MUNICIPAL NEGLECT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12429, 19 February 1901, Page 6

MUNICIPAL NEGLECT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Remarks have been made at several meetings of the Council comparing the con-' dition of. streets in. the North-east Ward with, those in another and, apparently, mere favoured Ward. The Council s attention has now been calk'd by residents to the condition of High Street between Lichfield and Barbadoes Streets, but I have seen no mention of the disgraceful state of the same street east of the Cavershani Hotel, although I believe there is not a street which can bo compared with it for bad condition. Last winter there were pools of water between the cycle track and tram line, chains in length and several inches deep, lying for weeks together. Up to the present there has been no attempt to improve the condition of the street, and the same pools are in evidence after rain until the water evaporates or soaks into the roadway. It is many years since I have seen a-street in anything like such a bad state, yet there appears to havo been no reference to.it on the part of any person responsible for it. If a “ straightedge ” were placed, one 'end cm the cycle track and the other on the tram line, I believe the hollow between would be found to be sis inches deep, if not more, and for considerable distances. This an a main thoroughfare is, to say the least, discreditable to the whole community. It is quite true that a readjustment of boundaries between the Wards should be made, so that residents away from the centre may have a chance of returning a representative who* will show some little interest in the condition of the streets towards the East Belt. About the end of last winter you were good 1 enough to publish a letter from me calling .attention to the depth of slush (or stiff mud,, according to. the weather) on this particular street, which had been allowed to accumulate all through the winter. That letter had the desired effect, for the scraper was sent along the next day, and the heaps of mud on the sides of the street' were a. sight to behold for size and number. I thank you very much for publishing that letter, and trust this will have an equally good result. If nothing is done before next winter we shall be. liable to imagine ourselves transported to Venice, and the boat-builders will be busy.—l am, etc., SOUTH-EASTER-.