DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 612, 5 June 1876, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held this morning, at 10 30 a.m. Present — Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), Duncan, Tancred, Ross, Wright, Hall, Jones. The chairman said, in looking over the the Provincial Government, he saw an item of £lO7 10s for the clearing of the River Avon. This, however, was very probably the closing amount of the contract for keeping the Avon clear below the bridge, which expired in August. The Board had received a refund of £lO on account of the guarantee for the clerk and treasurer, 2 per cent having been charged in error. The engineer’s report was read as follows:

“ J have the honour to report that I have made arrangementß to have all the water courses cleaned, which were the subject of discussion at the last meeting. The Ferry road drain is now completed to within a chain of the Waltham road. The levels having been found unsuitable to leading the drainage of the Bast belt into the Perry road drain, I have recommended to the Hcathcote Road Board to enlarge the opening into the brick sewer so as to allow storm water free entrance ; the recommendation I also made to the same Board to enlarge and deepen the road drain down Phillips street, so as to drain the eastern part of Phillips town into the Ferry road has not yet been acted upon. “ Complaints having been made of the drainage of parts of Papanui, I would recommend that a natural watercourse, known as Kruse’s drain he reopened, the drainage as at present conducted being insufficient and inconvenient, and it is also important that Kruse’s drain be preserved as being the outlet at the lowest part of the neighbourhood.

“ I would recommend the acceptance of the new terms offered by Mr Walls to open and maintain a new drain through his section, provided he would execute an agreement to carry out what be offers. “ 0. Napier Bell, " Engineer.” The following letter was read from Mr Walls ; —“ Sir, —I beg to refer you to the following extract, stating that the cost of a new drain in my section No 393 would be 44s per chain. ‘ In regard to the new drain proposed to be cut for Mr Walls in section 393, I think it is not advisable to incur such expense. The drain will be twenty-seven chains long, averaging thirty-three cubic

yards per chain ; the cost of which would be about 4ts per chain, while the cost to keep the creek as it stands clear would be about 3s per chain annually. The new drain, when cut, would have to be kept clear, although Mr Walls offers to do it for ten years. The drain does not affect any land but his own, at least only to a trifling extent, and if the Board has to keep such clear, the cost of erecting a new drain would keep the present creekclcarfor fourteen years.’ Thereby propose to cut a drain of the required d mentions for 27s 6d per chain, and to keep the same clear for ten years, also to execute a conveyance of the drain to the Board, and fill in the old drain at my own expense. It will be almost impossible to k^ e P the old drain anything decect on account of the profuse growth of willows, shrubs, &o. “ I am, &c. “ Wm. Walls.” May 25, 1876. The report was dircussed seriatim. Clause 1 was passed as satisfactory. On clause 2 being read, The engineer said he proposed to make arrangements with the Avon and Hcathcote Road Boards to use their men to carry out the clearing of the creeks and watercourses. It would be better if they could utilise these men as they were used to the work. The action of the engineer was approved, and the clause passed. On the clause referring to the opening up of the drain through Kruse’s laud being re id, some discussion arose, and ultimately Mr Boss moved—“ That the Board give notice to Mr Kruse of their intention to reopen the watercourse through his land.” ' Mr Wright seconded the motion, which was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Wright, the Board agreed to accept Mr Walls’ proposition, as suggested by the engineer in the last clause of the report. Tenders for the clearing of the rivers mentioned in the schedule passed at last meeting of the Board were opened, and that of Mr H. Leatham accepted. Mr Wright moved—“ That in all future contracts a cash deposit be required from parties tendering, the amount per cent to be left to the discretion of the engineer.” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr H. E. Alport, stating that his land was being flooded at Riccarton by the creek being choked with watercress. He had written previously, but had received no reply. The clerk was directed to reply that the work was being carried out now by the day labourers of the Board. A letter was read from the town clerk giving particulars of the cost of the outfall drain, and stating that the Council were open to treat with the Drainage Board as to acquiring a piece of land near the drain, which was the property of the Council. The matter of the acquiring of the land was referred to the engineer to report upon at next meeting of the Board. Mr Wright gave notice of motion for next meeting as follows ;—“ That the Board proceed to amend the resolution passed at last meeting of the Board relative to striking the rate, in accordance with the opinion of the solicitors to the Board.”