Local Intelligence. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 40, 2 April 1864, Page 2

Local Intelligence. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Thubsdat, Mabch 31. Present : Mr. Webb, in the chair ; Messrs. Bentley, Sait, Graham, and Burn. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Tenders were received for gravelling Nile-street, and that of Mr. Gardner was accepted on the following terms : — The road at £3 19s. per chain ; footpath, at £1 Is. per chain. The Secbetaby reported that the Overseer was unable to attend that evening, but that he had seen and assertaincd from him that the cost to make up ' the footpath in Halifax-street would occupy the men employed by the Board for about a week. Consideration deferred till next meeting. Mr. Moore's letter to the Board was again considered, and it was resolved — " That the Overseer prepare a plan and estimate of tho probable cost of making up the road on the east and south side of Trafalgar-square, at two gradients, namely, from the street to the square, and thence to Nile-street. The road on the east side to be of the width which the stuff on the ground will allow. An application was received from Mr. Lewthwaite and others, that the footpath in Hardy-street might be made up, from Jems' s corner to Dements. It was resolved, " That tho footpath be made up, and that the work be let by contract." The Chaibman laid on the table the following correspondence which had taken place between himself and Mr. Charles Elliott :— " To Mr. J. Webb, Chairman of the Board of Works. " Sib — Being sensible of the great danger which the spread of goree in the streets of Nelson causes, I am anxious to ascertain on whom the responsibility

rests of clearing the streets of this increasing nuisance. If it -be established that the duty of performing this necessary work legally falls upon the owners or occupiers of property adjoining the streets ■where gorse is growing, I shall be ready to perform my share of the task, which I shall be then satisfied properly belongs to me ; if, on the other hand, the duty is shown to devolve upon the Board of Works, it will be well that it should know and accept its position, and the public of Nelson be made acquainted with the true facts of the case. " I am, &c., " C. Elliott. " Nelson, March 21,1864" "To Charles Elliott, Esq. " Sir —l beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter inquiring on whom the responsibility rests to remove the gors>e growing on those streets where gorse hedges ai*e planted. In reply, I can only state my own opinion as an individual member of the Board of Works, but will lay your letter beforo the Board at their next meeting. " You are of course aware, from the published reports of the meeting of the Board, that I have repeatedly brought the subject of gorse fences under the notice of the members. 1 personally regret that active steps have not been taken to abate the evil of allowing gorse fences to spread in the manner they have done. " Ab to tho question of who shall bear the expenses of removing the gorse fences from the streets, it is my opinion that those persons owning gorse fences, which, for want of proper trimming, have spread over the adjoining streets, are bound to have them properly cut, to do which they must remove the gorse from the streets in order to reduce their hedges to a reasonable size. It would be an injustice to the ratepayers to have to bear the expenses of removing a nuisance caused by the neglect of individuals. " I am, &c, "Joseph Webb." "Nelson, March 23, 1861." Mr. Webb's answer was approved by the Board and ordered to be entered on the minutes. It was resolved, that the Secretary take immediate proceedings to secure from persons in arrear of last year's rate, tho amount due both for that and the present year's rate.