BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 125, 30 July 1866, Page 2

BOARD OF WORKS.

ELECTION OF RETIRING MEMBERS. The election of members to fill the vacancies caused by the retirempnt of Messrs. Bentley, Watts, Burn, and Carter, took place this morning, at the office of the Board. Mr. Merrington was appointed chairman. The following report was read by Mr. Younger, the secretary : — " The report for the past year will be necessarily incomplete, through the changes that have been made, caused by the various Secretaries for the year as well" as from the short time each has remained in office. The various causes occasioning this are well known to the ratepayers. As the proceedings of the Board from time to time have been fully reported in the newspapers, it will only be necessary on this occasion to give a brief statement of the amount of money expended on the various streets and roads throughout the city. Haven-road, £303 18s. 10d.; Colling wood-street, £80; Waimea-road and street, £39 lis. 6d.; Washington Valley, £21 10s. 2d.; Trafalgar-street, £156 2s. 4d.; Bridge-street, £60 3s. Bd.; Tupia-s'treet. £6; Eussell-st., £39 1 Os. ; Wellington-street, £10 ios.; Manuka-street, £31) 18s. 6d.; Hardy-street, £30 9s. Bd.; Brougham-street, £23 Bs. 6d. ; Bronte-street, £50 9s. Sd. ; Brook-street, £550 95.; and sundry works in Shelbourne and Grove-streets, amounting to £25 10s. , The expenditure, has been heavy upon, the.main line of trunk road, leading from the Waimea to the Port, part of which has been formed and gravelled. The heaviest expenditure has been in Brook-street, caused by the flood of the 2nd February last, which destroyed nearly the whole of the road, as also the bridge and approaches, junction of Nile and Tasrnan streets. The amount levied for. rates for the past 'year .'has been £2,564 lis., at- one penny- in the pound-for the year, : on a gross assessment of £615,941, showing an increase in the value of the rateable-property for the past year of £29,863.

The increase in the rate levied was found necessary, on account of the damage done, as has been already stated, by the flood. An account of all other proceedings of the Board will be found in the minute book, which is open to the inspection of any ratepayer. Four members of the Board have to be elected, in the room of Messrs. Bentley, Watts, R. Burn, and Carter, who retire by rotation, but who are eligible for re-election. The accounts for ' the past year, with all the documents relating thereto, will be laid before you and submitted to two auditors to be appointed by the meeting of ratepayers." In reply to a question from Mr. Haddow the Secretary _tated that the deficiency in a former secretary's accounts was £111. One of his securities had paid. In reply to a question from Mr. Webb, Mr. Bentley stated that the Board had taken no steps in reference to the erection of a toll-bar on the town boundary, or to obtain powers from the Provincial Council to erect turnpike and levy rates. Mr. Hibble said, without wishing to cast censure on any member of the Board, he was bound to say that improvements were effected in certain out districts, whilst the streets and paths of the town were neglected. He moved, That the ratepayers request the Board of Works, as soon as possible after their next meeting, to enter into correspondence with the Provincial Government, with the view of inducing them to draft a bill for presentation to the Provincial Council, having for its object the representaion of each ward of the city by members of the Board, elected by the ratepayers within their several districts ; and should the Government refuse to comply, we hereby request the Board themselves to prepare such bill for presentation to the Council by one of the City members. The Chairman said the adoption of the report was tiie first business ofthe meeting. On the motion of Dr. Irvine, seconded by Mr. Leech, the report was unanimously adopted. Mr. Kibble's motion led to a discussion in which Messrs. Webb, Luckie, and others joined. Messrs. Bentley and Burn vindicated the board from the censure implied in the remarks of the mover of the resolution. Mr. Haddow opposed the resolution because it did not recommend a municipality for which Nelson was quite prepared. The motion was lost by a large majority. The meeting then proceeded to the election of four members. Mr. Thornton proposed, and Mr. Wright seconded the noniination of Mr. Bentley. Mr. Webb was nominated by Mr. Hibble, and seconded by Dr. Irvine. Mr. R. Burn was proposed by Mr. Holliss. and seconded by Mr. Haddow. Mr. Leech proposed, and Mr. Harris seconded the nomination of Mr. W. Jennings. Mr. R. Carter was proposed by Mr. Watts, and seconded by Mr. Thornton. Mr. R. Aitken was proposed by Mr. Nation, and seconded by Mr. Porthouse. Mr. Hornby was proposed as a candidate, but declined to act. Mr. W. Orsmon was nominated by Mr. John Barton, and seconded by Mr. W. Gorrie. Dr. Irvine and Mr. Hibble were appointed tellers. The result of a show of hands was as follows : Bentley, 41 ; Webb, 21 ; Burn, 47 ; Jennings, 11 ; Carter, 45; Aitken, 12; Orsmon, 17. Messrs. Burn, Carter, Bentley, and Webb, were declared duly elected. A poll was demanded for Mr. Aitken, by Messrs. Watts, Nation, and Freeman. Tho chairman said the poll would be taken between the hours of 1 2 and 4 to-morrow. Messrs. H. D. Jackson and Hibble were appointed auditors. Mr. Akersten moved, and Mr. Aitken seconded that the rates to be levied be published at least 21 days before ifc be too late to appeal against an excessive assessment. A. discussion arose as to] the cost of advertising, and the motion was lost. The proceedings 'terminated by the customary vote of thanks to the chairman.