NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 93, 22 June 1866, Page 2

NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Thursday, June 21. Present — Mr. Bentley in the chair ; Messrs. Burn, Burns, Carter, Rout, Wright, and Watts. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary gave his report in reference to the ■work in Hampden-street. It was expected that the parties requiring the work would pay a part of the expense. It now transpired that no guarantee of this kind would he given. The overseer was instructed to repair the culvert, the other work to remain. The Board expressed surprise that the gua-. rantee referred to was not forthcoming. Messrs. Bentley, Burn. Rout, and Wright, brought up their report in reference to the Tates and debentures. They reported that the amount levied has been £410 Us. lOd. deficient to the present time in Trafal gar-street, and £5-3 ss. 9d. deficient in. Hardystreet, In respect to these sums the special ratepayers are indebted to the funds raised from the general rate. One of the Trafalgar-street debentures for £iOO, due Ist January list, and two Hardy-street debentures for £40 each, both overdue, they recommend to be paid forthwith. It was resolved that the debentures due with interest on the same, be paid forthwith. A conversation arose as to the appointment of an Inspector of Nuisances. The subject was postponed. Messrs. Bentley and Carter reported on the purchase of a horse and cart for the use of the board. The matter was allowed to stand over. Mr. Elliott's letter in reference to obstructions in Examiner-street was referred to. It was followed by an application from 20 ratepayers in the same street who offered to subscribe one-third of the expense, if it did not exceed £15. The applicants all reside in the same block. It was denied that a road available for a cart could be made for that money. It was argued that so convenient a street should be attended to. It was remarked that some of -the applieanis could not benefit by the improvement, to which ii was replied, that all the applicants were more or less interested in it. It was resolved that the obstructions be removed in conjunction with the aid of the applicants, the board to pay two-thirds, and the memorialists onethird'of the expense, the secretary to prepare specification, for the work. The Chairman said Mr. Pollock had asked him to hand over his securities. The Chairman was requested to do so. A question arose as to arrears of rate, which were said to amount to £800 at the least, of which £60© was good. It was suggested that 2i per cent, be allowed to some person to collect them, or to sue for them without delay. It was considered that the Secretary had too much work on his hands to attend to the arrears of rates. Mr. Younger said Mr. Sadd was willing to undertake the task under his superintendence and control, A number of special rates were due, which it was said would never be collected unless stringent measures were used, On the other hand, it was stated that many persons were ready to pay the arrears, if they were waited- upon. It was considered a good plan to sue for the arrears in alphabetical order. It was also, considered probable that some of the arrears would be disputed. It was resolved tthaw 2£t w 2£ per cent-.' be given for collecting all arrears of the 7th and Bth years' dates, on and alter the 25th inst.

A letter was received from the owners of property •suffering from the overflow of the river Maitai, snggesting that the raising of the road would be a remedy for the flood, and offering to share in. the expense of the.improvement. The Secretary was instructed to prepare an estimate of the probable cost of raising the road, and report to next meeting. A. letter was received from persons living on the Brook-street river, expressing a fear that they -would be unable to comply with the requirements of tlie Board. The Board to carry out their first idea of wattling the river, and that the liberty giren be rescinded. A letter was read from Mr. J. Davis, in Hardy and Vanguard streets, asking the Board to assist him in grarelling the road to his house. It was resolved that as soon as gravel be required the request be complied with. A letter was read from Mr. A. Greenfield, asking permisssion to erect a temporary fence on his property in Hardy-street. Resolved, that the request be complied with on the usual condition — the supervision of the surveyor, The surveyor was requested to see that Mr. Palton 's fence be put to a correct level at the same time. An application was made from a number of residents in Nile-street, for repairs. It was considered that there were just grounds of complaint, of the road on both sides of the river. Messrs. Watts and Carter were requested to examine the road and report to the Board. An application from residents in Trafalgar-square, for repairs of the footpath near Martin's, was received. The footpath was said to be impassable in wet weather. Messrs. Bentley and Burn were requested to examine the road and report to the next meeting. A letter was read from Mr. N. Edwards, complaining tliat the operations of the Board in Brook-street Valley injured the bed of the stream, near his property, by taking away a slice of the bed. He