The Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1906. THE DUST PROBLEM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8778, 15 November 1906, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1906. THE DUST PROBLEM.

Had Sir John Gorst arrived here a v .fortnight earlier than he did h« might have seen reason to modify hie parting encWium of Christchurch, i For though when seen under favourable conditions Christchurch does seem a "garden city," this impression scarcely holds good at the end of a fortnight's northwest weather. Happily, Sir John Gorst escaped the cycle of north-wester* which marked the earlier portion of last month, and he carries away with, him a pleasant recollection of Chnstchuroh as a city of bright gardens and green lawns, a city, where the dust ev:l i6 no more pronounced than, in the wood-paved towns of England , jßii«.Jf our recent guest had reached Christchurch at the middle of October instead of the beginning of the presentyaaonth. his impression would have been & very different one. He would have see* gardens in want of moisture, grata wearing \ parched appearance, and tu<t city and its surroundings grey with dust. If he had experienced the x rqar« ing nor'-weeters of last month, witH their accompanying dust clouds, ha might have been less unreserved in his praise of Chrietchureh as a. place for residence. But our late visitor's commendation, though obviously based on an exceptional experience, is gratify, ing, nevertheless. It should certainly stimulate us to endeavour to attaia permanently that ideal condition of things which Sir John Gorst has shown exists at intervals. Unfortunately, w« cannot cope with the north-west gales. They are "an act of God," as tho insurance companies Jihave it. and they must be endured, with the consoling reflection that they are not without redeeming virtues'. But -it should !>• ■within our power to grapple with th» dust evil t*> such good purpose as to render it practically innocuous. An improved method of street-laying, allied with a thorough system of street-water-ing, although it might not completely banish the evil, would reduce it to a ; minimum. The question of street-lay-ing is not, to be entered into lightly. The authorities aoust first satisfy them, selves as to which system offers the best results and then apply for the ratepayers' sanction to carry it mta effect. In the meantime they are doing right to.consider a scheme for elaborating the present method, of watering the streets. This scheme, which is the work of the Tramway Board, was discussed at a conference of local bodies held last night. It was not adopted straightway, but there is reason to hope that ultimately it will secure the approval of the bodies interested. If it be carried out, not only will the streets along the tram routes be thoroughly watered, but the present watering plant will be liberated for use in other parts of the city. If, in addition, an effort were made to water the sidestreets of the outlying districts, Chnstchurch and its surroundings might*Le rendered tolerably free from dust. The only drawback about the scheme 'is its costliness. But expense is, after all a minor consideration compared wit ? h the public health and comfort, and it ought not to be allowed to stand in the way of the acceptance of tb» Tramway Board's proposal*.