VISITOR IMPRESSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18294, 10 January 1923, Page 8

VISITOR IMPRESSED.

WHERE AUCKLAND LEADS.

CLEAN STREETS, WELL PAVED

TRAM SERVICES CRITICISED. [BY .tKIIORAI'H.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

~„ , WELLINGTON. Tuesfiay. " The;Ma£or of Wellington, Mr. R.A. Wright, who has just returned from a visit to Auckland, has been making interesting comparisons. He said he was impressed with a good deal that he saw in Auckland and thought there are some things that might be advantageously copied by .Wellington.

One matter that attracted his attention was the laying down of what might be termed permanent street surfaces. ; He was especially - impressed with Ahzac Avenue and states that in this direction is, acting on sound lines. Concrete roads, although considered suitable in Auckland, were not regarded with favour in Wellington. Tarred, macadam, which had been used largely in Wellington, was not the most satisfactory method of road dressing and its use could not be long continued. ' Bitumen had been experimented with? a portion of Kent Terrace having been laid down in this material and further permanent road works with the same durable surface were in' contemplation. v "We shall certainly have to do more in the, matter of permanent surfaces," said Mr. Wright. "It is the only economical thing and the only thing that will stand up to present day traffic. Mr. Wright was not so favourably impressed with the Auckland tramways. Travellers in the Auckland trams, he said, received less attention than was the case with the travelling public in Wellington. The Wellington conductors, Mr % Wright considered, were much more civil. In ■ Auckland the passenger had to look out for himself and had to exercise a good deal of agility in boarding or alighting, otherwise he would be left. The service generally was better in Wellington and the cars were cleaner. A good word was deserved by the Auckland baths, said Mr, Wright. It astonished him to find that the baths were so well patronised during the summer months. Crowds of people made use of the baths every day during the recent holidays. The weather was very hot and he imagined the people would have preferred to go to the seaside. , " The Auckland streets, stated Mr. Wright. " are kept fairly clean and, generally speaking, they are a credit to the city. The citizens appear to have been encouraged to throw surplus rubbish and garbage into receptacles which are plentifully supplied in the main streets. The Wellington City Council ..will certainly have to increase the number of garbage receptacles in the city as there is little encouragement at the present time for people to keep the street clean. The appearance of the streets makes a wonderful difference to a town, and this is one of the first things that strikes a stranger." Mr. Wright had nothing but praisfe for the gdneroaity of wealthy Aucklanders with regard-to the gifts they had made tothe city. Public spirit had been developed in Auckland to a greater extent than in Wellington. The people of the Northern city had been especially generous in their donations of public parks.