Lyell Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1886.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 259, 6 February 1886, Page 2

Lyell Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1886.

A letter has been forwarded to the Chairman and Councillors of the Buller pointing out the injustice and utter absurdity of carrying out a piece of work now in contemplation in Lyell. The work referred to, is cutting down the existing road some three feet in order to save inconvenience to two householders, who, unfortunately, when erecting their premises some years ago, carried out the system of the man who built upon the sand. The road or street in this particular place is already too low or is situated in fact in a hollow, and carries a grade greater than one in twelve. It is simply impossible that any engineer could be found to recommend such alterations, as by doing so he must be aware that he would make his Council liable to very heavy action by householders on the other side of the street, whose properties would be left almost inaccessible, apart from the fact of altering the grade allowed by the Govermnent standard to a very material extent. There is another strong objection to the pursuance of this alteration contained in rendering completely useless a short road going up to the Alhainbra Hotel, and one which is of great necessity, not alone to the pedestrian traffic of Lyell but to waggoners and others using vehicles, for the purpose of turning, the street being too narrow for that purpose, and by going up the one road they can return by the other. Any interference with this custom would prove a very great inconvenience. While de-

precating any interference with the present state of things except in the direction of raising the road at the point stated, we do not dispute the right of those householders whose property are jeopardised every time it rains by water rushing into their' premises, and we would only be too pleased to see that the Council would if possible recognise their claims, and wheu doing so, see that their properties are raised sufficiently to admit of the road being levelled for a distance of three and a-half chains. By adopting this course the Council would be the means of abolishing a very dangerous incline after coining round a sharp point into the township, and a place at which a serious accident may occur any day.