The Marylebone Vestry missed a great opportunity on Thurs- day.
Part of Oxford Street requires repairing, and a proposal was brought forward to substitute wood for granite throughout the street. This was supported by the Duke of Westminster and a large portion of the Vestry, and by all Oxford-Street tradesmen, but it was so strongly opposed, that Mr. Galsworthy moved that the improvement should be confined to the portions requiring repavement and two or three other bits. This was carried, but the improvement is thus rendered partial, and what is wanted is- an improvement on a grand scale. Wood, apparently the best noiseless material to use,—at least till we can wash the asphalte daily,—can never be fairly tried till it covers whole quarters, or, at all events, long streets, so that the journey is not interrupted by patches of noise, or horses worried by sudden changes of material. It was stated at the meeting that the repairs of Oxford Street cost about £1,100 a year, and that wood pavement would be little more expensive than granite, and less so than a macadamised road. There is scarcely any improvement for which the ratepayers would more cheerfully grant an extra halfpenny in the pound. In London the absence of noise means absence of disturbance to work.
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