Auckland Criticised.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 23, 7 June 1911, Page 6

Auckland Criticised.

The "Syoney- r.lorning HeataC" to hand by last week’s steamer contains an article by Mr. T. H. Nesbitt, town clerk of Sydney, on Auckland, which city he recently visited. Speaking of the Auckland tramways, he says words failed him to describe the trams, but the conductors were, as a whole, the most uncivil, discourteous, ill-mannered, and disobliging body of men it was possible to imagine. Surliness and bad manners had developed into a fine art. If one asked a question on any matter connected with the service, the reply was given in a most contemptuous and insolent manner. The cars were heavy, lumbering and unclean, and were a disgrace to the city. Of cleanliness there was not the slightest visible sign, and expectorating was committed without protest. The necesity of ventilation wa- completely disregarded. it being, figuratively speaking, necessary to perform a surgical operation or use a Nasmyth hammer to let down a window, whilst a ten-ton crane was required to get it up again. Auckland, continued the writer, was pre-eminently a city of parks. Albert Park deserved the pride of Aucklanders, was in splendid condition when he was there, and the variety of annuals and specimens of rarpet bedding were very choice indeed, and for exactness and regularity would, in his opinion, compare with Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, London.

"Street maintenance.” says Mr. Nesbitt, “is a matter which the Auckland municipal authorities appear to have neglected for years past, -the ’ostlv patchwork policy having been dominant. Utterly inadequate amounts are allocated to the City Engineer for the purposes of street maintenance, ami conecqueutly the X4OjO(IU voted yearly is

frittered away in patchings and repairings. The City Engineer has just submitted a comprehensive scheme for the improvement of 230 streets, involving an outlay of from £326,550 to £414.710. These figures are somewhat startling, but if the Auckland streets are to be put in condition a considerable sum will have to I* expended immediately.” The writer had something to say in regard to the ferry service, and. while considering the wharf accommodation and office buildings good said that the steamers compared most unfavourably with those of Sydney. In conclusion, he said that there was not only room for improvement- in the existing ferrv service, but also room for competition, on strict business lines.