NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 108, 9 May 1870, Page 2

NELSON BOARD OF WORKS.

Friday, May 6. Present : Messrs. D. Burns (chairman), R. Burn, J. Webb, J. P. Black, W. Haddow, J. Percy, and J. R. Dodson. NEW MEMBERS. ' Messrs. Haddow and Dodson, the newly-elected members, were placed on the Public Works Committee which now consists of Messrs. Black, Webb, Dodson, and Haddow. FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee reported that they had examined the accounts for the mouth and found them correct. The sum of £169 ss. 5d for dog-tickets had been placed to the credit of the Board by the Provincfal Secretary. HAKDY-STREET NUISANCE. On the motion of Mr. Black, who said that this nuisance required immediate attention, the Surveyor was instructed to take levels of the various ditches in the locality, with a view to securing a better fall for the water. VANGDAKD-STKEET. Mr. Black drew attention to the state of the culverts crossing the above street at its junction with Hardy-street, showing that the flow of water took a very circuitous route, and formed stagnant

pools of foetid water in some place. This he proposed to remedy, by cutting a drain direct to the pool at the Saltwater bridge, through some private sections. Mr. Burn thought the work unnecessary, besides being very costly, as the proposed culvert in Waimea-street would carry off nine-tenths of the water flowing that way, and nearly all the sewerage, which came from the Waimea-road, and not from Vanguard-street, the drainage from which mainly flowed into St. Vincent-street. Mr. Black disputed this, and produced a rough sketch of the place Which he had drawn, and an animated discussion took place. Mr. Percy then proposed that levels be taken at the various places pointed out by Mr. Black, aud that Mr. Black be requested to visit the owners of the sections in question to see if they would agree to the work being done. Motion agreed to. HALIFAX-STREET. Mr. Black drew attention to the desirability of forming a portion of Halifax-street, in the Wood, and the matter was, on the motion of Mr. Burn, referred to the Public Works Committee. letters, etc. Mr. Burn moved that no contracts be entered into which cannot be finished during the present financial year. Agreed to. A letter from Mr. York asking permission to fence in a portion of Shakespeare Walk was referred to the Public Works Committee. A letter from Mr. Percival, stating that he had sustained a loss by his contract in Harper-street, and asking that the Board would compensate him, either by work or otherwise, was received. Some repairs opposite Mr. R. Levien's store at the Port were ordered. memorial to the' council. Mr. Webb moved that a respectful memorial to the Council be drawn up, asking them to favorably consider the new Debenture Act, about to be brought before them. Mr. Black said he had been told by members of Council that the Act would not pass, as the Council did not think the inhabitants wished the construction of the proposed sewers ; and he thought that the consent of the inhabitants should be at once obtained, in order to meet that view. Mr. Percy explained that the Act itself provided that the consent of the inhabitants should be obtained before the work was commenced — nothing could be done without it, and that if the rate-payers were not willing now, they probably would be by the time the Act became law. He did not think the Council was opposed to it. Mr. Burn proposed that Mr. Arthur Collins, the member for the town, be requested to bring up the Bill, and present the memorial. The Secretary was instructed to draw up the memorial, and submit it to the members of the Board for approval. Mr. Percy, before the subject was dismissed, wished to remark that he thought the Board had done all in their power towards allaying the nuisance, and that if they were not supported by the Council and the Public, the responsibility would not remain with the Board. Sundry accounts were passed, and the meeting adjourned.

much fear that none but bad news can be looked for. It is of course possible that her machinery may have broken down and she have been blown out to sea, but this seems to be the only hope of her safety. We have heard it stated that she might have struck on the " The Steeples," but on making inquiry we find that such a casualty, under ordinary circumstances most improbable, is in the present instance next to impossible, as the mere fact of her towing another vessel out of the Buller would necessitate her going well outside these rocks. It will be remembered that a man named George Dyer, at present in England, lately confessed that he had murdered one George Wilson his mate, at Newstead, Victoria, so far back as 1858. The Argus of 23rd April states that a warrant for Dyer's arrest was applied for attheCastlemaine Police Court that day by Superintendent Winch, who staled that the murderer's confession in London was fully borne out by evidence that could be adduced at the trial. The warrant was granted, aud will be forwardod by the outgoing mail. So the murderer will be brought back to the scene of his crime after an absence of twelve years ! Major Turner's flax mill at Wanganui was burnt down on Friday morning last. There was a large quantity of dressed flax stored on the premises, which, together with the machinery was totally destroyed. The loss is estimated at £500.