DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 541, 13 March 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, March 13, 1876. The Board met at 10.30 a.m. Present— Mr F. Hobbs (chairman), Messrs A. Duncan, T. D. Jones, H. J. Hall, R. J;S. Harman, Ross, and E, G. Wright. The Mayor said that the sub committee appointed to prepare the debentures had been able to get them prepared, and had handed them to the bank that morning in time for transmission to London. The seal had also arrived, and had been used on the occasioli. It might perhaps be necessary to formally adopt the seal as the seal of the Board. It would also be as well to consider what sum they might require to raise in London oh the debentures, for it was perhaps not necessary to discuss that question to-day, He had mentioned to the bank that it was probable the Board might require some money to-day, and the reply he had received from the manager was that the Bank would be happy to supply what was wanted. He might state that they had received an offer of the offices now occupied by the New Zealand Shipping Company on the following terms, viz. £l5O a year, terminable at a month’s notice, On the motion of Mr Wright, seconded by Mr Harman, the offices were directed to be engaged on the terms mentioned. The question of furniture, fuel, and cleaning, was left to the chairman to take the necessary steps to provide for. Mr Ross moved—“ That the seal now laid upon the table be used as the temporary seal of the Board, and that an impression be made in the minute book, and that the clerk

be authorised to have a box made for its ‘ custody.” The motion was agreed to. The chairman said that the committee appointed for the occasion had taken Mr Bell, the engineer, round the Southern and Eastern part of the district, and Mr Bell would submit a rough report on his visits, containing certain suggestions. It might perhaps be necessary, in order to relieve some portions of the city of surface water, to construct a main drain down the Ferry road. He (the chairman) directed a letter to be written to the Provincial Government asking them if they would join the Board in the necessary expense, instead of constructing an independent drain to Opawa to drain the railway premises. He might also state that Mr Warner, the railway engineer, and Mr Walkden, the city surveyor, had accompanied Mr Bell and the committee. To that letter, at present ne reply had been received, but he believed it would be forwarded The following report from Mr Bell was “ I have the honor to report for the information of the Board that a commencement has been made with the levels required as data for a general scheme of drainage. Steps have been taken to procure an enlarged and accurate plan of the town, which will be indispensable in arranging the details of town drainage. .. “ In reference to the letter addressed by the railway engineer to the Provincial Secretary, dated February 23rd, on the matter of the drainage of the railway station, a letter has been sent from the Drainage Board to the Government, asking that the balance of the grant of £SOOO appropriated for that purpose be handed over to the Drainage Board, to oe devoted to the efficient drainage of the railway station and adjacent lands. A of levels will be taken this week, from which the best method of effecting this drainage will be decided on. “ The arrangements for procuring a set of offices are not yet completed. “Charles Napier Bell, . “ Engineer.” The report was approved. The chairman said that Mr Bell had informed him that as a merely temporary measure he should recommend if it were necessary the construction of an open drain down the Ferry road, to relieve the district of storm water. That could, however, only be done after the levels were taken. Or Jones moved—” That the chairman and Meesrs Duncan and Wright wait on the Government, and urge upon them their concurrence in the letter addressed to them on the matter of the railway drain.” Mr Ross seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The receipt for the debentures was laid on the table by the chairman. The question of the costs of valuations, &c, was left to the chairman and Mr Harman to arrange. The Board adjourned to 10.30 a.m, on Monday next.