DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 760, 27 November 1876, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, November 27, The usual fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held at 10.30 a.m. Present—Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), A. Duncan, J, V. Ross, B. J. S. Harman, E. G. Wright, H. J. Hall, H. J. Tancred, and T. D. Jones. The chairman stated that he had been un* fortunately taken ill after the last meeting, and had therefore not been able to attend to the business as well as be would have liked. Many new Acts had been passed affecting them, particularly the Rating Act. Under the provisions of this Act they were bound to have their rate assessment ready by the 16th of January. The rating arrangements were altered by this Act. Now the valuations were put on in the following ratio : “ The ‘ rateable value ’ of any property means the rent at which such property would let from year to year, deducting therefrom twenty per centum in case of houses, buildings, and other perishable property, and ten per centum in case of lands and other hereditaments, but shall in no case be less than five per centum on the value of the fee-simple thereof : Provided always that in valuing the fee simple the valuer shall be guided by the actual selling price, and not by the provisions of any Waste Lands Act: Provided also that every person occupying waste lands of the Crown, or other Crown lands, for pastoral purposes, shall be rated only in respect of the annual value, having regard to the tenure under which the said lands are held.” The rating had hitherto been very carelessly done, as was proved by the fact that the city now paid only £59 for valuing the city. Of course the way it was done was simply to' copy the old roll, adding on a valuation for new properties. It was most important to them that the valuation of the city should be done mast carefully and critically. Any attempt to get it done cheaply would result in failure. The City Council had arranged to have a new valuation of the city, and he understood that the Drainage Board would agree to join with the City Council

as to rating the city, So far as he was concerned, he should see that the city was newly valuated, and most carefully done. The Board would have to-day to make arrangements for joining with the Boad Boards of the province. They would have to make arrangements for meeting as a Local Board of Health. The new Health Act was now before them, and as some matters were pressing, it was necessary that they should fix an early day for their meeting. He would suggest that they should keep their meetings separate from the Drainage Board. Tne matter of valuation was then considered.

The chairman said that under the Act the local rating authority was the only legally recognised authority. It would therefore be necessary for them to communicate with the various Boad Boards, asking them to have a new valuation made, in the cost of which the Drainage Board might'rparticipato. The matter stood over for a time.

The engineer’s report was read as follows : “ The cement shed built on the land belonging to the Board is completed, and the cement is being stored in it. The shed will hold 700 barrels. The cement is of fair quality, and in good condition. “ The Board was asked six months ago to provide a drain through sections 145 to 155, Biccaiton, so that the Biccarton Boad Board might fill up the deep drain which at present runs alongside the road, apd is thought to be dangerous. On that occasion the answer was deferred, but if the Board think fit to undertake the work, now is the best time to do it.

