THE BOROUGH STREETS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 January 1912, Page 8

THE BOROUGH STREETS

i— —-— *99& l ''" TTO THE EDITOR.] , Sir, —Matters municipal have assumed a quiet aspect of late —the joys of Christmas and "good-will" expressions of th. 3 season may be responsible for the municipal quietude the town is at present experiencing. The meetings of late have been "few and far between,"—there have been no tea-cup storms, no effervescence of temper, no exchange of compliments, no acrimonious discussions, and very little of public interest is being done by our i'vic authorities. It is getting near the end of the financial year (the usual time for grumbling and discontent amongst the ratepayers), and it would appear that between now and the end of March the "go slow" policy will go even slower by j the end of the year. This policy may re- ' suit in the Council being able to show a much-reduced expenditure, and a consequent claim to alleged economic administration. It has been humorously asserted that whilst Councillors have had their j "little differences," and there has been a considerable 'raising of dust" over matters of very little import to the general ■ taxpayer, the Borough purse strings have ; been kept tight and a general saving in j administration will be shown. In other i words the amount available for public ! works out of ordinary revenue has been so small that it has been necessary :o

draw upon Hie combativeness of Councillors to provide a semblance of business in (he 'interests of the ratepayers"—interests which every Councillor has sworn to protect. But what is happening in the meantime? Our streets are showing distinct signs of neglect, and in many instances have begun to wear very ua'lly. On the principle that "a stitch in tiiv.o saves nine," they have been allowed 'o go too long without remedial attention. A correspondent (through the medium < f your columns) recently drew attention to the unsatisfactory results in using limestone for macadamising. The coating cf tar and sand which this class of stone has received is not of a lasting nature, ,and soon disappears from the surface; the white crumbling limestone is then laid bare and in a veiy short time is torn up (or crumbled up), and dangerous hollows and deep ruts are the obnoxious result. .To keep the quarry product on the loads it is quite evident that the tar-waggon, sweepers, and "sanders" must ):.e constantly at.work. This is a phase of our i.i wly-constrncted streets that requires immediate looking into It is contended that the limestone is not a success, una some better class of material will have to be found if our streets are going to absorb so much time and cost in keeping them in repair. The recent large loans* in this connection are a tax on ratepayers which ivyhcn is added thereto the large cost of maintenance) makes the cost of our public thoroughfares altogether too costly and beyond the means of the present population, It is not at all reassuring to find that thousands of pounds spent in road-making should immediately require so much attention and repair. Of course it is not feasible or practicable to expect that loan money should build and sustain .indefinitely works of this nature. The/is always bound to be a certain amount required annually for repairs, and in view Of the amount already spent and required to be spent to put the streets in anything like good repair, flje tjine has arrived +<ji our civic authorities to go thoroughly into the question of maintenance as well as make enquiries and hear evidence, with a view of securing a better class of stone for macadam purposes, There should be some sort of self-reliant policy inaugurated whergby at least streets' laid down out of loan moneys could be kept in repair out of ordinary revenue, tq 'say nothing of the desirability of providing a margin lor the construction of new streets. Of course, the Borough finances are seriously handicapped by the large amounts it has to meet in payment of interest, and where sq small a margin- is available for public Works opt of ordinary reumtie there is urgency in giving every attention to the most suitable, lasting and economical methods of road construction. We cannot hope to exc()l the Jloinan conquerors in making roads, but where it Is &u pah p.'ibly evident that the mateiial used in Greyinouth is not the Lost, something

should be done to .ivoid in futuie Uie troublous lessons of the past. Especially ■j§ this so at present in view of the raising of ths recent twenty odd thousand loan, now bciflg expended, and \yhjc|i was raised'principally lor the opening up of new streets and the renovating of others. Yours, etc., RATEPAYER.