DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 588, 8 May 1876, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board was held this morning at 10.30 a.m. Present : Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), Jones, Harman, Hall, Boss, Tancred, and Wright. The Engineer's report was read as follows : " I have the honour to report that the levels for the city and suburbs have been completed. This work has been executed with care and accuracy, the greatest amount of error being under one inch. The levels will now be plotted and sent to the consulting engineer. This I will endeavour to get finished with the least possible delay. " In regard to the annual cost which has hitherto been incurred by the Government or the Road Boards in clearing streams and watercourses, I have not yet succeeded in collecting all the necessary information, especially from the Avon district, nor have I got a complete list from all the Road Boards of the streams and drains which they have had under their care. At the next meeting of the Board I hope to be able to make a full report on the subj ?ct. " The contractor has made very satisfac tory progress with his work at the Ferry Road Drain. Several people have applied for additional bridges over the new drain to their sections ; these I have refused, but refer the subject to the Board ; I allowed bridges wherever there was an opening in use before. Two, shopkeepers have applied to have the drain bridged over the whole length of the shops. Both of these have good bridges in a convenient position, and a good fence has been erected before the open part of the drain. One of these shops has twd bridges atr either end of it. " All the Bilt pits on the brick sewer have been cleared out, the broken windows in the

house over the silt pit at the East belt have ,beed boarded up so as to lessen the smell arising from the sewage. A chimney would be the only effectual remedy for this nuisance, but probably closing the windows will abate it to some extent. "T have forwarded to the Heathcote Road Board a copy of all the levels taken down Worcester street and Stanmore road, and suggested to them the advisability of their draining those streets into the land drain of the main outfall. "I am, &c, " C. N. Bell, Engineer." Mr Duncan moved—" That all sections that have no other access otherwise than across the Perry road drain, should have bridges made for them at the expense of the Board if demanded by the owner or occupier." Mr Harraan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Some discussion arose on the request of the shopkeepers to. have bridges made for them, and ultimately it was resolved that the Board, considering that sufficient means of access nas been provided, declines to accede to the request. The action of the surveyor respecting the drainage of Worcester street east was approved. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, asking the Board to construct a bridge from St John's road over the main drain, and also to clear out the steam wharf creek.

On the motion of Mr Jones, it was resolved that the bridge referred to be carried out by the engineer without prejudice. The question of clearing the creek was deferred until the Board received a list of creeks and watercourses from the Heathcote Road Board.

Tenders for the further work on the Ferry road drain were opened, and that of Si. Macnamara was accepted. Several accounts were passed for payment.

Mr Wright gave notice of motion Ur next meeting—" That the matter of levying a rate be considered by the Beard." The Board then adjourned for a fortnight.