DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 636, 3 July 1876, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, July 3,

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Board was held this morning, at the offices, Hereford street. Present —Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), Tancred, Hall, Duncan, Harman, Jones, Ross, and Wright. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed, the chairman said he had to report that Mr Palmer had succeeded in getting the rate books ready. In reply to Mr Jones, the chairman said that the books were open for public inspection, and that ratepayers would have an opportunity of appealing in the ordinary way. The report of the engineer was then read »3 follows: “ In regard to the petition presented to the Board by certain occupants of land near the course of the mill race leading to the Carlton mill, I hive inspected the course of the race, and fiid that except within 20 chains of the enc of it, that both the road and the land lie so much above the surface of the water, hat sufficient facility is afforded for effectually draining both. On Mr Gee’s section I observed that a hole, sft deep, the botton of which was Ift lower than the road, was quite . dry at bottom, showing that th( mill race did not affect the drainage of the soil to that level at least. Mr Strout’a hoise stands on ground somewhat lower thin this, but still so much J higher than th) water of the race, that I I consider the diainage is or can be made P good. From tin mill for about 30 chains up f the road, a dith is dug on the north side ; the bottom of tis ditch is 2ft lower than I the water of tbi race, and has an excellent W outfall to the rrer at the tail of the mill, so that it can be drained to any practicable depth; from tbs it is evident that the water of the mill raq cannot possibly affect the drainage of an' land to the north of this ditch, also the road itself can be very well rained into it. j - are hree sections on the low side pf the mill rse, which possibly are kept {lamp by it, ad these may have ground for

complaint, although I did not perceive that the land was water soaked.

“ These sections I think the mill-own6r is liable, if required, to drain at his own expense, but 1 could not see that any other properties were likely to be injured by the water of the mill race. It was asserted by the owner of one of the three sections below the race that the water has been allowed to overflow and inundate his land ; from my observation I can state that the level of the water could not be raised more than four inches without flooding the floor of the mill and the stableyard. 1 am of opinion that the mill-owner should be prohibited from raising the water higher than a fixed level, to be indicated by the Board, and that he should take means, if required to do so, to drain the three sections on the low side of the mill race by lines of pipe drains or otherwise. Also, although the water of the race is really some few inches higher than the crown of the road near the mill, yet I believe the road can be kept dry by the ditch on the north side, which can be drained to any depth by reason of its leading to the tail of the mill. I would suggest that a number of lines of tile drain pipes should be laid across the road to drain into the ditch, and the embankment between the race and the road be puddled with clay and kept in good repair. These protective works I consider that the mill-owner should be required to make at his own expense ; and, in the event of his refusing or neglecting to do so, that he be required to lower the water in the race, and maintain it continually at a level to be indicated by the Board. “ I have, last week, sent part of the plans and levels to the Consulting Engineer, the remainder, with accompanying reports, will be sent this week. ” I have the honour to remain, &c., “ C. Napier Bell, “ Engineer,” The report was considered seriatim, and after some discussion on the clause relating to the mill race, Mr Harman moved—” That the report of the engineer be submitted to the solicitor of the Board,, and that he be requested to advise generally as to the Board’s legal position with reference to the mill-race, and specially as to the right of the Board to require the payment of an annual rent as an acknowledgement of the rights.” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The consideration of the remaining portion of the report was deferred. Letters in reply were read from the Christchurch City Council and Heathcote Hoad Board, declining to assist the Drainage Board in the collection of rates this year. A letter received from the Riccarton Road Board on the same subject offered to collect the rates in that district for ten per cent of the amount collected. It was decided to consider these letters later on. A letter was read from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw, re Heathcote rates, saying that the land upon which the main outfall drain is constructed being within the Heathcote road district, is not exempt from rates, and that assuming the rate to be well and duly made, the Board, as the occupiers of the land, are liable to pay the portion of the rate assessed upon the drain. A second letter from the same Aim was read, re Kruse’s drain, stating that they are not in possession of sufficient information to enable them to advise the Board whether Mr Kruse is entitled to compensation, or can be called upon to pay for the making of the new drain. The Board had, however, full power to enter upon the land and make the drain. After consideration of the first letter it was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman, to ask the Heathcote Road Board to reconsider their decision relative to the rate. The chairman said that Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw’s second letter had been occasioned by a letter received from Mr Wynn Williams on behalf of Mr Kruse, stating that he (Mr Kruse) did not recognise the right of the Board to enter upon his land and cut a drain. Mr Wright moved—” That the engineer be instructed to investigate the drainage through Mr Kruse’s land, and report at the next meeting as to the desirability of reopening the old drain, or cutting a new one on a more favorable line.” The motion was seconded and agreed to. A letter was read from the clerk to the Avon Road Board, drawing attention to the state of the drainage of Papanui. The engineer said that this matter had been attended to. A petition was read from some residents on the S.B. corner of the South town belt, asking that something might be done to a culvert in that neighbourhood which caused an accumulation of water there. On the motion of Mr Duncan, the petition was referred to the engineer, with instructions to take the necessary steps to give the relief required. A motion by Mr Jones giving the engineer power to shingle the approach to this culvert from the town side lapsed through not being seconded. The chairman stated that all the objections allowed in the assessments by the Road Boards and City Council had also been allpwed in the rate books prepared by the Board; The Press was, on the motion of Mr Jones, appointed the official paper to the Board for the next six months. Mr Wright moved the following motion, of which he had given notice —“ That the Board do hereby, for the purposes of the Christchurch District Drainage Act, make and levy a rate equally upon all rateable property within the Christchurch Drainage District of two pence halfpenny in the pound upon the annual value o! all such rateable property for the period intervening between the making of the rate and the 31st day of December, 1876, such rate to be payable on the 17th day of August, 1876.” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was agreed to, and the rate-book duly signed. On the motion of Mr Duncan, the chairman was authorised to obtain a clock, at a cost not exceeding £5. Some applications were read from persons offering themselves to collect the Board rate. Mr Duncan moved —“ That for the purpose of the collection of the rates of the Christchurch District Drainage Board for this year, the City of Christchurch, Heathcote, Avon, Riccarton, and Bp<jjydbn- districts shall be considered separate districts, in which to have the rates collected,” V Mr Wright seconded the motion; which was carried. It whs also resolved to- accept the offer from the Bioearton / -Road ‘ Board for the collection of the *ete in that district. The to insert an adver-

tisement calling for tenders for the collection of the rates in the several districts, should a negative reply be received from the remaining Boards, The chairman also promised to reopen this matter with the City Council. In reply to Mr Wright, The chairman said that no information had so far been received from Loudon as to the placing of the Board’s debentures, The Board then adjourned.