The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1868. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 181, 3 August 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1868. NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

The first meeting of the Board for the present year took place on Friday evening at the Board Room. Present: — Messrs Bentley, Burn, D.Burns, Field, J. Hooper, Percy, and Webb.

The minutes of the previous ordinary meeting, and of the annual meeting on Tuesday last, were read and confirmed.

The Board then proceeded to the election of a Chairman, and Mr J. Hooper having taken the chair pro tem., Mr Webb proposed and Mr R. Burn seconded the nomination of Mr D. Burns, who, however declined to stand. Mr Percy then proposed, and Mr R. Burn seconded that of Mr Bentley ; Mr Webb being proposed by Mr D. Burns, and seconded by Mr Field. The two candidates having retired, and the votes being equal, two for each, Mr James Hooper gave his casting vote ia favor of Mr Bentley, who proffered his thanks, and promised to use his best endeavors to further the wishes both of the ratepayers and of the Board. The Election of the Surveyor and Secretary for the current year then occupied the attention of the Board, and an opinion was generally expressed to the effect that the time ha£ arrived when some change mi^ht be made in the disposition of these offices, inasmuch as Nelson was increasing daily in importance, and the works which the Board was employed in carrying out would engage all the time and attention of the Surveyor, especially as the Government had expressed their wish that he should undertake the superintendence of the extensive work for the improvement of the Waimea Road, for which a vote was passed last session by the Provincial Council.

After a very lengthy discussion, the following resolutions, proposed by Mr Percy, were adopted : — { 1. That a Clerk and Surveyor to the Board be appointed, at a salary of £250 per annum, whose duties shall be the same as those exercised by the present Secretary to the Board/ 2. * That an Assistant Clerk be also appointed, at a salary of £150 per annum, who shall assist in making the annual assessment, keep the books and accounts of the Board, collect all rates, act as Inspector of Nuisances, and generally assist the Chief Clerk in all correspondence and other matter connected with the businesa of the Board, and who shall find security to the amount of £500 for the due performance of his duties.'

On the Board proceeding to the election of Chief Clerk, Mr Hooper proposed.; and Mr D. Burns seconded the appointment of Mr Younger as Clerk and Surveyor to the Board, which was unanimously agreed to.

Mr Younger returned thanks, and expressed his intention to fulfil his duties with advantage to the public, and a regard to the wishes of the Board, as far as he was able.

The Board then resolved that an advertisement be inserted in the public newspapers, for a duly qualified person to act as an Assistant Clerk to the Board, stating salary, &c, applications to be sent in by Wednesday, sth August, at 4 o'clock.

It was agreed to accept the offer of prison labor, the Board to furnish carts, for executing sundry works in Brookstreet, near Mr Brunner's property. •

The Clerk stated that he had communicated the refusal of the Board to allow Mr Scotland to encroach five inches on the pathway in Trafalgar-street, for the purpose of erecting a pilaster column, but no notice whatever had been taken of the Board's decision, and the column was being erected. The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr Scotland that unless the encroachment be removed, legal proceedings will be immediately taken to enforce its removal. Messrs Field, Percy, and Bentley, were elected the Finance Committee for the ensuing year, and Messrs Burn, Hooper,

D. Burns, and Webb the Public Works Committee.

The Clerk reported that, in reply to an application to the Government, he had received a very complete and valuable plan of the Haven-road, from the Postoffice to the Customhouse, and the Clerk was directed to convey the thanks of the Board to the Government for the same.

A letter was read from Mr D'Albedhyl, requesting the Board to repair Hampdenstreet, and the Clerk was instructed to comply with this request. A letter was read from Mr F. Stock, calling the attention of the Board to a sluice at the side of his property on the Waimea-road, where, the ground having given way, the road has been rendered dangerous to passengers. The Clerk was instructed to inform Mr Stock that as the matter complained of was on private property, the Board could not entertain the subject. A letter was received from A. J. Richmond, Esq., informing the Board that several yards of the wood breastwork atthe termination of the Haven-road, had been torn away by the recent gale and suggesting that immediate steps be taken to repair the damage, as the next high tide would probably destroy more of the road. The subject was referred to the Public Works Committee, and the Clerk was instructed to inform Mr Richmond, that immediate action will be taken in the matter.

The Auditors' Report was then read, which stated that the Balance-sheet of the Board had been examined by them, the accounts compared with the vouchers, and found to be correct. The report stated the accounts to be clear and straightforward, and altogether in a>ery satisfactory state.

A petition, signed by Mr R. Lucas and about 60 inhabitants of Washington Valley, was read, calling the attention of the Board to the extremely bad condition of the road from Saltwater Bridge up the Valley, and requesting that it be permanently and efficiently repaired. The Clerk was directed to inform Mr R. Lucas that the matter had been already brought before the Board, when it was decided to execute the necessary works in Washington Valley as early as practicable, and that temporary repairs should be immediately made.

Several accounts were then passed by the Board, and ordered to be paid, and the Board adjourned at halfpast 9 p.m., until the*sth August, when the applications for the office of Assistant Clerk will be received.