Complaints are made of the flooding of part of Jackson’s creek, caused by the small sizes of the pipe under the road through which the creek baa to run, It will be necessary for the Board to consider whether it is their duty to insert a larger pipe under the road to afford the required relief. “ The contractor for clearing the Avon is making good progress with his work, considering the difficulties he has had to con tend with in the great accumulation of weeds, and the river is now beginning to fall. “ I have the honor to remain, “ O. Napier Bell, “ Engineer.” Mr Carruthers, the consulting engineer to the Board was in attendance, and proceeded to give a report of the progress made by him with respect to the main scheme of the drainage of the city. He had been giving a great deal of time during the past four months to the plans and had finished the scheme. He had however not been able to complete the details yet; as he found when he laid down his sewers that some of the districts would not come in. The scheme in eluded the town proper and the suburbs, so much as the Board might expect to be called upon to do for some years. The plans were now prepared, shewing the position of each sewer. Of course there were a number of plans of details which had yet to be prepared but these he hoped to have ready by the end of the month. [Mr Carruthers then gave the details of his plan.J The whole of the sewerage of the district would be carried through the outfall to the estuary. The increase of the city had rendered it necessary to lay down a plan which would deal with the size of it some twenty years hence. He had therefore arranged the scheme so that the sewerage when it became too great to be allowed to lie on the coast, it might be arranged fordeodorisation. For this reason he had arranged that the sewerage should go down the outfall drain, and thence by a cross sewer to the, Christchurch Quay. On arriving there the sewerage would be pumped up, and would there be either filtrated or deodorised for purposes of irrigation. It would be necessary that the Board should (have a piece of land for the purpose of spreading the residue. Regarding the question of night soil, he knew that on this subject there was a considerable want of knowledge, not alone on the part of laymen but engineers also. Now the sewerage of the larger towns of England had been analyzed and chemists were unable to discover which was infused with night soil. His opinion was that it would greatly conduce to the health and cleanliness of the inhabitants of the city if they had a system of water introduced into the closets, He had proposed certain pumping apparatus to be erected, which he thought was necessary. So far as he had considered the matter he had come to the conclusion that though of course the sewage would dirty the water, yet to send the sewage into the Eiver Avon would not be productive of nuisance for many years to come. Mr Harman asked Mr Carruthers if it would not be the best way to reclaim land from the mud flats at the estuary, which would serve for the purposes of the drainage scheme. They had some fifteen years to spread the scheme over, aud the sewage might be put down on the reclaimed land from the outfall. Mr Carruthers said that he had no doubt this might be done, but it would be necessary for him to examine the place first.

Mr Duncan said that he thought by doing this and leaving the sewage exposed for two hours every tide, they would have fever and diphtheria rife amongst them. The northeast winds were very prevalent, and would carry the smell into the city. The chairman said that Professor Bickerton’s report on the city night soil pits, which was borne out by the reports on the sewage of Manchester, was to the effect that it was the impure gases which caused these diseases. The gases being lighter than the air rose upward to a great height, and of course were blown away. That this was so was proved by the fact that disease was rife in the highest parts of Manchester caused by the rising of impure gas. In answer to Mr Jones, Mr Carruthers said that his schema pro ■ vided for a pipe down each street on one side. The sewers were so provided that flushing could be easily done. For instance that of Kilmore street was below the river, so that all that was necessary was to open a valve, and so thoroughly flush them. The whole of the important sewers were laid out so that they could be flushed. No sewage would go into the side nntil the Bast belt was reached ; nor then unless in case of flood, when the water was too much for the pumps to handle. In that case the sewage would go into the river to a small extent, but otherwise the river would be kept perfectly pure. The south drain he intended to close up, the water being taken down the St Asaph street sewer. This and the Manchester street, to the outfall drain, would require to be carried out first. His scheme included the utilisation of the present outfall drain as it was now. It would perhaps be necessary to raise the timber sidea to carry off the Increased quantity of

water. The question of the district outside that of the Board he had not yet taken up, but the drainage of the latter would facilitate the bringing of the former into the scheme. The scheme he now proposed to carry out would effectually drain away every drop of water from the district. The drainage of the out district would not come into the sewers ; the storm waters would do so but not the sewage. The scheme would thoroughly drain the city and suburbs. The sewage district would go up Papanui road to St Albans lane, thence along to Bingsland, and taking in the Stanmore road. Thence it includes Ollivier’s lane, and southward to the Opawa road, thence to the southern branch of Jackson’s creek. Thence the district would include the whole of Addington and Waltham, and the Windmill road. To the west the Park was the boundary. The chairman sa ; d it was exceedingly satisfactory to find that Mr Carruthers had been able to arrange for getting away the water so successfully as he had done. It would be necessary for Mr Carruthers to take the St Asaph street sewer and the Ferry road drain in hand first, so that they might go on with these works as early as possible, Mr Carruthers then retired. The engineer’s report was then considered, Respecting the cement, Mr Duncan moved—“ That the engineer be instructed to secure 300 barrels more from the contractor, if able to procure the same quality and at the same cost. The engineer to advertise for tenders if unable to make a satisfactory arrangement with the contractor.” Mr Jones seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The question of the second clause of the report was next discussed, and ultimately the matter was referred to the engineer to make inquiries as to the amount of compensation likely to be required by the occupants of land affected ; to report at next meeting of the Board. The engineer was empowered to deal with the matter referred to in the thifd clause of his report. Regarding the state of the Avon, Mr Boss said that he had been requested to mention that the river near New Brighton had become choked up with the weeds sent down the river, and the water had been backed up. The engineer said that the contractor had to contend with two years’ growth of weeds, and was doing all he could to get rid of them. The chairman said that he had noticed that complaints were made of the nuisance arising from the weeds laying on the bank of the river.

