WONDERS IN INVERCARGILL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 19, 21 December 1863, Page 2

WONDERS IN INVERCARGILL.

JJY A TOCTIfa MAX ABOUT TOWN. Before JjnncTi. Wonder, it I went to the Government offices, wehther I should stumble against an engineer ? Wonder, if I stumbled against the Roads Engineer, nnd I asked him how about the North roads'? What he would say. . Wonder, if I asked him to have a cigar and a | glass of dry sherry, whether he would feel pleased ? Wonders what he does ? . After Lundi. . Wonder more than ever what he does ? Wonder -wlkij organising.a department means ? Wonder whether it means sitting in a chair with your less on the desk, smoking a cigar ? Wonder whether I could organise a department ? Wonder if I. could learn to sit and smoke all dav? Wonder, if I asked the Road Engineer to teach me.-whether he would ? Wonder, if I become proficient, whether I could get a billet in the Roads Department P After Dinner. Still wonder what the "Roads Engineer is doing ? Wonder what all the horses in the Government stable d<> ? Wonder what they are kept for? Wonder if they are meant for Government service, or to be lent to the friends of officers in the Roads Department ? Wonder if I could get the loan of one for ne xt Sunday ? Wonder if there are enough engineers in. the Province? Wonder why they dont make the Chief Surveyor, Engineer of Surveys ? Qolnff to-bed. Wonder more than ever what the Roads Engineer docs ?

TOWN -.BOARD, Friday. 18th December, 1863. The Board met at five o'clock, present tlie Chairman, Lockhart. Li vesey, Jagge: s, Scandrett, Calder, arid M 'lvor. /THE PEE-STIVEET CONTRACTS. A nhmber of fenders for the prratings in Dee-st-eet-r-the contract for which by Mr Maharg hurl been forfeited — were received ; that from Messrs Moffatt and Newton was accepted. The following: correspondence^ wag submitted to the Board by' the' Engineer.. .„. "December, 15th, 1863. "Sir. — T beg to direefc^ypur^attention to clause (3) in the specification for forming and gravelling Tay-street, the gravel you are at present laving down, though otherwise of a good quality, being unscreened, and containing a large per oentage of sand. " 3— The Roadway — to be covered with clean gravel, to tie passed over a screen to be provided by the Town Board for that purpose; ■-.-..■--.- --"The Board has provided screens, and you ■will be required to adhere to the abovementioned specifica:,ion. " I have the honor to be, Sir, "Yours, fie, "(jr. F. 11ICHA.RD3OX, " Town Enginear, (Pro. Tern. " Mr Campbell, Tay-street, Contractor." To the above the following reply had "been received. "Invercargili, December 15th, 1863* "Sir,— l am in receipt of your letter of this date,- complaining of the gravel laid down in Tay-street contain'ng a large .percentage of sand, although otherwise of good quality. " I have the honor to inform you" that \fe have let the gravelling referred to to Messrs Hare and Stephenson, at the same price we are to receive from • the Boaid, and those gentlemen are bound* to complete the same in accordance with the terms of; the specification,, and to the Town Surveyor's satisfaction." "I am aware that the gravel will not screen, on account of the wet; and before we could get sufficient dry gravel to complete Tay-stveet, we should have to strip all the reserves about town, where dry gravel is obtainable. "As you are afraid the gravel will not bind, perhaps it would be advisable to lay some of the white over it previous to rolling. Under existing circumstances, I believe there is no better mode of completing the contract with any satisfaction than that we are now following. - •,_..... "I have the honor to be. Sir. " Your's respectfully, " .1. W. Campbell. " G. F. Hichnrdson. Ksq., " Town Engineer." 31A.NURK DEPOT. In consequence of the prohibition of any more manure being deposited in the old Manure Depot, the Engineer had been requested to report on the best site for another. The following letter was read by the Engineer for the information of the Board : — " Invercargill, Dec. 17, 18G3. " Sir, — In accordance with your request, ■we beg, through you, to offer to the Town Board, for the purpose of a Manure Depot, from one to three acres of land, on our property, situated on the East Road ; being part of Block 11. Section .ls, free of charge, for a period or one year certain, with the probability of an extension of time, if all parties are agreeable.— "We have the "honor to be, sir, your most obe'Jient servants, " (Signed) Robertson & Co. " G. F. Richardson, Esq.. "Engineer Town Board," engineer's reports. The Engineer read a repirt as under, with reference to the various subjects specified therein. "He mentioned that the site for the Manure i Depot offered by Messrs. Robertson andjCbr was about one mile beyond the cemetery. ... .--;..-■ -...;. -..-■• > '•December" liit .1863. " To the Chairman of the Town Boar J. "Sin,— l have the honor to submit for your consideration the correspondence between Mr Campbell and myself touching the Tay street contract, as being a matter requiring immediate attention. "In allusion to the letters referred to me by the Board, concerning drain in Spey street, and Manure Depot, I may state that not only is the drain alluded to, both deep and dangerous at the part stated ; but also, that the same drain, from Dee street to the outfall, and the Esk street drain, between the ssme places, is equally so ; making in all about 22 chains which need 'covering, that before they are closed in it will be necessary to alter in places the cxi ting levels, and that from the line of footpath and drain coinciding, it will, as a matter of economy, be advisable to include the laying of the kerbing with the covering of the drains. " From the well -known prevalence of westerly winds, the Manure Depot should be to the eastward of the town, and I would suggest that the Board endeavour to obtain the use of some ground in that direction for the purpose, some distance being necessary, and a little extra distance of moment. 1 " I would also request your consideration of the desirability of including in all future contracts for the formation and grating of footpaths— street crossings— since from past eNperience the Board must be aware of what we may expect during the ensuing -winter, and it is highly improbable that ; all the streets across which they woul I be laid will be in ft finished state before that time. Oft economical grounds I would urge their being included in the contract, since the contractors for a street can afford to lay them at least one fourth cheaper while proceeding with the work than they can be laid afterwards, and the objection raised at the special meeting on Monday, that 'the expense of footpaths was defrayed by a special, and crossings by a geneial rate,' would not interfere with such an arrangement, since each item in a contract is separately accounted for, and on the completion of such, the cost of the crossings might be deducted from the lump sum and set down to its proper account. " Of the many descriptions of crossings which might be adopted, that at present used in Tay Street, is probably the cheapest, but I would suggest a crossing formed of 6x2 timber, laid an inch apart, transversely to the street, arched in itself, and with the street, and supported on longitudinal bearers. " I liave the honor to be, Sir, " Yours, respectfully, " G. P. Richardson, "Town Engineer, protem.'' The following resolution was adopted by the Board :— " That the Clerk be instructed to advertise, wanting occupiers of land to place a piece of land at the disposal of the Board, for a Manure Depot.'' NOTICES OP MOTION FOR NEXT MEETING. 1. Mr Calder to move— " That ail future tenderers be requested to be present, at the time of tenders being opened, when the deposit of ten per cent, must bo paid by the successful tenderer." : - . •• 2. Mr Scandrett to move—" That the Clerk advertise for tenders for painting the names of the various streets (where practicable) that intersect Tay, Dee, and Clyde streets, (at per 4in.. letter.) 3. " That those parties whose tenders are accepted, failing to^earry out their agreement, are hereby restricted from further tendering for six months." f. The meeting then separated. - "'*