CORRESPONDENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3371, 10 November 1911, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE RAILWAY RESERVE

[TO THE EDITOR. 1 But for his disclaimer I fancy that I might have been likely to have come to the conclusion that “Anti-Humbug was somewhat interested, or peihapS actually “on” a piece of the railway reserve, and did not want to be putoff it. The crowding of the greatest number of peoole possible on the smallest piece of ground, seems to be regarded by many people in this age, as being quite correct, and a good tiling to do. This view, I submit, can and ouerht to be questioned, and some better 5 way thought out. Your correspondent must have slightly misread my letter of the 4th instant, as I did not advocate that all streets should _be only half a chain wide. Such a thing would be extremely bad, and would undoubtedly lead to the growth of slums—the very evil that all town planning schemes should be designed to avoid. Streets from a chain, to chain and a half in width, would always be necessary for t-lie needs of business and family life in modern cities. The benefit of having lialf-cliain streets (not a less width) to give another —call it a back entrance or what you will, the name is a good one—would, I tliink 7 in all cases, be found to be considerable. Of course no building of any sort other than a boundary fence, should be permitted to be placed within at least a quarter of a chain from the roadway on either side of it*. thus leaving" a full chain between buildings on opposite sections, leaving plenty of space for entrance of fresh air, and sufficient to cheek the spread of fire which is a constant danger in towns or cities where much timber is used foi building. The effect or result of keeping the narrow back streets clear of all obstructions, so that honest people as well as “prowlers” could walk thereon the lot possibly not worse nor better than those who might daily or nightly walk in the wider streets —would be: That neat fences would be erected bv the owners of the land on each side of these streets, so that what in the past has onlv been looked upon as the back of the house, or warehouse, the appearance of which, however, unsightly did not matter at all, would now be m full 'view of the public always and would most likely be kept in much better order than it is customary to keep them now. Besides, in this case, the full space of the valuable frontages to the wider streets could, and would, be fully utilised to general advantage. I may mention in further reply to your correspondent that I have only had experience of cities with population of 50 to 100,000 persons, besid.-s lri.tle Gisborne with its 10,000. But I hir T e seen enough, and have read something about London an 1 other large and some of the conditions of life to be found in thoce places, and i have read portions of the health officer's report of conditions to be found nearer home in some business places on • acli side of Queen street, Auckland, and the pressing need there is for the mq> e speedy removal of waste and rubbish from "those places, without having to carry it through the front door aito thi busy thoroughfare. And I cordd even tell of things in my own experience occurring in little Gisborne v Inch might provide “food for thought.’ * need not. enlarge on these studies as they hardly bear sufficiently' on the praticular matter that caused me to trouble you sir with a letter some clays ago supporting the action of the Boroug i Council in insisting upon the emoval of fences, buildings and other encroachments placed by residents near it, on the Railway Reserve running through Whataupoko. In conclusion I would like to venture an opinion, for the benefit of those concerned, namely', tlie owners of sections facing Ormond road and Clifford street: As time goes on all their properties will be likely to be considerably inincreased in value owing to the existence of this reserve, and it is certainly to their own interest, as well as to the interest of other ratepayers and the general public, that the same should be kept "clear of all obstructions, and otherwise improved in appearance and brought' up-to-date. —I am, etc., - ° “HIGHWAY.” [Owing to extreme pressure on our space this letter lias been somewhat abridged.—Ed. G.T.]