The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 182, 3 August 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1871.

Clearly, the framers ol the annual report of the Board of Works for the year just expired were not in a happy slate of mind at the time of its composition. From beginning to end, ..n air of the most profound melancholy pervades the document, which absolutely teems with expressions of regret, that this, that, and the other eveut had or had not occurred. Taking the report in connection with the balance sheet, which latter is, after all, the real, tost of the prosperity of the body to whose proceedings it has reference, we are somewhat, disposed to believe that the members of the Board must, at the time they framed their report, have been suffering from an attack of hypochondria, superinduced by the fact that matters generally were proceeding altogether too smoothly and favorably with them, and that in the absence of any real irritant, they have had resort to exaggerating every little grievance, no matter how minute, upon which they have allowed their minds to dwell so long, that they were unable to resist the opportunity afforded them by the close of the financial year to burst forth in a series of the most doleful lamentations. Passing over the first two clauses which relate to the expenditure, during the year just expired, of the funds placed at their disposal we come to a suggestion that the Bill for providing gasworks and extended waterworks for the town should, prior to its being introduced into the General Assembly be submitted to the Board, and in demanding this, they appear to us to be asking for nothing but what is perfectly reasonable, as they may very possibly be able to offer many valuable hints upou the provisions of the Bill. Then, there is a matter upon which we are not quite so clear. A desire it expressed that the Board of Works may be allowed to alter its name to a " Municipal Corporation," a change which, of course, is to lead to an extension of powers, but with regard to what is meant by these extended powers we are left entirely in the dark, and, from the absence of any information on this head, we are rather inclined to think that the Board had no very clear perception of what it was that it really wanted. On the contrary, this desire to be converted into a Municipal Corporation has very much the appearance of a mere yearning for a something intangible, and at present beyond the reach of those who are endeavoring to grasp it, a craving which is largely increased by the difficulties that stand in the way of obtaining possession of that which, while at a distance, possesses so great attractions for those who desire it. Now, with reference to this particular question we are entirely at variance with the Board. We are unable to see that the proposed change would be productive of the slightest benefit to the ratepayers, whose interests are quite as well cared for by the Board of Works as they would be by a Municipal Corporation. It will be ample time to demand such a change whetit is rendered necessary by circumstances, but that such a. necessity at present exists we are by no means prepared to admit. In its quiet, unnssumiug manner the Board is now doing its work thoroughly and well.^ The ratepayers are perfectly satisfied to allow matters to remain as they are; let their representatives at the Board be so also. A complaiut is raised that the Provincial Council in its last "session voted £200 less to the Town 'than in previous* years,'a grievance, that, from the manner in which; it is expressed, appears ;to, beconsiderably aggravated by the fact that the Waimea Road Board 'was rto.HVea.ed in a like manner. ''And then we come to tbe old, old story — that everlasting bone of

contention which, despite the manner in which, year by year, it is worried and nnggled at, never seems to prow less —the stock grievance that the Waimea Road Board "is still allowed by law to receive the tolls accruing from the toll-gate, when it is known that the existing toll-gate and house stands on the boundary of the city, and which toll this Board thinks ought to be done away with altogether, or the tolls be equitably divided between the Waimea Road Board, and the Nelson Board of Works." Like the doleful monotone of the funeral knell, the word\" toll " rings dismally in our ears in the foregoing sentence until we are induced to regard it almost with loathing, and, as with the word, so with the complaint, in the utterance of which it forms so prominent a feature. We cannot go with the Board in believing that the receipts at the turnpike gate should be divided between the town 'and the Waimea. It is an unfortunate. circumstance that the gate was not erected some eighteen inches further from the Church Hill, as we then should not, perhaps, have heard so much about the great injustice inflicted upon the town, but, setting on one side the question of the site of tlie gate aud house, which after all is a matter of but small moment, there can be no doubt that the tolls there received are, by being placed at the disposal of the Waimea Road Board, productive of more benefit to the district generally than if a portion of them were deducted for the use of the Town Board, the former having nearly as mauy miles of road to keep in order as the latter has chains. To our mind this perpetual "Tumbling at the tax levied by the Waimea Board ou those who use the road, is to say -the least of it, undignified, and unworthy of the Board, which, as is clearly proved by the excellent repair in which the roads -and streets within the town boundary are kept, has at its disposal ample funds for all such works as there is any real necessity for it to undertake. There are two or three minor "regrets" to which we will not now allude, but before concluding our remarks we would suggest to the members'of the Board, both old and new, that they should endeavor to take a more cheerful view of matters, aud not inflict upon the public any more documents so depressing as that read to the ratepayers on Monday last. So far from there being any cause for despondency, a glance at the balance sheet shows, what appears to us to be a most satisfactory state of affairs, aud one that is a matter for congratulation rather than condolence. We may safely venture to assert that, there is not another public body in New Zealand which, with a revenue of ooly £3434, would manage their affairs so economically, that out of that sum very nearly £2900 should be spent in the execution of public works, no more than £375 being expended in salaries. Whatever remarks we may have made on the frequent "regrets" expressed by the Board in their report, of this they may rest assured, that, so long as they continue to perform their duties iv the same satisfactory manner they have hitherto done, they will not be begrudged the exercise of the Englishman's privilege of grumbling, even should they still continue to avail themselves of it to the same extent to which it has been carried in the report before us.