SYMONDS-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 6

SYMONDS-STREET.

TO THE EDITOR. SIB, —I would ask, through your columns, is the City Engineer aware of the way things are being done in Symonds-street, or he is too big to trouble about the convenience of the thousands who daily traverse that thoroughfare to and from town ? Some time ago the road scraper waa set to work to scrape off the deep mad, and the wayfarers rejoiced ; but their rejoicings were premature, for the mud was simply left in a huge belt on either side of the road, and never removed. The consequence was that where they waded through the street ancle deep before, they subsequently had to wade through the mud belt left on either side of the street, considerably more than ankle deep, as that belt was from four to nine feet in width, and knee deep in places. This occurred twice, and thuse mud belts (now dry and blowing about as duat), are still there. Again, this morning the street sweeper was set to work for a wonder; but instead of doing it in the early morning, they did it between eigh* and ten o'clock, just when the stream of townward pedeßtrians was greatest, and the awful dust they kicked up was perfectly stifliDg, and floated about everywhere, annoying all residents and passers - by, as if there way not sufficient flying dust on all occaiiiions in dry weather, in a street that has been called the "home of mud" and the "haunt of dust." The climax is, however, now reached. They are raising the footpath, and for that purpose are carting clay and depositing it over the footpath on one side of the road. I suppose that was unavoidable, though the streams of people passing up and down did grumble a bit at the annoyance of having to cross the abominable street again to the other side through the mud or dust. But, would you believe it, Mr. Editor, they are now putting clay and road s&rapings and sweepings over the footpath on the other side also, compelling at least seven or eight thousand people to daily wade all through the newly-deposited clay or road sweepings, orelse tramp it down the roadway amongst the numerous vehicles, bespattered with mud, or suffocated with dust from them, according to the weather. It is no wonder that people aro saying that since t'je great increase in officials and salaries in the city offices we have never been worse served than now.—l am, tea., Cisnsor.