CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 75, 28 March 1878, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the ' Evening Mail.'

Sir, — A month ago there appeared in your City Council report a resolution passed by that body that " the Surveyor report upon the widening of the Haven Road beyond the Commercial Wharf, and the advantage of a permanent wall over the present boarding, which each tide damaged, and which is a constant source of expense." At their last meeting, the Council received the Surveyor's report that a " totara breastwork be erected" inetead of a permanent wall. As soon as I saw what the City Council wanted, I wrote a letter to that body suggesting that the above named wall be built of boulder stones, which are plentiful on the spot, with coal tar mortar. lam confident that a Avail built with those materials can be made cheaper than of totara, and will be everlasting, as no power of sea can hurt it, whereas a wooden structure will get wet and dry, will open, be it done ever so well; the high tide will wash the earth from behind, and, as a matter of course, become a "constant source of expense " to the ratepayers. I also wish to point out that totara is now very expensive, and a really good quality of it is not to be got about Nelson. What is now mostly bought for totara is really no better than white pine for lasting. I think the city funds will not be judiciously expended in this matter if the temporary wooden wall will he erected. It does nob appear in the report who the Councillor was that brought the motion forward for a permanent wall, nor the Councillors who voted for the wooden or temporary wall. I think the ratepayers ought to be more fully informed in a matter of so great an expenditure of the city funds. I wish to see the opinion of the Press, as the ratepayers, in this matter of wooden versus atone walls. Yours, &c, Ekick Orb. Nelson, March 26, 1878.