Municipal Methods

Southland Times, Issue 11901, 24 November 1891, Page 3

Municipal Methods

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Mr Bain, the Mayor-elect, told the ratepayers in the Council Hall on Thursday that the Corporation had little to spend and must husband its resources. It is not altogether clear that the Council do this in the wisest way. To wit : some weeks back the column of a gas lamp at the bridge in Conon street was mysteriously broken (at least I have never seen nor heard any statement of how it was done). Now, one would naturally suppose that steps would have been taken to erect a new post, but instead the stump was rooted out of the ground and somewhat singularly found its way into the creek where it now lies. It must weigh a hundredweight or two, and economical people doubtless think it would be better in the scrap heap at the gasworks for sale. Then as regards the re-establishment of the light at the bridge, this seems a most necessary work because there is a railing on the gutter side of the footpath, and if someone damaged his ribs against the end of it in the dark it is just possible that, despite the dictum of Mr J ustice Williams, an obtuse jury might find that the injured one was entitled to far more than the price of a lamp post. If this is to be the recognised method of reducing the town's gas bill, the Council should give a premium to each drayman who demolishes a lamp.— l am, &c, Light. 20th November.