Original Correspondence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1843, 17 March 1863, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

Oor columns being impartially open, wo do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents. No notice can bo taken of anonymous communications. Correspondents must therefore furnish their name and address, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith;

To tho Editor of the Wellington Independent,

Sib,— l beg to correct a slight error in your interesting leader of to-day. The " asphalte" pavement laid down in Canterbury has not failed like that in Otago, and simply for the Hibernian reason that it is not asphalte. The proper designation is " Tar Pavement," and it ia composed of successive layers of clean hard broken metal or beach shingle, screened to progressive sizes, mixed with coal tar, and well rolled with a heavy iron roller ; an upper coat of broken sea shells ia an additional improvement. This pavement is being laid under ray superintendence m Lyttelton, and I can testify to its resisting successfully the direct heat of the sun's rays, and every other extreme of temperature. Its appearance has earned for it 1 the misnomer " aßphalto," when in point of fact it is not a hardened bituminous earth like the genuine Seyssel asphalte, but rather a stone concrete in which coal tar forms the binding material. I have hitherto found the cost about half that of flagging, and one third that of asphalt i proper. Tar pavement is now superseding under imperial rule in the French capital, and especially on the boulevards—ordinary paved roads,— on account of its inadaptability to the revolutionary purpose of erecting barricades.— l am, air, your'a obediently,

Chas. Moore Igghesden, Municipal Surveyor, Lyttelton, Canterbury. Wellington, March, U, 1863.