CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 4 October 1907, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

CITY COUNCIL MATTERS. To the Editor. Sir,— Before tf_o City Council fixes the brick area, the matter should be fully considered, otherwise hardship will be inflicted on several owners of land with, in the proposed area. For instance, it is proposed to take in both sides of \\ aimea-street, from the Golden Fleece Hotel to Hali fax -street, the south side of Halifax-street from Waimeastreet to Collingwood-street and Col-lingwood-street to Nile-street. Considering this area is outside the present area covered by the City Council's building regulations, it is both unfair and absurd to make the brick area so extensive. For instance, there is a considerable portion of land in Waimea, Halifax, and Collingwood-streets still not built upon, for tho simple reason that it would not pay the owners at present to build even wooden structures. And considering building in brick is much more expensive than building in wood, if the proposed area is agreed to, it simply means that for many years there will be no buildings erected at all on the streets mentioned, and the Council will also suffer through loss of revenue in increased rates. ' It is perfectly right to have a brick area, but it this covered the business portion of the city, i.e., Trafalgar, Bridge, and Hardy streets, it would surely be sufficient for a few years. In addition to this area, it would bo wise to insist upon all liotel and boarding house's within the city being built or re-built of brick. Then another suggestion is made by j. Councillor, "that the Council pur- , chase its own horses and carts." Surely the Councillor making the suggestion can know little ir nothing of the matter, for it would be the height of foils' for the Council to own its own horses . and carts. Let us see how it would work out. Th* Council is now paying twelve shillings (12s) a day for man, horse, and cart, and at the busiest part • of the year employ four or five carts at the most. As the man is entitled to 8s a day for his labour, it leaves 4s a day for the feed of each horse, wear and tear of cart and harness, and risk of accident to horse and cart. It costs 3s a day to feed each horse, including rugging, bedding and shoeing the animal, so all the Council pays for use of cart, and for wear and tear, etc., is one shilling a day for each one-horse team. As they seldom employ more j that four carts, the saving could only t be 4s a day, or 24s a week, and to . carry out the suggestion to procure their j own horses and carts would mean an . outlay of £200 for draught horses (£SO f each), £80 for four carts, and, say, £30 . for harness, or a total outlay for plant of £310. They would then have to . erect stables and cart sheds, and pro- , bably keep a man, or pay their present employees extra to attend to the horses, so clearly no saving could be j effected ; while the risk of losing a , horse by disease or accident would also I have to be borne by tX Co .mil. A tlrrd ..litter whicll s'.ruck mc as , iw.i.i.'- <rj_= i-.y sr."gost.inn that Vvainui i street 1..« graded, instead of puttUiii in pipes with a valve to carry sui face water off the street, nr? suggested by the i Engineer, who should know what" he is talking about. Tne street is graded to ) the centre by Hie late Engineer, for the reason that it had to be, and it is ab- , surd to talk cf grading the street to get rid cf tho surface water from the water tables; for by Rrading it in the ■ way suggested it would admit tidal water, In conclusion, I think it would be far better to leave these questions to their Engineer, than for tiic Committee to pose as amatuer engineers themselves. _ I am, etc, i UNO.