DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 683, 28 August 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, August 28.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board took place at 10.30 a.m. this morning. Present—Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), Duncan, Tancred, Harman, Wright, Hall, Jones, and Ross. The chairman said that there would be no statement from the engineer at that meeting, as Mr Bell had been called up to Wellington to consult with Mr Carruthers on the main drainage scheme of the. city. Since the Board met last he (the chairman) had received a copy of the Christchurch District Drainage Act Amendment Bill, and on going carefully over it he found that clause II did not quite meet what the Board required. He had spoken to Mr Coster on the subject, who had stated that while in Wellington he ha 1 mentioned this clause to the Superintendent, who had charge of the Bill. Perhaps this had been the reason of the delay of the Bill. As at present drafted clause 11 did not give the Board any power to appoint an agent in London for financial purposes or entering into contracts, and therefore the solicitors to the Board had drafted a clause to simplify the deficiency. He would read the clause as drafted,

The clause was discussed at some length, and, on the motion of Mr Harman, adopted.

A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board calling attention to the fact that a portion of the drain at the Gas Works road had fallen in, making the road dangerous. The Board also suggested that the open drain should be covered in from the railway gates to the Town belt. The letter further pointed out that a portion of Bell's Creek was also falling in. The first and third clauses of the letter were referred to Mr Webster, with power to take action. The second part of the letter was deferred until Mr Bell’s return. A letter was read from Mr Isaac Allen, asking whether the Board had power to compel owners of sections to fill up their land or allow a drain to pass through it to prevent an accumulation of storm water which in wet weather was a very great nuisance to him and his neighbours in Peacock street, off Durham street north. The chairman thought the best course for Mr Allen to pursue would be to apply to the City Council as a Local Board of Health. He could get power also under clause 107 of the Drainage Act. Mr Jones thought that it would be better to wait until they saw what the scheme of main drainage was. He would move—“ That Mr Allen be informed that the Board were not prepared to take any steps in the matter in the absence of a scheme of drainage.” Mr Duncan would move as an amendment —“ That the letter be referred to the surveyor, to report at next meeting.”

Mr Hall seconded the amendment, Mr Jones having withdrawn his motion, the amendment was put and carried. A letter was read from Mr S. Smart, calling attention to the choking-up of a creek in the Sandridge township by cress. It had resulted in the water being backed up and flowing on to bis land.

Mr Duncan moved—“ That the letter be referred to the surveyor to report upon,” Ultimately it was resolved that the surveyor be instructed to serve notices on persons causing obstructions to remove same, and empowered to have the cress complained of cleared away.

A letter was read from Mr Rolleston, acknowledging the receipt of draft Bill for amending the Christchurch District Drainage Act.

A letter was read from Messrs Hanmer and Harper, forwarding opinion given by them to Messrs Wilson, King, and Co., as to the Carlton mill race. The opinion gave it as being impossible for the proprietors of the race to have a prescriptive right to the water issuing from the north branch of the Avon. A letter was read from Mr Coster, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, with reference to the clause drafted by the solicitor in place of clause 11. As will be seen above, the matter was disposed of at an earlier stage of the proceedings.

A letter was read from the Trustees of the Wesleyan Parsonage, St Albans, calling attention to the bad state of the drainage of the property. The matter was referred to Mr Webster to report upon. Mr Harman brought forward an appliescation from Mr Wright, asking that a bridge be made over the temporary Ferry road drain. It wps resolved that Mr Wright’s request be received, and that the surveyor be instructed to have the work carried out. Mr Jones called attention to the desirability of the Board taking over the drain in Antigua street from the South town belt to the Hospital and the North town belt drain. The city surveyor had called his attention to those drains, and it* was well known that during the summer the Antigua street drain was a fertile source of illness. Mr Tancred asked what would be the effect of the Board taking over these drains ? Mr Hall said it appeared to him that it meant saving the city the expense of clearing and filling up these drains. Mr Duncan moved—“ That the drains referred to be taken over by the Board on the same terms as the South town belt drain, i.e , to undertake the clearing out of the drains,’’ which was carried. Mr Wright moved—“ That at the next meeting a return be laid before the Board showing the total expenditure to date, distinguishing the amounts paid for contract works, salaries, and clearing watercourse 1 ” Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was carried.

The clerk was instructed to insure the furniture and plans for £SOO. The meeting then adjourned.