OUR STREETS,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3244, 29 June 1872, Page 3

OUR STREETS,

TO THE EDITOR

Sir—After all the money that has been squandered on this city the present state of its streets is most disgraceful. Except some few pieces of footpath iv parts of Princes George, Rattray, and Manse streets, the Avhole city is after one or two days' rain, a perfect slough of despond. But I would more particularly call the attention of our Avorthy Councillors to those streets lying around our Hospital, and would ask His Worship the Mayor, accompanied by a few Councillors, to take a stroll at present down Kanover street aud along Cumberland street to the out-door patients' consulting-room. If they do so, they ay ill at once understand Avhat the patients have to encounter to get medical advice, and Avhat Aveak and sick mothers have to do to carry little children to see Dr Yates.

Hanover street was, a few years ago (under Mr Millar, F.S.A.), formed and neatly metalled. It Ava3 at that time a passable street, but has been torn up over and over again to lay drains, gas pipes, and water pipes, and each time has been left unfinished—the little metal there was being buried, and the clay thrown up and left in a slovenly state. The consequence is that a dray going along must take care to keep the centre, or it is very soon into some hole up to the axle.

Cumberland street, from Hanover street to the Hospital, is all but impassable, the refuse of the city having been carted down there and deposited in heaps. It is no uncommon sight to see dead dogs and cats lying unburied almost close to the very doors of the surgery, Avbile right opposite and up to the door is a large pool of stagnant Avater, wherein arc dead beasts' bones and all manner of rubbish, and through this pool every patient must Avade to get to tlie consulting room.

Castle street, AA'hich runs parallel Avith Cumberland street, is much in the same state, except that there has been, no city refuse emptied into it. To make up for this, however, the gas pipes are lying higgledypiggledy along the street, stopping up the gutter, and the Avater is consequently thrown out into the centre of the street, making it a sea of mud. Nqav, Mr Editor, I think yourself and

your readers Avill agree with me that it would turve been more just, generous, and I will add, humane, on the part of our rulers had those men Avho were SAveeping up and cleaning up all around, the Masonic Hall yesterday (Avhich I have heard remarked Avas for the purpose of keeping the Masons' feet clean when gome to the ball this evening), been sent clown to make a track to the Hospital door, so that invalids could, without floundering through the mud, and over the heaps of mud and rubbish, find their Avay to medical adA Tice.—l am, &c,

Hujianity.