CORRESPONDENCE. Borough Affairs.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12747, 19 April 1909, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Borough Affairs.

TO THE XDITOB.

Sir, — I read with interest your leading article on street improvements in Wanganui, and quite agree with you that there should be a general scheme' of street improvement for the Borough as a whole. You will remember that some time ago I brought down a proposal for the practical renovation of all the streets of the Borough, and showed that if the expenditure were judiciously spread over five years there would not need to be any increase of rates. You were good enough to express approval of my proposals, but the Council refused to go further with the matter. The present Council, however, have been quite alive to the necessity of putting the work in hand. .Of course, while the trams were under construction little could be done to the streets. It would have been absurd to re-metal the streets when the tramline was being laid until that work was completed, and other, streets could not be gone on. with because all the metal we could get was required for the trams. I would, however, point out that during the last few months over -half a mile of the streets has been tarred, with satisfactory results. In addition a largre quantity of new metal has been put down in the Avenue and other streets. Now that the engineer has arrived he has been requested to push on with the work as fast as possible. Taupo Quay, which is the most urgent work, will lv* started at once, and as soon as pos■"'Me other streets will be put in hand. Mr Russell also has under consideration the improvement of our appliances at Hylton's pit, so as to enable us to get out more metal and get it cheaper. Now that the trams are completed the Council will have more time for other matters, and I trnst that the next few months will see <»reat improvements in the streets of the Borough. — I am, etc.,