with every shower of rain washed clean. The wood-block 

 paving- and the asphalt now so much in use encourage the 

 formation of this peculiar kind of mud, and a good shower 

 of rain fails to remove it. Apart from this, the painful sights 

 one meets with of poor brutes struggling under heavy bur- 

 dens, straining themselves beyond their strength, is sufficient 

 to justify complaints as to the unsatisfactory condition of our 

 streets. The clattering of the hoof and noise of the wheels 

 are quite as much felt on this material as on the granite. The 

 latter well curved and not too closely fitted together on the 

 upper surface, affords the horse a good foothold and going. 

 He looks for a good grip on the hard ground quite as much 

 as he does on the turf, and should he happen to fall, has some 

 chance of getting on his legs again. I trust shortly some 

 better plan will be devised for street-paving, affording greater 

 cleanliness, less interruption in repairs, and in view of more 

 humane treatment for the animal. The old roads such as 

 the Romans made are preferable in every way to those now 

 in favour. I am sure many who have some little acquaintance 

 with this subject will agree with me. 



I miorht now call attention to the stables in this laree 

 metropolis for the accommodation of omnibus and cab horses, 

 and the like, as well as that of the humbler class, such as 

 the small carmen, green-grocer, firewood purveyors, coster- 

 mongers, and other small tradespeople struggling for existence. 

 Large bus and cab companies must endeavour to pay as 

 good dividends as possible, and frequently stables have to 

 be provided in expensive localities not always where quiet 

 can be had. Besides this, rents are so high, and consideration 

 for the comfort of this poor creature so low in the greed of 

 money-making, that not infrequently a horse has to breathe 



