THE BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 159, 10 July 1867, Page 2

THE BOARD OF WORKS.

To the Editor op the Nelson Evening Mail. Referring to the paragraph on the meeting of the Board of Works wtiich appeared in your issue of yesterday^ I beg to state that I never complained about, never mentioned, a water-table. I gave

to the Chairman a written notice that I should hold the Board responsible for any damage caused to my property — not by a water-table, but by the lowering of a footway, as was then being done, by some 22 inches. I did this upon two grounds — first, that the excessive lowering was unnecessary; secondly ; that in the report of J the Board of Works, adopted in July, 1863, the following paragraph appeared : "In Bridge-street . . the road on the other side of the river has been cut down and formed, with footpath, &c, at a cost of £162 10s." To show that the first ground of my objection was correct, I may say that, instead of persisting in lowering the pathway in front of my house as they had commenced, they actually filled a large portion of it again, and have now lowered it by some six inches only, The second ground of my objection was, that iv 1863 the Board said they had " formed the street, &c, at a cost of £162 10s." It was not till after this forming of the street that I built my house at its present level ; and I contend that, after the Board shall have ploughed up a street and formed it, they mean thereby to give the proper level for building. How otherwise can anyone say that bis house is at a proper level? I met a member of the Board this morning, who admitted that he had caused the intended level to be altered, because the workmen had made a mistake in cutting the footway so low. This may be the true reason for thus, in a left-handed way, complying with my objection; for it was not till after my complaint was made. Yet I cannot think it was so, for the Secretary to the Board was in the street looking after the men but an hour or so before the level was altered. The resolution of the Board should therefore, I think, have read that the work was now being carried out to the satisfaction of all parties. Yours, &c, Alfred Hibble. July 9th, 1867. v