TO KEEP A REPUTATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9385, 6 November 1908, Page 3

TO KEEP A REPUTATION.

THE STREET SCOURGE. The nor'-westers are primarily blamed for the dust that has earned for Christchurch its unenviable reputation as the dustiest city in the dominion. Wellington writhes under the stigma of the " windiest town," and. seeks at every opportunity to refute the accusation, but not so Christchurqh, where, with an illaudable desire to maintain a reputation gained at the expense of the movement of vast quantities of grit and dust ? the water-carts are used with caution. It is entirely unnecessary to tell the man of the pavement what dust is and what it is not; he has his own names for it, and prefers to use them at the proper times. He knows very well its ability to annoy, and its effect is made appai'ent to him by the gritty grey that "trans-colours" all things exposed to its influence. Smart black suits of the latest cut become dirty, rshabbv, and the clothes of a beggar, and the ebon of the bowler-hat takes on a pallid hue in an instant. It is in the eyes : however, that the duet finds its happiest hunting ground. Its sudden attack makes it almost invmcible, and long before the victim is awaTe of the rush of the dust he is cureingly searching for his handkerchief and painfully blinking his eyes: His mouth fills with grit, and perhaps it is the cause of his rough remarks concerning the absence of the water-carts. To-day hag been a great day for the reputation of Christcnurch. The dust has had a very successful field day, and although the various water-sprinklers of the city have been endeavouring to subjugate the scourge their efforts have been attended with little success, and the citizens have writhed tinder the dust with the joy of the knowledge that their city has lived quite up to its reputation of "the dustiest city in the dominion.''