STREET DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue XXI, 2 April 1884, Page 3

STREET DRAINAGE.

TO THIS-"EDITO)B. «* * ■ Sib, —At this season of the year there am generally numerous complaints'of "defective drainage, and its inevitable results—sickness,; which is, however, often magnified into malignant epidetjaips. fr But .one .*of the most amusing featnres of the. correspondence ;is that, no matter how a time any dis* : triot may have -become 1 part of. tbd city,' or of how .little means .may. be contributed from the'looality indicated, orofhow rapidly, works may be proceeded with, and'-loan monies- mada to ; fly, all unite is blamjng

directly, or indirectly the (Jify Council or their officials for matters ovur which it will bs> found the'persons thems»lve£ havo'mosfc l . eiatrol, andareinostly'to blame, and who are ' amongst the jirst;4qgrowl at rtM p&yment of flphat they term excessive rates, or of tyranny ov .persecution i 5 "are • compelled to ' .otiervo "by-laws having, their "object" thia - maintenance of the public health or welfare'.- " Private alleys are laid ont; cheap allotments Ijpnght in gullies and hollows almost impost to dram;: shanties aire run up rogardleai ; .of any.provisions for dniinago (anything that V. will let will do); old houses iare .pMchaseil andre-sreqted, no provision being insdefor bouse drainage or storm waters from r©Df3 or verythmg is .left .to hapless'chances■ , -* ißut let sickness declare itself ; Tvho if* * : ■ blamed but the city 'authorities, who "will not at once expend as many hundreds for ' drainage works for wluch the properties mll ; . [ probably not reconp in rates" as inany pence ' in. ten years* Persona buy.• allotments 'in outof-the : way places,, or bnild ; . three oc. four tenements on one allotment,'and because. tha authufitiaa dq not- at once make pro- - ~ i viiiion • for their own" neglect; they, consider' > themselves, aggrieved. By the spi>earanpe : ■■ of the various roads withicthn city,''and the constant advertisement for tenders' for new - * Aforks, it is evident the CSty Coonoil mem- • hers are using every energy to compass the 'wants moat required and within their means. There are those 'who think tihat they are proceeding too' quickly; anyway the loan .. Will soon make itself wings. "A city like Auckland is a very expensive one tp make and maintain, and amount cf rates paid are small bs compared to what is Ti paid in cities in the old .country—something like 4s to 7s 6d in the £ (instead of 2a), ana these who sit" down to fault find, as a l&te correspondent of yours did, on this subject, : ' and make comparisons with towns at home, r should, bear this in mind. All who knew. - : thirty years since and see it now Tfill admit that wonders have been done, : having regard to the many difficulties andto ,■ nature of the. works and means at disposal^—■ I am, &c., ' . Pno Bono Publico, ~ . ■ 1