, 26th Opawa, Blenheim, 26th Ngunguru, Blenheim, 26th Kotuku, Westport, 26th Essex, Lyttelton.- 26th Mana, Patea and Waitara, 26th' Stormbird, Wanganui, 26th Rotoiti, Nelson, 27th Talurfe, Napier, Gisborne, Auckland, 28th Poherua, Weatport and Greymouth, 28th Sahu, East Coast and Napier, 28th Aorere, Patea, 28th Tamwera, Lyttelton and Dunedin, 29th Mapourika, Nelson and West Coast, 29th