TOWN BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 826, 4 February 1868, Page 2

TOWN BOARD

A meeting of the Board was held last night, present: Messrs W. Kells (chairman) E Churton, W. Johnston, D. Eell, F. Williamson, H. Nathan, and G. Beaven. The chairman reported that the works were about to be commenced in connection with the undermining at the bridge on the river bank. The manuka scrub having been supplied at last. The case with respect to the cart licenses about to be tried before the R.M. court had been postponed till this week. Mr Kells reported that he and Mr Field had waited upon His Honor the Superintendent with reference to matters connected with the Town Board. His Honor would not allow an equivalent on the cart licenses (this represents the sum of £57), neither would he allow an equivalent on the Special Auditors’ bill, saying on the subject that if the people of Wanganui were so foolish as to be gulled by such men as Taylor and Soulby they must bear the consequences. The bill of the Special Auditors for £47 5s was passed in accordance with the vote of the ratepayers’ meeting, to be paid from the General Rate ; also application to be made to Mr Soulby for a refund of the same. TENDERS. Tenders had been invited for the cleansing and repairing of the drains on the Industrial School Estate and Town Belt. The work was divided into contracts ; No. 1 running along Industrial School Estate and south side of London-street as far as the bridge. No. 2 extending on the north side of London-street and across the Town Belt —the first was about 63 and the second 75 chains. There were no less than fourteen different tenderers for these works, showing among them the utmost disparity of price. The lowest, that of John Barnes for drains in the Belt and Industrial School Estate at 3s per chain—was accepted conditionally. FOOTPATHS. A requisition from the ratepayers of Guvton Street, between Victoria Avenue and Campbell Street, for a footpath was received and acceded to. A similar request from Mr D. May for a footpath before his section was also agreed to after some discussion. The application of Mr Alexander Bennett of the Exchange Hotel, for liberty to erect a boat shed on the beach opposite his hotel, was laid aside, the Board having no power to grant or withold such a request. PROVINCIALISM. There were several letters from the District Provincial Engineer read, which explain themselves : Wanganui, January 30. Sir, — I am instructed by his Honor the Superintendent that henceforth, as head of the public works department in this district and on behalf of the government, I am to make myself acquainted with all works carried on under the direction of the Wanganui Town Board. I have the honour to request that you will as early as possible cause me to be furnished with a statement of the different works now under contract, giving the amount that they are contracted for, and their localities. I have, &c., James Hogg, District Engineer. To W. Kells, Esq., Chairman of Town Board. Another letter was read (in addition to the following) appointing Tuesday morning as the time Mr Hogg would inspect the works with the Chairman or Surveyor. The next was — Sub-Treasury, February 1. Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that I have written to Mr Kells, Chairman of the Town Board, requesting him that he will cause me to be furnished with a statement of all works under contract, the amount for which each contract is taken, and their localities. Mr Kells waited on me this morning and stated that the Town Surveyor would accompany me over the works, and Bupply me with all information that I may require. I have also the honour to inform you that this morning, in company with Mr John Henson, I measured the drain in London-street, which has been represented to your Honor as having cost £SO, at the rate of £1 per chain. The drain as pointed out to me measured twenty-three

chains. The bridge in the same street represented to have cost £2O, I find to be of the simplest coutruction, the cost of which should not have exceeded £lO. The drain is on the north-west side of the street, I am not certain whether or not the street is included within the town boundaries, if so the Town Board would be entitled to the equivalent in the improvement of the street; if it is not within the town boundaries, the Board had no authority to expend rates on that work. I have, &c., James Hogg, District Engineer. His Honor the Superintendent. The above letters having been considered, the following resolution was unanimously agreed to : The Board, having enquired into the charges implied in Mr Hogg’s letter, found that the work referred to was done by authority of the late Board, that it included other drains to a length of 52 chains besides that measured by Mr Hogg, and another bridge besides that reported on by him. An answer, moved by Mr Bell seconded by Mr Churton, was desired to be sent to the Provincial Sub-Treasurer, stating the above, and suggesting that in future it would be desirable for Mr Hogg to apply to the Chairman or Surveyor for particulars of the Board’s works instead of trusting to imperfect or erroneous information from private individuals. Adjourned.