The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1867. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 228, 28 September 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1867. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

A meeting of the Board took place yesterday afternoon, at half-past three o'clock, at the office- Present : Messrs Bentley (in the chair), Burn, Hooper, Webb, Field, Burns, and Carter.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr Burn, on behalf of the Finance Committee, reported that they had inspected the rate-books, &c, for the last month, and, having compared them with the bank-book, had found them to be correct. The Committee also recommended that Stewart, the general servant of the Board, should receive £2 V Bs per week, instead of £2 14s, all weathers, the lighting of the lamps having been let by contract, and the amount of labor to be performed by him being thereby diminished; that the number of day-laborers at present employed be reduced to two.; that the names on the list of defaulters furnished by Mr Watts, collector of rates, be summoned forthwith, and that the usual warrant be recommended authorising this year's assessment by the Secretary.

A discussion arose with reference to the assistance required by the Secretary in assessing the city, which occupied the Board for a considerable time, and which was conducted with no little acrimony. Mr Webb proposed that an advertisement should be inserted in one newspaper for a person to assist the Secretary in this work, while Mr Hooper suggested that a person should be selected by the Board for this purpose. The matter was however ultimately settled by an amendment proposed by Mr Burn and seconded by Mr Burns, to the effect that the Secretary be authorised to find clerical assistance for the assessment of the town, which was carried on division by 4 to 2.

The report of the Finance Committee was then adopted.

The Secretary reported that he had seen the Native Commissioner, Mr James Mackay, relative to a grant of a piece of land for the purpose of widening Milton Grove, near Bridge-street, and that the Commissioner had granted the requisite permission, conditionally on the consent of (he present tenants of the ground, Messrs Hooper and Dodson. It being intimated that their consent had been obtained, the Secretary was instructed to get the fence removed for the purpose of widening the road.

A letter was read from Mr Beatson requesting permission to erect a loggia or verandah in the front of the warehouse of Messrs Morrison, Sclanders aud Co. in Hardy-street, which was granted without discussion.

A letter was read from Mr Burgoyne, intimating that he had been compelled to give up his contract for the extension of Grove-street West. The Secretary stated that, having communicated this fact to Mr Porthouse, the contractor's surety, the work had been finished by him.

A letter from Mr Akersten was also read, stating that he had been unable to obtain the requisite number of signatures of ratepayers of Russell-street to entitle them to a special rate for the formation of a culvert in that street; and requesting that the Board would effect some improvement in the state of that thoroughfare, which is now nearly impassable. The consideration of this letter was deferred until after the assessment has been completed.

Mr Potter, the contractor for the supply of Boulderbank gravel for the Waimea and Haven Roads, applied for a grant of £50 on his contract, which was granted.

On Mr Adam's application that £45 should be paid him on his contract for the kerbing of Bridge-street, a very sharp discussion ensued, Mr Webb denouncing the work as at present executed as a very rough job, and proposing that no further advance should be made to the contractor until the work was passed. The Secretary explained that work had beeu completed far in excess of the amount asked for, and

stated that several highly competent authorities had spoken favorably of the manner in which the work had been executed, which indeed could only satisfactorily ascertained when the work was finished and passeJ. Mr R. Burn then proposed that the sum asked for by the contractor be allowed, which was seconded by Mr Carter, and carried by a majority of 4 to 2, Messrs Webb and Field voting in the minority.

A letter was read from Mr Porthouse, who had completed Mr Burgoyue's contract, asking payment, and a discussion arose as to whether certain orders given on the Board by Mr Burgoyne to various parties employed on the work, but which had never been recognised by the Board, should be paid to them individually, or whether the entire amount should be paid to Mr Porthouse. The Secretary was instructed to obtain the advice of the Solicitor to the Board; Mr H. Adams, on the subject.

Mr J. P. Cooke's letter, complaining of a nuisance caused by the open ditch running through Messrs Harley's property, and carrying the drainage into Hardystreet, the smell from which is so offensive as seriously to affect the health of his family. The subject was ordered to be referred to the Inspector of Nuisances.

The labor account, &c, having been passed, the Board adjourued at 7 o'clock, until Friday, the 11th October.