DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 829, 19 February 1877, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, February 19. The Board met at 10.30 am. PresentMessrs Tailored (chairman), Wright, Duncan, Harman, Hobbs, Ross, Hall, and T. D. Jones.

Telegrams were read from the Hon C. C. Bowen, advising that the Chief Commissioner for Crown Lands had received instructions to make certain reserves for the use of the Drainage Board.

The engineer's report WHS road a?t follows :

"In company with the medical ofiicer and tho inspector of nuisances I have examined an alleged nuisance caused by the drainage from the Hospital into the Avon. The drainage, which may be considered objectionable, is that from the wash house, from the dead-house, from urinals, kitchen, and house Avashiug, and that from the baths. As the quantity of water used daily for all these purposes, when the new wards are finished, will be, according to Dr l'arkerson, about 6000 gallons, or 2<> tons of water, it will be perceived how diliicult it is to be dealt with in any other way than simply draining off into the river, while to restrict the quantity used would, caused annoyance,

-Ml ■— s '■■ i ' ■»» and possibly diminish the admirably cleanly state in which the establishment is kept. It has been proposed to reverse or turn back the Antigua street drain, and with it the Hospital drainage, so as to discharge it into the existing South belt sewer ; but as this drain carries a great Hush of water in times of rain, this method would, as things are at present, cause the S E. of the town to be still more flooded than it has been before. The only othei- method I can think of would be to lay a pipe under ground from the Hospital along Antigua street into the existing South belt sewer, which should convey the Hospital drainage only, and leave the Antigua street drain as it is at present. At the same time it must be remembered that the present South belt sewer is gorged in times of heavy rain, when the water spouts out of it through its inlet pipes, aud helps to flood the S. E. of the town, so that to turn any more water into it is not desirable if it can be helped. Otherwise, looking only at the present state of drainage, I can only make the following suggestions, that the nrinals be drained into the present cesspit and disposed of by night carts. The establishment might collect the washings from the dead house, and either cart it away or devise some means of deodorising it; the quantity cannot be very great, and it is only occasionally used; also, the washing of infected clothes might be done in boiling water, or such other means employed as the officials of the Hospital may think i effectual to remove any objections to its being afterwards drained into the river. I cannot suggest any practical way of disposing of the 6000 gallons of ordinary dirty water except to drain it into the river; to deodorise it by the establishment might answer the objections raised against doing so, but it would be exceedingly cumbersome and expensive, and the Hospital is not the only source of such dirty water flowing into the river; it should also be observed that the discharge from the Hospital being, as is said, 6000 gallons daily, that of the river is about 35 million of gallons, so that the amount of dilution is considerable. " I have examined the tract of sand hills proposed to be reserved for the Board. lis is the same ground which Mr Carruthera went over, and recommended the Board to acquire. "Having received the drawings for the overflow weir and outlet, I shall be ready to advertise for tenders to construct the Ferry road sewer this week. I submit the specification and conditions for the same.

" I have arranged with the Gas Company to grant storage room for about 2000 barrels of cement.

" I have the honor to remain, " C. Napibr Beil, " Engineer."

Mr Duncan moved the postponement of the consideration of the report. It would not do for them hastily to decide upon the drainage of the Hospital. As regarded the Ferry road drain he thought that the best way would be to defer anything with respect to this until they had inspected the alleged nuisance at the outfall drain. They could uot see it under better circumstances than that day, as it was very hot and a northeast wind blowing. If therefore there was as stated an effluvia they would have a good chance of becoming aware of it. He therefore moved—" That the consideration of the report of the engineer he deferred." Mr Hall seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr Ford, pointing out that he was going to England to import large machinery for making drain pipes, and asking that the local manufacturers might have an opportunity of competing for the tenders, which at present he believed was not the case.

Mr Wright said the writer could not have read the reports of the meetings of the Board. At a recent meeting of the Board, the sub-committee, appointed to codsider the question of the procuring of pipes for drainage purposes, recommended that the local manufacturers should be allowed every facility for tendering. He would ask that the report be read. The secretary the read the report of the sub-committee, as follows : "Your committee beg to state that, in accordance with a resolution passed at the last general meeting of the Board, they have carefully considered the question entrusted to them, and consider that the following clauses will meet the requirements of the Board :

