DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 772, 11 December 1876, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, December 11. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Chrißtchurch District Drainage Board was held at 10.30 a.m. Present—Messrs P. Hobbs (chairman), H. J. Tancred, H. J. Hall, A. Duncan, R. J. S. Harman, T. D. Jones, J. V. Ross, and E. G. Wright. The chairman said that it would be necessary, at the conclusion of the business, to make a longer adjournment than the usual fortnight, because the next regular meeting fell on Christmas Day. According to the 23rd clause, it was necessary for the Board to appoint a chairman at the first meeting in January. It would perhaps be more convenient to take this as the first business at the adjourned meeting, and therefore it was worth considering whether the Board should not adjourn until the first week in January. Mr Duncan suggested that it would be berter to wait until after the meeting of the Local Board of Health next Monday, when they could see how to arrange their business. The suggestion of Mr Duncan was agreed to, and the further consideration of the matter be deferred until after the meeting of the Local Board of Health on Monday next. The engineer's report was read as follows: — " Notice has been given to owners of land that the Board intends to cut a drain through the.sections south of the Riccarton road, the length I would propose at present to cut would be between the roads, 27 chains. "A wooden box culvert, 2ft by lft 6m, has been substituted for the 9in pipe under the road at Jackson's Creek, rural section 196', in accordance with the resolution of the Board. "In company with the city surveyor, I have examined the drain complained of by Messrs Packe Brothers, and have accordingly written to them that the Board cannot at present dispense with their right to use the old channel of Pree's Creek, but that when the sewerage works are constructed the Board will abandon the drainage through Messrs Packe's section, thus affording them the desired relief. "If the drain were stopped at present, the north belt would need to be raised about 2ft for some distance on each side, thus making the road and footpath considerably higher than the sections. " The repairs to the timbered sides of the drain near the Styx, known as Horner's drain, have been executed as directed by the Board at the meeting on 13th November. " On account of the rapid growth of weeds at this time of the year, I find it necessary to keep ten men continually employed clearing drains, but hope to reduce the number as the summer advances ; in winter, of course, this expense will be considerably reduced. ' " I have the honor to remain, "C, Nafiee Bell."

The report was considered seriatum. In connection with the first clause, it was resolved that the owners of property be communicated with prior to the work being actually commenced. The other clauses of the report were approved. Mr Hall reported that, as requested by the Board, he had inspected the section on the Fendalltovvn road respecting the drainage of which there had been some complaint. It was merely a question of levels, and he would have to ask Mr Bell to accompany him the next day, and report upon the matter to the Board.

It was resolved that Mr Bell be requested to proceed with Mr Hall to inspect the section and report to the Board. In reply to Mr Duncan, Mr Bell said the Avon was falling every day, notwithstanding the large amount of weeds which were going down. The contractor had some thirteen men on the work, and was doing all he possibly could to clear the river.

A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, informing the Board that Mr Leach's tender had been accepted for the revaluation of the district under the new Act.

The chairman said he thought the sum charged was very small, considering the amount of work to be done. However, the Road Board would have to see the work properly done, as it was a matter of great importance to the Drainage Board, as the valuation might affect their securities and reduce their rating power. Mr Horner waited upon the Board, in reference to an open drain near his house at Papain ii. It was a very great nuisance, and he attributed a great deal of the fever preva lent in Papanui to it. It went from the corner of the Harewood road down the Papanui road, as far as Dr Lillie's, to the creek. What he wanted done was to have the drain boxed in, eo as to carry awaj the water to the creek. He had received letters on the subject from several residents, which he would hard in, The chairman said that the Board would consider the question, and an answer woald be returned to Mr Horner. Mr Horner then withdrew. A letter was read from the Riccarton Road Board, stating that they were willing to co operate with the Oraioage Board in the valuation of the district under the Rating Act, The portion of the cost to be paid by the Drainage Board would be £ls. It waß resolved that the clerk reply to the Riccarton Road Board, stating that the Drainage Board were willing to co-operate with them on the terms mentioned. A memorial was read from a number of resideuis at Sandridge, complaining of the nuisance caused by the accumulation of watercress in Jackson's creek, near Clarkson's paddock, which was detrimental to health,

The matter was referred to the engineer with power to act. A letter was read from Mr G.'.Pannell, the rate collector to the Board in the Spreydon district, giving a statement of rates outstanding, and also asking that in consequence of great difficulty in getting the money, and also the wide spread nature of the district, the Board would grant 10 per cent as in the other cases.

On the motion of Mr Wright it was resolved that on account of the satisfactory and expeditious manner in which Mr Panneli had collected the rate,an honorarium of £3 3s be paid to him. A letter was read from the Spreydon Road Board, informing the Drainage Board that they could have a copy of the roll of that district when completed. The offer was accepted;) with thanks ; the Drainage Board undertaking to pay cost of copying the roll. A second letter was read from the same Board, calling attention to stagnant water lying in the side channel in Colombo road, near the railway, The matter was referred to the engineer, with power to act. It was decided to communicate with the City Council aud the various Road Boards, asking whether they would be prepared to undertake the collection of the Drainage Board rate, in conjunction with their own collection. The clerk to request information from the various bodies as to what they would charge for the collection, and whether it could not be so arranged as to include the two rates in one printed form. A number of accounts were passed for payment. An appeal from the chairman of the Domain Board against the rating of the property was received. The property had been assessed at £7500, and a rate upon that amount struck. The annual rental received by the Board for the property was only £334. The chairman had therefore giveu notice of appeal against that rate, and the substitution tff £334 as the rateable value of the property. Mr Harman said if a Is rate was levied upon their property it would absorb the whole of the income of the Board. Next year the property would not be liable to be rated, as when abolition come into force it passed into the hands of the Crown, and therefore became exempt from rate. It was agreed, after some discussion, to alter the rateable valuo on the roll to tho annual rental value, as stated by the chairmau of the Domain Board, viz., £334. The question of auditing the accounts of the Board was discussed. It was resolved —" That the clerk be instructed to write to the representative of the Superintendent of Canterbury, requesting him to appoint Messrs H. E. Alport and T. B. Craig as auditors of the accounts of the Board." The remuneration of the auditors was fixed at £o ss.

The consideration of the matter brought up by Mr Horner was resumed, Letters were read from Dr Britton, Messrs Harman and Stevens, and Mr J. T. Mataon, strongly protesting against the drain proposed being left open, as it would be detrimental to health.

Mr Bell, engineer to the Board, said that there were numbers of drains far worse than this one. It would be much more prejudicial to health if covered in. There ware a number of artesiau wells flowing into the: drain, which would keep it well flashed. It was reiolved—" That the clerk reply that the roadaide drain at present cut was fi temporary measure to get away water and sewage which would otherwise stagnate in the village of Papanui, but that the Board were not yet prepared to undertake per manent works until they had Mr Oarruthere' plan before them." The Board then adjourned until noon on Monday next*