LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15558, 16 March 1914, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

PARK PROPOSALS.

Sir, —I was most surprised to read our i worthy Mayor's remarks with regard to Gillies area and Hobson Bay. It seems to me that the council already holds suit- ] ficient property in the vicinity of Gillies • area for a breathing space, where women. '• aud children may spend spare timethat ■ is provided they should hare any. Mr. ; Parr says that Hobson Bay has a half century's sewerage mixed with its mud. I say that sewerage is still being poured , in, not from Newmarket alone, but from the city. What' is Mr. Parr going to do about it? I assure you that all who live anywhere near Hobson Bay, welcome Mr. Bush's " picturesque and beauteous sewer wall" with a view to health and cleanliness, much, more than the Gillies beauty spot, whichgcan never be a healthy spot until Hobson Bay is made sanitary. Hobson Bay if reclaimed would be level, and a good recreation ground, which is much needed in Auckland, with beautiful waterfront for boating, where both land and water sports could be held. There are heaps of bathing beaches already, more than can be properly looked after. Turn Hobson Bay into a healthy spot at anv cost. It is regrettable that "a city as old .as Auckland, with a semitropical climate, should tolerate such a menace to the public. Public Health. Sir.—-Your timely article on the Gillies Park is very much to the point. Our present Mayor has set his mind on having the place overrun with parks, which are not needed, as we have so many parks in the city which are costing something like £10.000 per annum. Another wild scheme is the eastern outlet, which if carried out will land the city further in debt, while the natural outlet up Albert, Durham, Federal, Victoria, and Hobson Streets is sadly neglected. Those streets are so bad that in the winter time it is not possible to get this way with a heavy load without getting stuck in the ruts. ' This part of' the- city is about the wealthiest, and contributes a great part of the city's rates, nearly all of which are spent in Ponsonby. where the majority of the citv councillors reside. Ratkpatf.r. Hobson Street, March 13. 1914. THE HOME-RULE QUESTION. Sir,—As the Rev. A. G. Clarke conveys the impression that I am trying to misrepresent the position of parties in Ireland, the following statistics, extracted from the official figures for 1911, should be of interest — Ulster: Population, 690.134 Roman Catholics, 886,333 Protestants; representatives on County Councils, 112 and 123 ; ; representatives in Parliament, 16 and 17: proportion of County Council representatives, Roman Catholics, 1 for 6162 of population ; Protestante, 1 for each 7206. Connaught : Population, 587,237 Roman Catholics, 23,273 Protestants; representatives on County Councils, 227 and 1. Munster : Population, 972,172 Roman Catholics and 60,715 Protestants ; representatives on County Councils, 227 and 2., Leinster: Population, 989,113 Roman Catholics, 170.230 Protestants; representatives on County Councils, 332 and 13. Grand total of Roman Catholic population in Connaught, Munster, and Leinster, 2,548,322; of Protestants, - ;254,218. Total Roman Catholic representatives' on County Councils, 703; and Protestants, .16. Proportion of representatives, Roman Catholics, 1 for each 3625 of population; Protestants, 1 for each 15,888. Since the above statistics were taken the Home Rule Tarty has captured another Ulster Parliamentary seat from the Union--1 ists, making the representative Romai; Catholics 17, Protestants 16. Frankton. Wm. Walker.