To the Editor of the Daily Times

Otago Daily Times, Issue 29, 18 December 1861, Page 4

To the Editor of the Daily Times

Sir, —I am a constant reader of your valuable paper, and am happy to find that you seek to reform many evils, by bringing them before the public. One for instance, that of separating the Government of the Middle Island from the Northern. We have a similar evil existing- nearer home. I believe I am

expressing the opinion of at least one-half my fellowtowiismeii when I say we want separation in Dunedin. The unsatisfactory working of the Town Board is, and always has been, a source of contention. If the evil is not remedied soon I fear the consequences. Within the last two years the Board have expended about £4000, and out of that sum I do not think more than £400 have been laid out on the Northern half by the Board since its existence. The Board have invariably turned a deaf ear to the numerous petitions from that quarter. I suppose it must be from the fact that few of the members reside there. Is it just or reasonable that nine-tenths of the town should pay taxes year after year to fill up one or two gullies, level the hills for useless roads, &c, whilst the fern, flax, and the water courses remain in their primitive state, in thickly populated streets ? It is time this robbing Peter to pay Paul should be put a stop to. Mr. Editor, I hope you or some abler hand than mine will take the matter up. A public meeting might be called, or a numerously signed petition, praying to have the town separated into wards; or, like Nelson or Auckland, have the Town Board abolished. The system pursued in the last-mentioned place lam told works satisfactorily. If three-fourths of the inhabitants of any street wish a quantity of work executed, they subscribe a certain sum, which is supplemented by the Provincial Government, who have the work done. Whatever system may be adopted it cannot be much worse than the existing method. It is next to impossible to get impartial members in a new country, where everything has to be done; each one thinks tliat the street in whicli they reside ought to be attended to first. The ill-favored position of the business portion of Dunedin will require many years' revenue to be expended on it, before it can be got into shape. Let those who reap the advantages of improved, streets pay for them. By inserting the above you will confer a great favor on yours, «See. Publico.