said he should hold the Board responsible for any injury done to the property, a plan, of which, furnished by JMr. Coe, iras inclosed for the instruction of the Board. A discussion arose, in which a diversity of opinion ■was expressed as to the facts affirmed in Mr Edwards's letter. It was considered desirable to institute n -personal examination of the land, with a view to ascertain whether the complaint was just or not. It was simply a question of boundaries, which a slight inspection would determine. It was stated that Mr. Edwards was mistaken as to his boundary line, taking the plan of his own surveyor. It was considered strange that Mr. Edwards had pulled up and thrown away tlie pegs put in by Mr! Coe. The Secretary suggested that it was the removal of wattling rather than land that Mr. Edwards complained of. It "was resolved that Messrs. Bentley, Burn, the Secretary, and Mr. Lewis make an examination of the spot, and report to the board. The question was raised us to who had control over tlie road near Mr. Beit's, which was postponedfor inquiry. It was stated that the path in Collingwood-street was being cut up by the owners of the timber yard, who had undertaken to prefect the crossing, in future. The Chairman reminded the board of an oiFer made by them to furnish gravel for the Haven-road, from the old Custom House to Mr. Poynter's residence, on condition of that gentleman furnishing the cartage. The secretary was instructed to inquire into tlie matter. The following accounts were passed : — Patching, I*4 25.; Barton, £28 155.; Labor, £40 11s. H-d. The Chairman announced that the amount to the credit of the board at the Union Bunk in ]S;elson, was £425 14s. 7(1. Tenders for forming a road in Washington Valley, were put in as follow : — Thomas Bray, £139; James Jennings, £86 10s. ; James Bradcock, £180 ; T. Miles, £90 ; Stephen Newport, £'230 ; R. Turner and Sons, £235, The tender of James Jennings for £86 10s. was accepted. The distance of road is 31 chains. The tenders for road in Hardy-street and Van-guard-street, were as follows : — Dunlop, £76 10s., or £2 10s. per chain ; R. K. Turner, 275. per chain, or £57 7s. ; Joshua Sigley, £30, or 20s. per chain ; YV. Osman, £+5 Ms., or 295. per chain; Jas Jennings, £2 7s. 6d. per chain, or £73 12s. 6d ; Charles Bray, d£4S. The tender of Sigley was accepted, on condition that his sureties be approved of. The Board adjourned till Thursday, the sth July. The half-yearly examination of the pupils of Nelsou College took place on the 19th, 20th, and 2 1 st inst. The examiners were the Rev. G-. 11. Johnston, the Rev. Mr. Poole, the Eev. Mr. Tripp, and Captain Rough. The examination was both orally aud in writing. Of the examinations in writing the Governors will publish a report. We understand that the pupils displayed great proficiency in the several subjects in which they were examined, and that in physical geography and drawing they deserve special commendation. , In tho Resident Magistrate's Court this morniug, Henry Hicc was complained against by his wife for deserting her. He was ordered to pay 10s. a week for her support. Louisa' Haase, charged with stealing a dress and mantle, the property of a person on the Waimea-road, was discharged with a caution, the complainant not appearing to prosecute. The new schools at Motueka, were opened

on, Tuesday last. A tea-meeting was held, which was numerously attended by both parents and children. c The day was observed as a general holiday. The Local Committee of Education elected at Ranzau, consists of Messrs. F. Kelling, H. Beitt, E. Humphries, and H. Ruffell. Mr, Kearns was elected Secretary, and Mr. Selling, Representative at the Central Board. The G.B. Argus states that the quantity of gold shipped to Hokitika and Nelson, from the Grey district, between December 6th and June Bth, was 150,832 ozs, and the quantity prior to December, 59,771 ozs. We (Argus) believe that one result of the publication l»y us of the Customs returns of the gold export, is a resolve on the part of the Nelson Government to establish means of securing for that province its fair share of gold duty, which there is much reason to believe it does not receive umler present arrangements. The understanding is that the Banks in. each case of purchase ascertain and record the province in which the gold was procured, but this is obviously a very loose system, as it is not to "be expected that the miners will in all cases reveal the origin of their gold ; nor are the Banks compelled in any way to take such particulars. We understand that it is in contemplation by the Nelson authorities to establish gold receivers at suitable places and bring the gold down in custody of an escort. The Ruahine, s., brings news from the Cape of Good Hope to 14th May. Bishop Colenpo still asserts his legal rights, and is taking proceedings to recover his salary. The gold discoveries in the Tracsvaal district are coufirmed; numbers have left Natal for the diggings. £1,000 have been appropriated to represent the colony at the Paris Exhibition. The general elections are approaching. There is an agitation for pledging candidates iv favor of responsible government. The G. R. Argus, in its estimate of the quantity of gold produced in the two