Mr Duncan said that the weeds possessing a large amount of oxide of iron, the same property as that in sea weed, it would be highly beneficial for market gardeners or farmers to have it as manure.

After some discussion, it was resolved that the engineer take steps as soon as possible to hav e the weeds floated away instead of placed on the bank. On the motion of Mr Duncan, it was resolved that the land drain of the outfall drain be cleared out.

The question of valuation for the ensuing year under the new Act, was discussed. f The chairman suggested that a circular letter should be addressed to the various Boad Boards, calling their attention to the change made in the Rating Act of the basis of rating. Mr Harman thought it would be much better if the chairman of that Board, who had had very great experience in the matter, should confer with the chairmen of the various Boad Boards as to a scheme for rating. It was exceedingly necessary that the scheme adopted should be fixed on a fair and solid basis. Mr Ross moved—“ That the chairman address a circular letter to fhe chairmen of the various Road Boards, calling attention to the clauses of the new Act as to valuation, and pointing out that the Board would join in the cost of the valuation pro rata according to the extent of their district.” Mr Jones seconded the [motion which was agreed to.

It was resolved that additions be made to the rules empowering the clerk on the written authority of the chairman or of two members of the Board to call a special meeting of the Board.

A letter was read from Mr Edwaid Mitchell, calling attention to No 3 drain near Horse shoe Lake.

The engineer was requested to inspect the locality. A letter was read from the City Council, asking whether the Drainage Board would join the City Council in the work of valuing the city. It was resolved to join with the City Council ns requested. A letter was read from Packe Bros., complaining of the water coming on to a section near Free’s creek, Mr Harman moved—“ That Messrs Packe Bros, letter be referred to the engineer, with instructions to confer with Mr Walkden, the city surveyor, on the matter. That the secretary be instructed to reply to Messrs Packe that the Board have no intention of abandoning the creek, and that the question of drainage was under consideration,” Mr Wright seconded the motion, which was carried.

A letter was read from Mr Thoa Martin, claiming damage to the amount of £3 10a. for damage done to his garden by the rising of Jackson’s Creek, near Sandridge.

The letter was directed to be acknow lodged.

A letter was read from the Avon Soad Board, requestiug the Board to re-consider their decision as to the clearing of the River Styx. The Road Board did not consider that they were empowered to expend the ratepayer’s money on anything but roads. The Road Board would urge upon the Drainage Board the necessity of extending their boundary so as to include the River Styx.

It was resolved that the Board cannot accede to the request of the Avon Road Board, as the boundaiies were fixed by Act of Parliament. The Drainage Board could not reconsider their determination.

A letter was read from Mr Cartwright, Fcndalltowu, calling attention to the flooding of his section on the Middleton estafe.

The matter was left over until next meeting, Mr Hall to enquire into it. A letter was read from Mr N. Ellis, the collector of the Drainage rate in Upper Riccarton, stating that it had all been collected without suing. Mr Ellis also paid a tribute of praise to the clerk to the Board, Mr E.H. Palmer, for his courtesy and attention on all occasions.

Several accounts were passed for payment The Board then adjourned.