It is tbe duty of tbe municipal corporation to maintain its streets and sidewalks in a reasonably safe condition, and a failure-to do so is negligence, wbicb subjects tbe corporation to liability for injuries proximately resulting therefrom. Sehorn v. Charlotte, 171 N C., 541.
In tbe performance of tbis duty, wide discretion is given to tbe governing authorities, and tbe courts are loath to interfere with its exercise, and will usually decline to do so unless it is grossly abused or is-oppressive. Small v. Edenton, 146 N. C., 529; Rosenthal v. Goldsboro, 149 N. C., 135.
It is not an absolute duty imposed on tbe corporation to light its streets, and -$hen it does so tbe placing of tbe lights is left largely to its discretion (White v. New Bern, 146 N. C., 447), and tbe same rule prevails as to tbe location of tbe hydrants for fire protection when placed near tbe Curb.
“Grass plots are ornaments and shade trees along tbe sidewalk give protection from tbe beat in summer. While they may be obstructions, yet when ample width is left to answer tbe demands of travel, they are such obstructions as serve a useful purpose and are not inconsistent with tbe object for which streets are made and maintained. Like a fence, a hydrant, a bitching post, telegraph or telephone poles, they are lawful obstructions.” Teague v. Bloomington, 40 Ind. App., 68.
“While it is tbe duty of a municipal corporation to use reasonable care to keep its streets in a safe condition to drive upon, it has tbe right to devote tbe sides of tbe streets to other useful public purposes^ provided it leaves an unobstructed driveway of ample width for tbe passage of teams. It may construct sidewalks of a higher grade and gutters of a lower grade than tbe driveway, place curbing on tbe line of' tbe gutters, erect hydrants and authorize tbe erection of bitching posts- and stepping stones as well as poles to support tbe wires of telegraph and telephone lines; it may lay out grass plots on tbe sides of tbe streets, set out trees therein, and protect both grass and trees from injury by fences or other reasonable means. . . . In tbe case before us, a large stone took tbe place of curbing in order to keep people from driving over tbe grass and against the trees. While it was an obstruction, it was a lawful obstruction, tbe same as a fence, hydrant, or telegraph pole.” Daugherty v. Horseheads, 159 N. Y., 154.
Persons using tbe sidewalks are required to take notice of these conditions and of tbe uses to wbicb tbe sidewalks may legitimately be put. They “must take notice of such structure as tbe necessities of com*414merce or the convenient occupations of dwelling-houses” require. Russell v. Monroe, 116 N. C., 727.
Applying these principles, there is no ground upon which the defendant can be held liable, as there is no evidence of an abuse of discretion in the location of the lights or hydrant, and the injury to the plaintiff was caused, as she says, because she went too close to the hydrant at the curb, where she might reasonably expect an obstruction of this character.
As said in Herman v. Philadelphia, 194 Pa., 542, a case which covers all phases of this appeal: “As fire plugs are a clear public necessity, and cannot be placed in the open highway, and as they must be placed in such a position as to be easily accessible in case of fire, there is no other position for them but on the sidewalks, and it is the universal practice to locate them there. The municipality is the sole authority to determine this matter, and, of course, as we have frequently held, their discretion is not to be held subject to the verdict of juries.- The city is under no legal obligation to light its streets and cannot be held responsible for an alleged insufficiency of light.”
We are of opinion the judgment of nonsuit was properly entered.
Affirmed.