The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1869. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 178, 31 July 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1869. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Friday, July 30. The first meeting of the new Board was held last night. Present : all the members. On the motion of Mr. Webb seconded by Mr. R. Burn, Mr. D. Burns was elected chairman. Mr. Burns returned thanks for the honor again conferred upon him. The Board then proceeded to discuss the question of re-appointing an assistant Clerk, &c. Mr. Webb moved, " That the appointment of assistant Secretary be postponed until !the Board bad had time to reconsider the desirability of continuing the appointment." He considered that the whole system upon which they were working was extravagant in the extreme, for instance there was the £250 paid to two men for looking after two horses. Mr. Burn said that this was not the first time Mr. Webb had made this statement which was the grossest falsehood that could possibly be uttered, as the duties of the two men were by no means confined to looking after the horses, but that they did as much work as any two men in Nelson. Mr. Webb objected to Mr Burn's language, as being unnecessarily strong. Mr. Percy so far supported Mr. Webb's motion as to postponing the appointment until after the meeting on Tuesday next, as the public might deem it advisable to express an opinion with regard to the reduction of expenditure. A general feeling of dissatisfaction was expressed with regard to the apathy displayed by the ratepayers at the late election when no questions were put to any of the members. Mr. Black objected to doing away with the assistant clerk as being an act of false economy, whereby a larger amount of work would devolve upon the Secretary than he could get through. He would take the opportunity of calling attention to the irregularity of the proceedings, and would suggest that it might tend to the more speedy despatch of business, if members, instead of adopting the conversational style, would address the chair. Mr. Burn moved as an amendment to Mr. Webb's resolution—" That the office of Collector be filled up at — per annum. Mr. Webb said, that if Mr. Burn's motion was to be put to the meeting, he would ask leave to withdraw his own, in order that he might move an amendment to that of Mr. Burn's. Mr. Burn said, that if Mr. Webb's resolution was withdrawn, he should ask leave to withdraw his also. Leave granted. Mr. Webb then moved — "That the ofiice of Collector and Assistant Secretary be not continued, but that the duties be performed by the Clerk to the Board, as this Board considers that the duties of the Clerk will be much lessened lor the ensuing year, owing to the reduction in the amount of rates to be expended. Mr. Black agreed with Mr. Webb, that with less to be spent, there would not be so much work for the Surveyor. He objected to the system of day labor instead of letting the works by contract. A long discussion then ensued as to the respective merits of contract work and . day labor. Mr. Burn moved, as an amendment to Mr. Webb's resolution—" That a Collector of [Rates and Inspector of Nuisances lie appointed for the ensuing year, at a salary, of — per annum. Agreed to. Mr. Webb moved that the blank be filled up with £100. Seconded by Mr. 'Hopper.

Mr. Webb then moved— " That the' salary of Collector &c, be £50 per annum, and a per centage of 2^-.- per cent, on the amount of -rates collected. The amount of security he shall give shall be £250." Mr. Percy objected to 'Mr. Webb's bringing forward two resolutions on the same subject. Mr. Webb said that his first was only a verbal one, and that when he -came to reduce it to writing, he deemed it , expedient to alter it. He would wish to withdraw' his first resolution. Mr. Akersten said that Mr. Webb was increasing the Collector's salary as. he proposed to pay him, for collecting the rates alone as much they were now p-iying for that duty combined with clerical assistance. Mr. ! Webb intended the 'etcetera' he had introduced into his resolution to include all the other duties. Mf. Percy moved as an amendment that the salary of Collector of Rates and Inspector of Nuisances, be £125. Mr. Hooper moved as a further amendment that it bo £100. Mr. Akersten moved, as a still further amendment, " That a Collector of Rates be paid 2\ per cent on the amount of rates collected, and that the same individual fill the office of Inspector of Nuisance at £20, and assistance at assessment £15. Mr. Hooper's amendment was ultimately ' agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Percy it was resolved "That the duties of the Collector I shall be to collect the rates, act as Inspector of Nuisances, assist in making the assessment, and generally assist the Cler^p to the Board in all necessary works in the oflice, and that he shall give security to the amount of £250 for the due performance of his duties. Certain accounts were then passed, and the meeting adjourned until Friday next.