"1. That the list of pipes, with sizes, re* quired by the Drainage Board, ba furnished, to the various makers in Gbiistchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland, asking for special quotations for such pipes, delivered in Lyttel* ton or Ohristchurch, in quantities as may be required from time to time by the Board. "2. That the list of pipes, with sized, required by the Drainage Board be furnished to Oarnkirk and Co, Ferguslie and Co, J. Young and Sons, and Hurlford and Co, asking for special quotations for such pipes, delivered f o.b. in Glasgow, or in Lyttelton, New Zealand, if f .o.b. cash, on certificate of shipment in good condition and bill of lading to agents in London, if in Lyttelton, payment to be made as follows :—75 per cent on bill of lading being handed to the Board's agents in London, the balance on delivery of goods being taken by the Board, "3. It must be understood by the above firms that the receipt of th<» goods will ba spread over a period of eighteen (18) months and shipped in such quantities and sizes as the Board from time to time may direct, and in four or five separate shipments. "L That the engineer be requested to furnish all the information necessary for carrying out the above clauses.

"Your committee conaider. the above course will afiord an opportunity to the New Zealand manufacture]!;; 0 f making special quotations for the, quantities required, as the already sent in show a difference of nearly £IO,OOO in favor of. obtaining the pipes from Glasgow. " (Signed) Edward G. Wright."

Mr Wright said the beat answer to the letter would be to refer the writer to the report. This was not the only letter on tho subject which had appeared in the local papers, the Board being accused of unduly favouring outside manufacturers to the exclusion of the local ones. Ho trusted the Board would allow the report to be published, so that the public might see what really the Board had dona It was resolved that Mr Ford be referred to the report of the sub-committee. A letter was read from Mr Zenanker, advocating the pneumatic principle of sewage, and stating that he should shortly be prepared to lay before the Board the detailed data aad estimates qI the scheme. 11%

should also be prepared to lay before them a ■cheme for the utilization of the sewage, &c. Mr Hobbs said that a scheme identical to this had been started in Melbourne by two German chemists, in which it was proposed to utilise the sewage for manure, but it turned out a dediced finanacial failure. It was decided that the scheme of Mr Zenanker should be further considered by the Board when the data mentioned were before them. , A letter was read from the Avon Koaa Board stating that they would collect the drainage rates in that district for the sum of 10 per cent on the amount collected. Mr Harman moved—" That the offer be accepted." Mr Ross seconded the motion, which were agreed to. A letter was read from C. Ladds, the collector of the drainage rate for the Heathcote district, forwarding a list of persons who had neglected or refused to pay their Mr Duncan moved—" That Mr Ladds be informed that unless he takea steps to recover the rates, and cloße the matter up, the Board will employ some person to do the work for him." Mr Hall seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from the City Council offering to collect the drainage rates in the city for 5 per cent. It was resolved that the offer be accepted with thanks. A letter was read from Mr H. S. Smith regarding the drainage of hia section at Merivale, The secretary was directed to reply that until the permanent scheme was in operation nothing could be done, the Board regretting its inability to provide drainage for Merivale. A letter was read from Mr W. Flesher, calling attention to the defective drainage on the New Brighton road, and suggesting a plan for the disposal of the storm water. The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was read from Mr W. Holley, calling attention to a stagnant piece of water on some land near Opawa, caused by the obstruction of Jackson's creek by culverts falling in, and willow roots. This waß blbo referred to the engineer to report upon. A letter was read from hia Worship the Mayor as chairman of the public meeting, held at the Oddfellows' Hall, forwarding a ■copy of the resolutions passed. It was resolved that the consideration of the resolutions be postponed. Mr A. Duncan presented a petition from the ratepayers of the Heathcote district, containing the resolutions passed at a public meeting held at Woolston on Friday evening last. The meeting was a most orderly one, and the resolutions were couched in respectful language towards the Board. There was one thing which required immediate attention, and that was that they had before them now officially the existence of a nuißance in the shape of the outfall draiD. It waß without doubt a nuisance, as he had made enquiries from residents in all parts of the district. He begged to move—" That .the petition bo received." Mr Wright, in seconding the motion, said that there was no doubt the nuisance did exist, and was caused by the sewage being discharged too high up and above high water mark. Therefore for sixteen hours out of the twenty-four the sewage was exposed on the mud flats. It was only right therefore that some temporary means should be taken to get rid of the nuisance, and that the Board should inspect the locality. The petition containing the resolutions was then read. Mr Duncan moved—" That the Board as a Board proceed that day to the Heathcote estuary to inspect the outfall drain, and the alleged nuisance at the time of low water.'' Mr Jones seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Duncan then moved that any further business be adjourned for the present. On the motion of Mr Jones, the representatives of the press were invited to accompany the Board on the visit. The Board then adjourned.