CITY COUNCIL MATTERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4239, 21 October 1874, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL MATTERS.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir, —We have read and heard a great deal about the “ clique ” in the City Council, and of the extraordinary transactions which are said to have taken place through its constituting a majority in that Council. So long as matters are allowed to remain as they are, so long -will any objectionable majority sway the proceedings of that august body. It is easy for a “ clirpie ” to elect any person entertaining views in accordance with their own, or re-elect one of their class upon his retirement. Is it not possible to have City Councillors elected annually as in the case of the Mayor? During twelve months’ term of office sufficient time will have been given the ratepayers to judge of their civic representatives’ qualifications and actions, and they could testify their approval or otherwise, by re-elec-tion to the honorable position, or placing them by their votes hors de combat. By these means, should the ratepayers, after electing a man, find that he does not answer their expectations, they need not be burdened with him for a term of three years. While upon Council subjects I may as well make a few remarks upon the state of our town. This, the metropolis of New Zealand (as His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston constantly reminds people from the Bench that it is), has its streets in such a dilapidated state that strangers visiting this city would scarcely suppose there were any persons in authority here. It is a singular fact that none of the streets have any “crown” to them; consequently, after heavy falls of rain, the water settles, and forms holes and puddles, more or less deep, instead of flowing-off into the side channels, as in well regulated cities. The main streets are almost impassable, and as for those out of the main lino grass literally grows in the spots where clear channels should be. In other important cities in the colonies patent road-scrapers—drawn by horses—are used, and men employed in removing the scraped-up mud as it accumulates, so that in the course of an hour or so the streets are rendered passable; but in this chief city of New Zealand wo scarcely ever get sight of a man with the oldfashioned hand scraper. The footpaths are likewise in the most deplorable state, and this gas-lit town is—at night—in comparative darkness, owing to the great distance between the lamps. A passenger scarcely gets within the radiance of one lamp when he sees the

glimmer of the other behind him. Nevertheless, the gas is good, if there were but a little more of it. I trust I have not taken up too much of your space, but I have penned these remarks in order to point out the great inconvenience caused to tho public, and to remind those whose duty it is to see after these matters, that the citizens expect some return for the rates they are called upon to pay.—l am, &c., Wahrheit.