THE RHYTHM OF THE RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 311, 31 December 1872, Page 2

THE RHYTHM OF THE RAILWAY.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sic, — I am glad to see by the Colonist this morning that the Nelson and Foxhiil railway is getting on. Owing it 3 conception to agitation on the part of the population, it has successfully resisted repeated attempts at strangulation, and has at last, after, considerable hesitation, arrived at the stage of "ratification." If it does not progress any faster than this it will; be a tarnation long time before it comes to a termination. I am, &c, Hallucination.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir, — In reference to the culvert proposed to be built by special, rates, imposed by the Board of Works, on the inhabitants who live on the northwest side of the town, I may state that it appears to me to be a great mistake to perpetuate the folly begun by the inhabitants of Trafalgar-street, in specially rating themselvesfor the construction of culverts. The fact of their doing so may induce oihers to do the same, but if the principle is unworthy of our acceptation it ought no longer to be followed. If a public draio is_built, and that drain prove to be a public benefit, it ought to be built at the public expense. A drain in Bridge-street would be a waste of money, although we had the money to spaie, which we have not. There is no wide ditch there to obstruct thoroughfare or business, as there was in Trafalgar-9treet, to justify the expense of a drain. The only part where the building of a drain in the line proposed might be justified would be from Halifax-street to the junction of Waimea and Hardy-streets To take it further up Waimeastreet would induce a belief that we had more money than brains to apply it to a good purpose. The principle of levying special rates is not to be admired. Every drain that is useful must be a public benefit, and should be constructed at the public expense, as part of a public plan, and under the sanction of the Government or the Board of Works, and extended from time to time as necessity required. This would be just to all parties, and prevent that ill-feeling which is sure to arise amongst neighbors living in those localities where special drains are proposed to be constructed. If a nuisance really exist, can a simpler and cheaper plan not be adopted to remove it ? The locality is not so thickly inhabited as other districts in town, where one doeß not hear of nuisances. From the junction of Hardy-street with Waimea-street to the top of the latter street I am sure that nothing in 'the shape of a nuisance, if nuisance can be said to have, a shape, exists. Let the inhabitants meet and appoint a committee to inquire into the matter, and I have no doubt that the evils complained of will be removed, without injustice to any person. For a great i' justice it is, to compel people to pay a heavy price for.something which .is not required in a great part of the district proposed to be taxed for culverts. lam, Sir, „ , r . Ratepateib.