THE MUSINGS OF A WELLINGTONIAN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5052, 15 June 1895, Page 2

THE MUSINGS OF A WELLINGTONIAN.

[CoNTHIBPTED UY A CIIY MAN.] "^ Wellington, Mb. Juno, Of Oun Faults and Follies thafWl' • frequently provoke unfavourable noticflk from new arrivals in Wellington are generally ill-kopt condition of tho streets; the prominence of the new gaol; the absence of a good swimming bath; and the treeless condition of the Mount Victoria and Tinakori hills. There is no doubt that criticism of this kind is perfectly just.

The Streets will never be maintained in a satisfactory condition until our city fathers accept the fact that the stone used ou the ronaVays is not of sufficient hardness. I believe it is true that hard stoue is not procurable anywhore near the city; but Wnirarapa boulderi would give a supply of good quality, and the low railway rates for road materials should make it quite possible for the city to get its supply from your district. It would be an important economy to got hard stone, even if its cost considerably exceeded that of the local supply. Tho streets, too, are much in need of ft scavenging system; their dirty conditio at limes cannot be other™ than 9r menace to the public health. Having been taught that cleanliness is next to godliness, one cannot but reflect that if the godliness of our city fathers is to be measured by their notion of cle&Tilincss as exemplified in the condition of tho streets, some anxiety ought to bo felt for them.

The Hiw Gaol is perhaps the most prominent object in the landscapo to anyone approaching the City either by rail or water; and it is occasionally the means of exercising a somewhat humiliating effect on the enthusiastic Wellingtoniau. Picture your City man on the deck of a steamer as she enters tee heads, describing in glowing terms, tho colony's metropolis, to some cultivated globe-trotter. Byaud-by when the Reamer gets into view of the City, the tourist observes that the conspicuous red brick building on the left, occupying as it does such a prominent position, is, of course, cither a temple of learning or a repository of the arts and sciences. Then, awkward pauso, and your now-subdued Wcllingtoniau haying to disclose its namo, feels compelled lo explain that the character of tho'y Wellington citizen is happily such thgff the commanding position of the prisoifß is not to be attributed (as is sometimes jokingly suggested) to his desire to bo daily reminded of former associations; but that its presence there is simply duo to unfortunate apathy on the part ol the community at a time when its erection on such a beautiful site might have been successfully resisted. Perhaps it is not now 100 late to have the building converted to some other use. So long as it continues a prison, so long wjll a daily outftge be inflicted on the inhabitants of the City.

Swimming is an art that every boy—and girl, too, for the matter of that—ought to acquire. So important and healthful an accomplishment, is it, that it would make a valuable addition to the public school curriculum if provision could be made for teaching it. It is not creditable to the civic authorities that a salt-Miiter bath is not available to residents at tho northern end of lliocity, There is, it is true, such a bath at the To Arc end, but its proximity to tho Destructor, deposits of imperfectly cremated vagrant dogs, liiflfcl offal, etc., coupled with the suspicion I that it is in the (rack of a considerable I volume of sewage drift, does not mako it the sort ot place that many persons can feel a yearning lo take a lioader into.

_ Mount Victomu miqlitbe simply and inexpensively beautified k patches being dug here and there, and then sown with Australian wallle.the profuse and pretty flower of which is such a well-known adornment to the landscape in many places, in the early spring. Apart from the scenic improvement wattle cultivation, as suggested, would effect, it is of quick growth, and its value as a shado tree would speedily add to the attractiveness of this important lung of the City, as a summer resort. I commend this to the attention of the Wellington Scenery Improvement and Preservation Society.

The Geaii Company has justdeclarcd another dividend of ten per cent, to its fortunate shareholders. The rcsourcifc*. of this excellently-managed Companjr arc truly remarkable. It doosn't seem to make a bit of difference whether mutton is up or down, the Company just sails serenely along; from limo to time extends its works, buys up-to-dato machinery, pays for all out of profits, and yet always rewards inyestors in its shares with tho above handsome return. May it long coiitiimo so fo do.

T.iiiANAKi Petmleuji will probably be a quotable commodity in the Wellington share market ere long, ' That a flow of oil of substantial volume has been struck, appears beyond doubt, and wlicli one rellccts on the largo value that goes out of the colony annually for keroscne, and other petroleum products, tho possibilities of the Taranaki future become apparent. It is to be hoped there is an abundant supply, extending over a wide area

Trade in Wellington is anything but brisk, and yet the numbor of retail grocery establishments is constantly being increased. This is especially truo of the southern or Nowtown end of the city, and the price-tickets displayed in tlio windows, show how keen the competition amongst dealers is, and horife'l advantageously the individual witkthe^- 1 " ready" can purchase.

The Ten Pee Cent. Redaction in the Bank of New Zealand salaries in excess of £2OO is creating apprehension in other institutions. Although the necessaries'of life have been considerably cheapened within tho last year or two, yet the high rents in Wellington make reduction of incomo porhaps, more felt here, than in any other of the colony's centres.

Wood Paving is a subject wc have ' heard somethingaboutlatoly. It appears that it is being extensively laid down in the world's metropolis; and that attention has been directed to tho suitability of Colonial timbers for tho purpose Several shipments of different descriptions of New Zealand timber have been sent to London, but of the lot, I think only kauri will bo found to be suitable and tho only ono that can successfully compete with Australian supplies. Only sound heart' timber free from knots, shakes, etc., is accepted, and with tho exception of kauri and birch, our timbers carry too : great a proportion of sap. Birch is not onydithcnlttoget, but when ono has / got it, much of it is always found to be 4» shaken, and to have other, that make it unsuitable for work where ' mcety is insisted on. No doubt tho best timbers will be accepted, and I look to a lot of kauri going down in the streets of the world's biggest City.