ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 94, 5 March 1862, Page 4

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

'' TIIE TOWN BOARD AND MR. GREEN. 1 To the Editor of the. " Daily Times." Si ii,-—ln the report of the proceedings of the Town ' Board, that appeared in your paper of Friday and Saturday last, relative to the lowering of the levels of Princes-street, it would appear to nuy person reading it that. I was endeavouring to obstruct the Town ■ Board in the matter ; I therefore beg to forward you . a copy ofthe letter that I wrote to their clerk to lay , before them on the subject, and whicli gives a correct ' account ofthe whole transaction, which I trust you - wiU publish, in order to place the matter fairly before the public. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, George Gkeen. - Dunedin, March 3, 1862.

Tpwn Board Utbce, Dunedin, 27th February, ISG2. Siß,—l am directed by the Town Board of Dun- ■ cdin to inform yon that the Roard contemplate lowering that part "of Prlncesrstrcct opposite yoijr property to the depth of about five feet, and to request you to state, as c.irly as possible, whether, and on • what terms, you will be willing to sink the fouiiel- ' ation, lately erected by you upon the said property, 'to the proposed level. I have the honor to be, Sir, ■ your obedient servant, Ghari.es Reid, ! Clerk to tlie Town Board. L Mr. George Green, Dunedin.

Town Board Ulhce, Dunedin, 28th February, 1862. Sin,—l am directed by the Town Board of Dunediu to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, stating that the expense of lowering your foundation, kc, would amount to about seventyiive ponuels, nnd in reply thereto to inform you that the Hoard have determined to proceed with tlie proposed alteration of level of Princes-street, and decline the terms stated iii your communication, but will be prepared to pay what they may consider the actual cost of lowering the foundation in question. I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Charles Reid, Clerk to the Town Board. Mr. George Green, Dunedin.

Dunedin, March Ist, 1802. To the Clerk of the. Tom>>. Bo.trd. Srn,—l beg to ack:io.v!.:dge th:; rewipt of your letter of yesterday, statin a- tliat the Hoard would proceed willi the lowering of Pri.ico.i-.sireet, nnd will pay what they may consiik-r the nciuiil cost of lowering the foundation ofthe house I am about to civet. In reply, I beg to star.; I urn sorry to Mod that the Board seem to imply, from the tcu'ni' of your letter, that. I wish to extort,a larger amount, than sufik-ient to cover tha expenses ofthe necessary alterations to be incurred through the altering (he levels of Prin-ces-street, which I maintain tiie wh.ile course of my conduct does not warrant. You will remember that prior to the cnmncnccmeiit.of my buildinir, I waited on you to get the proper levels, stating to you at the time that 1 was about to build and when-. You furnished me wilh the plans, and told me that I must take the centre of the street for the level. Aim in reply to a question of mine, as to whether the levels we're likely to he altered or not, you gave it as your opinion that they would not be altered. I then entered into contracts with certain parties for the excavation and erection-of my building, nnd the foundation is no sooner completed thau I am informed by the Board, through you, that tiie street is . to be lowered in front of my place five f"'Ct, and thnt the Board is willing to pay for the alterations required. I then made enquiries ofthe workmen what their charges would be to make the necessary alterations in accordance with the new levels. Many of these charges I reduced considerably, and then imme-. diately wrote you what it would amount to, namely, £7.5. In conclusion, I beg to state that if the Board think that they can complete the alterations for a less sum than the amount I have stated, tbey are quite at liberty to do so; but the work must be proceeded witb by Monday morning next, as I am under an engagement to have the p'.aee completed by a certain time. I have already lost, a fortnight, and it will be fully another fortnight before I can bo in the samo position I was when I stopped the work for : your convenience. You will therefore be good :' enough to let me know during the day what course I ,am to pursue, otherwise I shall go on with the present building, and hold the Board responsible for all loss or damage I may sustain from the deteution of the work and tbe alteration ofthe levels. I am, Sir, &c, George Green.