provinces, allots 65,580 ozs, to Canterbury, and 85,252 ozs. to Nelson. The yield for 27 weeks, show an average of about 5,623 ozs. per week, or at the rate of one million two hundred thousand pouuds sterling per annual. The figures quoted above show a wonderful amount of mining prosperity, considering that the gold discovery in this district does not date back more than ten months. An.d when the extremely unfavorable character of the country for prospecting is taken into acI count ; the difficulties under which the J miners have to work : and the many drawj backs that exist to the favorable prosecution I of mining industry ; it must be conceded that j the Grey district shows a surprising developj ment. The Southland Times says that it is evidence of the strongest character that the Paihi diggings are progressing, when diggers who come into ßiverton to attend a ball can sell eight pouuds weight of gold. The West Coast Times has the following : — £> We find that at the port of Hokitika alone there were cleared between the 12t2x May and the 11th June, iv round numbers 30,000 ounces*gold (the exact figures being 2^>,968 ounces), paying duty to the amount of £5,870. To be added to this is the quantity cleared at the Grey, of which we have I no account — with the exception of the 15,000 1 ounces shipped from that port last week by the Otago. Wlieu we mention further that the Bruce brought up from Okarita yesterday 6,213 ounces, and on her former trip 3,222 ounces, we get from these rough figures alone a sufficiently practical answer to the assertion that the published statements of large finds here are " false in the extreme." No other gold-producing country in the same stage of development, and with the same population, has a similar story to tell. . assault made at the Waxwork Exhibition, at Hokitika, upon the effigy of the late Mr. Kinder, by that unfortunate gentleman's father iv law, resulted in the Resident Magistrate's Court recently, in the infliction of a fine of £2 upon Mr. Wood. It is now open to the proprietor of the exhibition to bring an. action for damages for the loss he lias sustained.

On the 10th instant an address was presented by Mr. Kieenan, on- behalf^ of the Catholic Congregation of Greymouth, to-the Right Rev. Dr. Yiard, Bishop of Wellington. The address, which. conveyed the affectionate wishes of the congregation, was presented at 12 o'clock mass,., in the Church, and Dr. Viard acknowledged it in feeling terms. We notice that the Hokitika and Kan.ieri Tramway Company call for tenders for sleep; ers, and that the chairman of the company gives notice that a call of 10s. per share has been made, to be paid on or before the 23rd instant. " The handsome new premises of the Bank of New South Wales,'* says the Grey River Argus, are fast approaching completion, and will be opened for transaction of business ;in a week's time. The building is very chaste ■ iv design, and will be a decided ornament to the street Hue. We learn from the Chronicle that the works connected with the Hokitika and Grey Tramway are being vigorously pushed ahead, a numei'ous gang of men being now employed clearing the line and preparing sleepers and timber for bridges. The company intend completing the work without any aid from Government, the small amount of subsidy proffered them being deemed too small to meet the conditions entailed on. its acceptance. The line will probably be completed in about three months, and when opened will doubt- . less command a constant and , remunerative traffic. The G. R. Argus records the opening of,, the " Waimea Race." This interesting cere-; mony was commenced by Mrs. Frith, who . smashed a bottle of No. 2 on .one of. the,, uprights, and with that popular beverage , christened it "The Wairaea Race," amid. the prolonged cheering of the assembled guests:The Waimea Race is about two miles long, length of flurning 960 feet, the highest point of which is about 60 feet. The enterprise of this company, and the energy and skil\. with which they have carried out their undertaking deserve. great praise. The Southland Times contrasts the sale of land in its province with that of Wellington, , as follows .- — "The Wellington Press, . iv glowing terms, congratulates 1 the province upon the sale of about 3,000 acres of land, at ss. an acre. If this is a matter for congratulation to the Empire City, they must -feel . rather astonished at the fact, that little Southland is selling land at the rate of 20,000 acres per month, at £1 per acre. We learn from the Southland Times of the 13th inst., that a smart shock of earthquake occurred last Saturday morning at 17 minutes to 9. It was preceded by the usual subterranean rumbling. The movement was from east to west, it lasted very few seconds, although the shock itself was very nearly as sharp as that of June sth, 1863, and more so than those- of June 12th, 1862, and November 20, 1863, the next in force. Frederick Walker, M-.P.C, late Provincial Secretary of Otago died suddenly on the 10th inst. The Southland Times says: — It will beperceived from our other columns that the debt of the Province is rapidly decreasing. No less than £1536 was realised by the sale of laud yesterday. This speaks hopefully for the future of the Province.