DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 565, 10 April 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

This Day. The usual meeting of the District Drainage Board was held this morning, at 10.30 a.m. Present —Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), Tancred, Hall, Innes, Ross. The chairman reported that he had negotiated a draft for £25,000 at six months on London, and had paid over the sum of £IB,OOO to the City Council on account of the purchase of the main outfall drain. He had also received the sum of £I4OO lis, the remaining balance of the grant of £ISOO made by the Council for a drainage scheme for Christchurch and suburbs. Mr Duncan moved—" That the action of the chairman in negotiating the draft for £25,000 be approved." Mr Jones seconded the motion, which was carried.

The engineers' report was read as fol lows :

"I have the honor to report that good progress is being made with the levelling. "1. On reporting to the consulting engineer the steps taken in regard to the Ferry road drain, he fully concurred in the advisability of opening it, and the necessity for a sewer down the road to be built as soon as possible.

"2. I would propose as soon as may be to let the remainder of the drain connecting the present contract with the Waltham road.

"3. I would also recommend a drain to be opened along the east side of the east belt from about Lichfield street to the new drain at the corner of the east and south town belts. This would take all the surface water from Philipstown and convey it to the new drain in times of heavy floods, while the existing small opening being left into the main outfall, the sewage, if any, and the drainage in ordinary weather, would still iind its way into the main outfall. This last drain I would only open when the Ferry road is completed, and along with it is to be considered only as temporary measures of relief from floods. I have, &c, " Chas. A. Bell, "Engineer." The Engineer (Mr Bell) stated that he had been to Wellington during the past week, and had seen Mr Carruthers on the subject of the proposed drain along the Ferry road, and he quite agreed with the plan recommended. There would be a permanent sewer along the projected line of drainage on the Ferry road. The Chairman said, that as regarded the opening of this drain, he had from a conversation had with the chairman of the Heathcote Road Board written a letter to them, informing them that the opening of the drain was simply a temporary measure, and that so soon as the Board saw its way clear, a permanent sewer would be constructed. Mr Duncan enquired what arrangements had been made to enable occupiers of property on the line to get over the drain ? Mr Bell said that he had arranged for the construction of timber bridges over the drain. Mr Jones would like to know whether all the occupiers of land along the line could get at their land ? Mr Bell said that the contractor was to supply the bridges at a certain price, and it was open to the Board to get more if necessary than was stated on the plan. The first clause of the report was approved. On the second clause ft was resolved—- " That the engineer call for tenders for the: carrying out of the work as suggested by him." On the third clause being read, Mr Jones moved—" That the course suggested by the engineer in clause 3 be carried out."

Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which; was agreed to.f It was resolved—" That the clerk be instructed to communicate the resolutionsarrived at as to works to be carried out tothe City Council and the various Road Boards' interested." Tenders for the construction of the- drain 1 on the Ferry road, from Wilson's road to' Chri-tchurch Quay, were openedy and one for £BG9 13s accepted. It was resolved—" That tfie chairman'beauthorised to purchase t!j# (jU&rter aore section on the Ferry road, placed under offer' by Mr S. Davies, at the price named." A letter was read from Dr Doyle, calling' attention to the bad state of the South drain. Dr Doyle's letter was as follows : "I wish to draw the attention of the Drainage Board to the very unsatisfactory state of the South town drain, and to the generally unhealthy condition of that neighbourhood during the latter part of the summer just past. I may mention that typhoid fever and diseases generally of a low type were very prevalent, and were no doubt dependent to a great extent on the . faulty state of the drain. Anyone who • knows the condition in Avhich the drain was . during the greater part of the summer, and considered how closely the three schools of the district and many of the houses are : situated to its foul banks, can easily understand what a hot-bed of disease it must have > been. But my object in addressing you now is not to speak so much of thepast as to the future. I understand that it is the intention of the Board to divert the water from this course, and have the drain filled with earth before hot season again sets in. Now, I would suggest that in addition some provision be made to carry off the surface drainage, which is sure to collect, and become stagnant in the bottom of the drain, even though it is filled in with earth, and which in my opinion will be even more deterious than the open drain is now, but how this is to be accomplished your engineers will be the best judges. " In conclusion, I may remark that it is only at the earnest solicitations of numerous residents in the district that I have presumed to trouble you on the matter." Mr Jones was of opinion that the Board could not abandon the drain, as an immense amount of flood water came down it. They might make a brick drain of it, but could not close it up. Mr Bell said that until Mr Carruther's scheme was developed it was impossible to say what could be done. It could not be turned into Mr Walkden's drain, as it would not hold it ; but he might say that Mr Carruther's attention would in the preparation of the scheme be first din cted to the desirability of getting this drain improved. The clerk was instructed to ackuowledge the receipt of the letter with thanks, and in*

form Dt Doyle that the Board had the matter under its consideration. A letter was read from the solicitors of the Board stating that as the resolution of the Board relative to the opening of the Ferry road drain had been duly passed, no legal notice was necessary. A letter was read from Mr Trigg3, calling attention to some water in Worcester street east.

The letter was referred to the Heathcote Boad Board. A letter was read from the Heathcote Boad Board, calling attention to the bad state of the culvert in St John's road. The letter was referred to the engineer, to confer with the Board, and take such steps as he might deem necessary. A letter was read from Mr Martin calling attention to the flooded state of Worcester street east.

The chairman said that a reply had been Bent informing Mr Martin that the works now in progress would relieve that part of the district from flood water. It was resolved that Mr Bell be instructed to report upon this matter, with the view of Sending a fuller reply to Mr Martin and other residents in that locality. A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, stating that the Government could not see their way clear to hand over to the Drainage Board the balance of the grant for the drainage from the railway station. Mr Jones brought under the notice of the Board the necessity of some precautions being taken to obviate any baj consequences arising from the scattering of the soil out of the Ferry road drain without deodorisatiou. Mr Duncan thought this was a subject with which the Board had nothing whatever to do. He was of opinion that people made far too much of the matter.

The general opinion of the Board was that they should not interfere in any way, and the matter dropped. Several accounts were passed for payment.

Mr Hall then moved his notice of motion as follows:—"That all the watercourses in the drainage district be kept clean and open by the Drainage Board." He said this wis a very necessary step to take, as in many cases the creeks, &c, were getting so choked with watercress that the adjoining lands were getting flooded, and besides this the smell from the putrid watercress was exceedingly bad. Mr Bell could see the creeks. &c, himself, and he would then be able to arrive at an idea of the works which were urgently needed to be carried out in the Riccarton district. The Board, he thought, should carry out the work so far as the boundary of the district. Mr Boss pointed out that under the 41st and 42rd clauses of the Act the watercourses •were vested in the Board, and that they should be kept clean. He would therefore second the motion. The Board then adjourned for a fortnight.