The Life of the City. 501 



buildings be fixed, and as strictly enforced as the width of the streets. 

 If this is not done, the most well meant efforts on paper will be 

 abortive. 



It is scarcely necessary to mention that the exquisite vistas 

 formed by the streets of most of the Continental capitals have only 

 been purchased by the enforcement of regulations of this description. 



In considering this group of municipal laws, there is room for 

 one which so far as I know is non-existent, but the necessity for 

 which must be apparent. All thoughtful people must have noticed 

 with sorrow the reckless manner in which some of the most beautiful 

 spots in the suburbs are being destroyed by the cutting up and selling 

 of properties in small lots without any consideration as to whether 

 the buildings which may be erected upon them will be suitable to the 

 locality or calculated not to injure the property of their neighbours. 



Our city with its suburbs, has at present the chance of becoming 

 the residential centre for the better classes throughout South Africa 

 owing to its many natural beauties and conditions, and it is lament- 

 able to think that these should not be recognised, and that we should 

 squander our inheritance in the direction I have indicated, viz., in 

 allowing the suburbs to^ be injured without regard to the responsi- 

 bility which lies upon us all as citizens of keeping them beautiful 

 and attractive as well as healthy on the public behalf. For some 

 time past it has been a common occurrence for owners of property 

 in the suburbs to suddenly find that property immediately adjacent 

 is advertised to be sold in small lots for speculative building. As 

 the rights of citizens are recognised to be protected against any in- 

 jurious action by their neighbours in almost ever)' other direction, 

 it seems lamentable that on this most important one serious and 

 permanent injury may be inflicted not only on surrounding property 

 but on the whole neighbourhood by reckless and selfish speculation 

 without the possibility of any legal action or redress. 



The wanton destruction of trees which has gone on for some 

 time in many directions continues unchecked, and in spite of the 

 increase in the Peninsula of people of taste, who are, however, we 

 fear not influential or numerous enough at present to effect any 

 remedy. It seems to point to the fact that this is a matter which 

 could also be taken on the broad shoulders of our modem munici- 

 pality. In fact the more one considers the question of scientific 

 municipal government, the larger the subject seems to grow, for its 

 duties are now recognised as by no means stopping at matters affect- 

 ing the more material aspects of the city such as buildings and streets 

 and the control of water and drainage, but tO' include the erection of 

 ample markets to enable the healthy circulation of trade in food- 

 stuffs, and to enable the poor to obtain their necessities protected 

 from the extortions of possible middlemen, as well as the obligation 

 which is now laid upon them to protect the interests of the citizens 

 by ensuring the purity of such stuffs and the accuracy of weights and 

 measure of goods. 



These are some of the leading problems which face us in 

 regulating the life of the city, to which science has brought the most 



