CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 203, 5 October 1878, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO Tlllv EIMTOn OF THE 'EVENING MAI!..' Sm— l wish to protest through your columns against the unfair way we are treated here in Russell-street, just as if we belonged to some outlandish nation, and not to Nelson. Member after member has promised what he will do for this street "if you only elect me to the City Council;" then, when elected, all you hear is something about tbe prison labor." What have we got to do with the prison labor . We pay our rates to ko. p our streets in repair, and "all we want is a fair share of those rates laid out in this street, not a few pounds as proposed at the last meeting. By the report of the Finance Committee the estimated receipts for the half-year euding March :31st, 1879 is .-.1909. tbe expenditure £2810, without allowing interest for the overdraft of £2429 rather a large one I think. Yet they they can lay out on a by-street £200 besides some £200 for materials for the same— a rather cunning dodge this to make the sum appear small— whilst for a main thoroughfare like this a few pounds is considered sufficient. Then when a Councillor, whose property •will be specially benefitted by this sewer, proposed on Friday last that all sewers ought to be constructed with borrowed money, and yet he agreed that this one in a by-street shall be constructed out of the rates, whilst the main street (Hardy-street) will have to make shift with a 12-inch pipe. Very suggestive thia. We blame Mr Macandrew for isolating us, but wc should look nearer home and remedy the evils there. I hope the ratepayers will insist upon the Council's accounts being published, after this, in full every six months, so that they may know what those " petty charges, £40," and " contingencies, £100" are made up of. If any street, I think Hardy-street ought to have a good main sewer and not Selwyn Place. Yours. &.., C. R. Sir.coc... Nelsou, Oct. 2, 1878.