THE CITY STREETS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14528, 20 May 1909, Page 8

THE CITY STREETS.

Sin,—T read with interest your article recently respecting tlio state of the main thoroughfares of our city, and I feel that it was not uncalled for. Tho question ralepayers may well ask is, Who is responsible tor superintending the carrying out of cleaning and maintaining the repairing of nAr streets? Referring to Iho taking up and relaying of part of George street', one noticed iu connection therewith first the varying nature of the ground, which in places was soft and .boggy, and, second, that the gutter alongside is of slouo instead of concrete, this meaning that in wet weather a considerable amount of water will percolate through and lirni out these soft spots, and as these do not seem lo havo been made linn in order to hear the pitchers and metal above. Hie effect is that immediately heavy traltie passes over tho sircot these soft 'places will allow thn pitchers to sink, and the road will show the v-amo inequalities as it did before tho present work was carried out. Again, tho material excavated was carted down tulle bottom of St. Andrew street and stacked there. A fortnight later carls were to be seen removing the stuff to various parts of the city for repairing tho streets. Now, why could not tho carters have been instructed to deposit the stuff in the place at iho street needing repair, instead of carting it a second time, involving the cost of two cartings instead of one? ' This is the way tho ratepayers' money is used. It is just 12 months ago since a paragraph appeared in your paper stating that the Harbour Board and City Council had arrived at mi agreement, regarding th« formation of the street leading from At hoi place to the Hail way Station, and that the work was to be put in hand almost immediately. The work has not yet been started, and by all appearances residents of the north end will have to put up with the inconvenience for another winter. As a ratepayer of Dunedin, I ask when is this' worl; to lin put in hand, mid when is an ac-iihalf path to be formed on the south side lo replace the greasy track which does duly for the main south approach to our costly railway station? I seems to me that tho motley which should ta spent in putting our streets into good order is being spent in providing comfortable billets for a number of men.—l am, etc.. Disgusted.