NELSON BOARD OF WORKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 166, 16 July 1870, Page 2

NELSON BOARD OF WORKS

Friday, July 16.

Present : Messrs D. Burns (chairman), Messrs. R. Burn, J. Webb, J.P. Black, J. Percy, aud J. 11. Dodson.

"WASHINGTON VALLEY.

Tenders for gravelling in Washington Valley were opened, and tbat of Buchanan was accepted.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The Secretary read a rough draft of the aunual report, to be read at the meeting of ratepayers on Monday, the 25th inst.

A comparative statement, showing the revenue from and expenditure in the various blocks into which the town is divided, was also read, and submitted to the Board, to decido whether or not it should be added to the report.

Mr. Black said it was easy to see the reason why this statement had been prepared, — it was evidently an attempt to do away with the justice of the remarks he 'had made with reference to the expenditure iii the outlying districts of tho town. Besides, what did it signify to him if a portion of a street three-fourths of a mile away were made up— it was no benefit to him.

It was explained to Mr. Black that this statement had been drawn up every year, though it had uot been inserted in the report. Mr. Webb moved that a detailed statement be drawn up. He did this in order to refute statements made iv a letter which appeared in the Colonht signed by Mr Black. There were quite enough figuresto disprove his assertions. Mr. Burn said that the Board had never been so grossly insulted as they had been by Mr. Black's letter. That gentleman could not have referred to the books of the Board, to which he had free access, or such statements could not have been made. If all the rates raised iv the centre of the town were spent there, the streets could be paved aIL over. Mr. Percy said that as Mr. Black courted public opiniou he could have no objection (o the publication of the statement. After some further discussion similar to that at previous meetings, Mr. Webb said that it was his opinion that Mr. Black had been actuated by selfish motives, and wished to get an unfair share of the public money expended in the neighborhood of his own property. j Mr. Black repudiated selfish motives, and after some further discussion, the the draft report was referred for revision to the Finance Committee, and Mr. Webb's j motion that the comparative statement in I detail be added to the report, was carried. LETTERS, ETC. A long letter was received from Mr. Acton Adams, requesting tho Board to j make up a portion of Shakespere-walk or to «rant him a sum equivalent to two years' rate, on condition that he made up J tho road as far as his own gate. The matter was deferred till the election of a new Board. A request from Mr. Potter, of ths Postboy Hotel, to make a,, ditch to drain his property, was granted, on condition I that it was uot for sewerage purposes. | Letters from Messrs. C. Moore 1 , TI. j Lewis, G-. Buckeridge, and Garrard & Bullard, ou minor matters, were disposed of, , A letter from Mr. Bush, calling attentiou to the state of Eussell-street, was received, and the Surveyor directed to make temporary repairs. On the motion of Mr. Percy the full consideration of the matter was referred to the new Board. Mr. Percy moved that a white wicketgate be placed at the entrance of the enclosure iv which the Board of Works Office stood. The approach was now dangerous at night. Agreed to. The Board then adjourned till Monday B the 2oth inst., at 11 o'clock.