THE STREETS OF THE WEST WARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 215, 21 July 1864, Page 4

THE STREETS OF THE WEST WARDS.

To the Editor of the Nett Zealand Hebald. Sir, —I am one of the unfortunate rate-payers of a west ward, who has bec-n looking on at an extnivagent expenditure annually laid out on Queen-street with no small feeling of indignation. AVhen I saw the main sewer being carried on as it is at present, and the foot-path being made on the ret side, X naturally concluded that it was coming near our turn now to have some portion of the rates expended on oar side of the town, as some equivalent for the money which we ore paying for the improvement of tho city, instead of being left to the iilth and mire which we have at present. But, Mr. Editor, all our hopes have been blasted by the report of the new engineer to the Citv Board, who, it appears, in his short residence amongst u;, lias (mav I say) imbibed a portion of the mania, «3 many others of his predecessors did, for bestowing his -ivhole attention oil that costly and all-absorbing " pet," Queen-street. Now, Sir. does the engineer think that othev parts of the city will quietly look on while he is expt nding thii- money, according to the wishes, I suppose, of a few of his friends ; tearing up the kerbs, and making garden walks in Queen-street, while the inhabitants of the numerous other streets in the city are wallowing in the mire. But worse still is the idea to which I am subjected that, probably, at the next meeting of the Bonn], a notice will be tabled and, perhaps, carried to continue the new sewer up the centre of the street. Handle! bungle! bungle! seems to be the guiding star of one engineer after another, and I trust the Board will be careful that their new engineer docs not lead theui into worse and worse dilemmas. I thought the City AY est had representatives in the City Board , but, I suppose, like many other representatives, they merely represent their own property in Queen-street, or that of their immediate friends who have property in that highly favoured street, ar.u that the engineer wishing to make his work agreeable to his employers, has concluded that the best way to do so will be to let them know the wonderful plans he has conceived for givirg tbwn a Regent-street, whilst the other streets may wait as they have done for years, before any trouble will be taken even to drain them or make them passable. I remain, Mr. Editor, Yours truly. West AYaud.