THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1944, 29 July 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1869.

Corporations with one idea are not likely to carry out the varied business entrusted to them by their fellow-citi-zens. It is therefore gratifying to tind that, amongst the numerous candidates for the office of Municipal Councillor, there are many who tike wide views of the duties they ask to be allowed to undertake. The lighting question has already received so much attention that the subject may be considered nearly exhausted. The figures laid before the City Council by Mr A. K. Smith yesterday must be accepted as the basis of any future arrangements; and therefore, although the matter should not be allowed to die until it is placed on a satisfactory footing, it is time to giv« attention to other evils that really are of more pressing importance. No one can pass through the streets of the City without feeling the inconvenience of the dirt and mud that are allowed to pollute them. Perhaps no city in the world possesses greater advantages for surface drainage than Dunedin; but even they are not made the most of. The Inspector of Nuisances is active and energetic, but he cannot be everywhere. He, like every other public officer-, has sometimes to draw a fine line between what will be considered a nuisance and what will not; and those who attend the sittings of the Resident Magistrate’s Court are often surprised to see men defending charges which they ought never to have given the opportunity of being brought against them. It appears oftentimes as if it was considered that duty is fulfilled by voting for a Mayor and Councillor, and thus investing them with the power to make Civic Regulations, which are passed to be rebelled against as soon as they become operative. Yet nothing can be more shortsighted than the opposition, or rather perhaps it should be termed disinclination, of men of property to co-opeiate with the Civic authorities in matters of drainage and cleanliness. Every addition to the healthiness of a district is so much added to the value of their property. Every increased facility of access by the formation of footpaths is a vast addition to the worth of property. The truth of this will be readily acknowledged by those who own sections fronting upon George street. A few years ago it required some corn-age to face the difficulties of traversing that now busy thoroughfare in wet weather. At night, especially, the navigation was difficult, and at times dangerous. Attempt after attempt was made by the Town Board to get the owners of street frontages to co-operate with the Board to form the footpaths, but in vain. Estimates were made for temporary arrangements, but petitions against their adoption were presented on the plea that the owners of property could not afford to pay the cost to which they would be put. The increased powers of the Corporation enabled them to do what the Town Board could not effect. Good footpaths have been formed, and the result is seen in I'ows of shops tenanted and appai-ently doing good and increasing businesses. But there is yet necessity for attention to the cleanliness of those and all our foothpaths. The Bye-Jaws provide that the occupiers of property shall keep them swept, so that in all weathers they may be comfortably traversed by pedestrians. In many cases this provision is systematically neglected. Nor is this to be wondered at when the Corporation permit heaps of mud scraped from the centre of the road to lie for days—it would be hardly an exaggeration to say weeks—unremoved. So crying a ' nuisance is this in the suburbs that it is hardly possible to cross the roads at night without the risk of setting the foot in one of those mud-pies, and sinking ankle deep in it. Then there are other matters that may fairly claim attention. Perhaps few passing along the streets hav« failed to notice those three wheeled tip-carts loaded with stone, which convey it down Princes street. Let them observe how they are checked in their progress down the hill, and they will see that in forming one road the contractors are allowed to destroy another. And it is done thus wise *. It is necessary on account of the horse being attached to the cart by a chain to check the speed of the vehicle, lest it should gather speed in its progress down hill and thus the animal in front should lose control over it. Modern improvements point to the adoption of a break for this purpose, which permits the wheel to revolve at any speed the driver may find safe. By this moans animal power is economised, and the roadway is not injured. But in Dunedin a much more primitive style is adopted. One or more wheels of the cart are blocked and prevented revolving at all. The consequence is in the soft state of the road through wet weather, the surface is ploughed up

into furrows, and great additional expense in repairs is incurred. These things pass daily under the notice of members of the Corporation, Possibly few of those gentlemen know sufficient of road work to have considered the damage done by this practice, but the Inspector of Works should knew it, as well as of the vast variety of plans that might be adopted to remedy it ; yet we have never heard that he has complained, or interfered to prevent it. All things cannot be done at once. Gas we have, although not so cheap as to satisfy us. That may become a matter for after arrangement. Water we have, which is in a similar position. Drainage is yet to come. But the duties of a Corporation are conservative as well as constructive. They require making the best of the means in possession, as -well as looking forward to necessary improvements.