BOROUGH MATTERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145997, 1 December 1917, Page 7

BOROUGH MATTERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—lt is five years to-day since Fitzroy was washed into the borough by the Washing-up Bdi of 1912. 1 have before me a circular issued by tho advocates of the greater Now Plymouth scheme, which says amongst Other tilings, “The Borough Engineer and entire staff will be at the service of Fitzroy Tvh«n required and tho streets, etc., should receive attention quite as good if not better than under present management. . - The amount spent on administration of Fitzroy 'town Board affairs will be almost entirely saved.” Well, all 1 can say is if there is any going by the present state of tho streets and footpaths m Fitzroy. the ' costs of administration must absorb all the ordinary revenue. I have never seen the footpaths in such a disgraceful state as they are in at tho present time. Take the footpath on the south side of Devon Street froiu Nobs’ Line to Kowhai Street, which was tarred about five ycars ago by the borough and has had nothing done to it since and is in an absolute- disgi aceful condition. "Where is the wonderful improvement under borough manage,ment,l‘ The debate in the conned on the 26th indicates a very deplorable condition of affairs with regard to our streeets and footpaths. Although the Mayor tried to allay discontent and resigned himself to the situation the fact remains that the ratepayers have been very badly served and our streets give visitors a very bad impression. Instead therefore of the outlying districts getting the benefit of more improvements and a saving in tho costs of administration tho reverse is the case. It seems to mo that we don’t get twenty shillings in the pound for the money spent.—l am, etc.. i C. F. FOOTE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—The latest move of the Borough Sanitarv Inspector (Mr. Day), judging from the appearance of Molesworth Street this morning, will have the desired effect, til at is if the removal of old tins, bottles, and all the etceteras which have been placed out in two street are any criterion. Passing down the street one would think that a regiment had all their gear out, reaclv to shift camp, and you may be sure' there is a miscellaneous assortment; but it must seem to any rightthinking person that there is a far greater need for a thoi’ough clean-up m other directions. For instance tho absolute stopping of the digging of pits to allow drainage of stables and house slops, etc., to be absorbed in the_soil. Although it is prohibited to bury vanous offensive matter, still there are many houses unconnected with the sewers, and tho pan system is still m vogue in many closely settled streets, to the annoyance and danger of the people therein. And now we have the hot'weather with is, is it going to be as in previous seasons, when we were told that certain reforms.in sanitary matters were to ho, carried out, but nothin (r was done in the direction incheated I notice that tho donning of the streets in and around the centre of the town is attended to. hut only from the Post Office westward to the Melbourne corner eastward. Prom thence, in either direction, tbo accumulated filth is allowed to remain on tho streets until it is ground into dust bv the traffic, when a small gale comes along and drives it into the dwellings or shops, or into- the water-tables nntii tufficiient rate comes along and washes part of it away. One would thing that the borough boundaries were only as far as the places mentioned, for even in police matters it is very rare one sees a policeman outside of that, part.- Since Inspector MTI- - left us the much-needed 'move on” order is not carried out, and it is stillm difficult matter on Saturdays or anv special busy day to walk without having considerable difficulty in netting around the bunches of prams and people who seem to consider the side-walks are intended for meetingplaces only and not for the convenience of the general public. Before, closing these few remarks I would like to refer to the question of the suggested bus service to which you so ably referred in a- sub-leader recently. I have been surprised at the opposition shown to this matter, seeing that the council is largely composed of business men of the town, whose interests surely’are to be served m inducing and encouraging the suburban and country people to come into toe town - Our worthy Mayor always appears to throw cold water on anything of this sort, hut snrelv the council should have a voice in the matter and he able to decide without the unnecessary expense of taking a vote on such a small amount involved. It is much on all fours with the tramwavs when first mentioned. This also was going to be a failure according to the Mayor, hut tune has proved differently and opposition to the mitt ins: on of the bus is bemjr otferecl in the same way. I should like to see the council wake tip and have the courage of their opinions, and not let us have a one-man council any longer, as this is not conducive to the success of the borough and district. I have made these few remarks in the hope that something may be done this year, before the summer is upon us, and sickness and death amongst our children, and commence to lock the stable door after the horse has got out.—l air, etc., RATEPAYER. ,