DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 725, 16 October 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, October 16. A special meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held at 11.30 a, m. Present—Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), A. Duncan, T. D. Jones, E. G. Wright, J. V, Ross. The Chairman said that the Committee appointed to consider the Public Health Bill had handed in a report. He had received a telegram from his Honor the Superintendent, informing him that the Drainage Bill had received tho Governor’s assent on Saturday. His attention had been called by the editor of the Lyttelton Times to the fact that it would be necessary to have a clause inserted in the Public Works Bill so as to prevent the proposed county system clashing with them. Under one of the clauses of the Counties Bill it was proposed that the drainage of the county should come under the supervision of the County Council. It would therefore be necessary to have a clause inserted to provide that nothing therein contained should be taken to repeal the Drainage Act, and that the powers of the Board should remain intact. He would propose that at their rising they should adjourn for a fortnight, in order to get over the difficulty of many of their members belonging to other bodies. Therefore it was considered advisable to hold their meetings on an alternate day from those of the other public bodies. He would ask for authority to be given that day to sign the debentures, which were now printed. Mr Duncan moved—“ That the chairman telegraph to the Superintendent, asking him to endeavor to have a clause inserted in the Public Works Bill similar to that in the Municipal Corporations’ Act, so as to prevent the two bodies clashing.” Mr Robb seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Messrs Duncan and Ross were appointed as a sub-committee to sign the debentures in conjunction with the chairman, A letter was read from Mr E. Vincent, calling attention to the bad state of the fencing of the main drain near Hargood’s lane, and asking that it might be repaired. The letter was referred to the engineer, and it was resolved that Mr Attwood’s offer to keep off trespassers be accepted. Tenders for clearing the Avon for three years were opened, and the tender of Mr Michael Macnamara was accepted. The following report of the sub-committee on the Public Health Bill was read :

“ Your committee beg to state that in accordance with a resolution passed at the last general meeting of the Board, they have carefully gone through the clauses of the Public Health Act. Since its first printing several important clauses have been inserted, and a telegram has been received from Mr Stevens stating that the proposal to make the Drainage Board the Board of Health had passed both Houses. “Your committee consider that the Bill as it is now printed, having passed both Houses, it should be received by the Board without amendment. Should it be discovered that the Act requires amending, the amendments could be laid before the House at the next session. “Your committee find that the Act, as now printed, has included a most important clause compelling householders to give notice to the Board of Health when any infectious disease exists in their houses, which clause had been previously omitted. “Fred. Hobbs, Chairman.” The report was received and adopted. Mr Wright moved;—“ThattheChristchurch D i strict Drainage Board do borrow and take up at interest on the security or credit of the rates authorised to be made and levied by the Board, under the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Act, 1876, the sura of £IOO,OOO, being the first issue of a loan of £200,000 for defraying the costs, charges, and expenses of the system of drain age for the district, to be executed by the Board, for paying for any lands which may be charged or injuriously affected, and for defraying the costs, charges, and expense* of, and ire dental to the purchasing, building, construct ing and maintaining any buildings, drains, sewers, flood gates, dams, reservoirs, machinery, steam engines, bridges, and other works necessary for such drainage. That for the purpose of securing the repayment of the said sum, together with intere t thereon, tie Board do issue one thousand debentures for the sum of one hundred pounds each,

in the form in the schedule to the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Act, 1876, or to the effect thereof, to the person or persons, by or on behalf of whom such sum or portions thereof be advanced. That the principal sum of one hundred thousand pounds be borrowed for a period of fifty years from the making of the said debentures, and that the rate of interest to be named in, or made payable by such debentures, be at the rate of six pounds per centum per annum, and payable half-yearly, and that coupons be attached to such debentures for the payment of such interest. That such debenture be forthwith offered for sale by the Bank of New Zealand, in London, That the minimum price for such debentures be fixed at . That the debentures be signed by the chairman and any two members of the Board,” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Jones moved—“ That the chairman be requested to arrange for the return of the debentures from the financial agents of the Board in London, and that the same be destroyed.” Mr Ross seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Board then adjourned for a fortnight.