DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 870, 9 April 1877, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, April 9. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held at half-past ten o’clock this morning. Present—Messrs Hobbs (in the chair), A.°Duncan, H. J. Hall, and Harman. chairman’s statement. The Chairman stated that some little delay had taken place in the lithographing of the plans. An assurance was given that the work would be done the week after it was given in hand, but it now appeared that the plans would not be finished for three weeks beyond the time anticipated. The excuse of the Lyttelton Times people was, that only one man could work at the stone, and that it was sufficient to keep one man employed for a month. This was the reason why the plans had not been in the hands of the Board and the ratepayers before now. engineer’s report. The following report was read : “ The repairs to the outfall sewer authorised by the Board are nearly completed, and I have not found it necessary to make them so costly as I anticipated. These repairs will make the sewer perfectly safe. “ The silt pits have been carried out along the sewer at the South and East belts, and at Tuam street. I have forwarded for Mr Carruthers’ approval plans for abolishing the silt pit, which is a source of much annoyance, but this can only be done when the sewer is built up on a ‘street to intercept the open south drain. “ I have examined the cause of complaint about the drainage at the West Christchurch School. I think this is a subject for the consideration of the City Surveyor, as anything the Board might do would probably interfere with his plans for the drainage of the new rpads by side channelling or otherwise. If the City Surveyor does not intend to conduct the drainage of these new roads towards St. Asaph street they can be drained into the open ditch on the cast boundary of the school ground. “ The contractor for clearing the Avon has been requested to keep sufficient men at work to keep down the surface of the river, particularly below Wood’s mill. “ The plan of the drainage scheme was sent to the lithographers nearly three weeks ago, but the Easter holidays have probably interfered with their completion. “ Tenders for the Ferry road sewer have been postponed by advertisement till the 7th of May. “ I have the honor to remain, &c., “C. Napier Bell.” The various clauses in the report were approved seriatim, and the report as a whole adopted. ANTIGUA STREET DRAIN. The Engineer said an article about this drain had appeared in one of the newspapers. He would like to know who was to fence that drain, and who would be responsible in ease an accident occurred. Mr Harman said it was only a wonder that more accidents did not occur at this drain. Many persons had from time to time been dragged out of it, and he was certain he had been the means of saving one man’s life. He was in a state of intoxication, and would have been drowned had not lie (Mr Harman) been there to pull him out at the time. He followed this up by laying an information against, the man for drunkenness. Really something should be done to prevent accidents occurring. Mr Hall thought that as the drain was vested in the Board, the Board would be responsible in ease of accidents occui'ring. It would be advisable therefore to adopt some protective measures with respect to it. Mr Harman considered that prevention was better than cure, and moved “ that the engineer be instructed to have the Antigua street drain fenced.” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was carried. PINANCIAL. Wages for week ending 24th March, £7 ; ditto, for repairing outfall drain, £lO 4s ; surveyor’s salary for March, £4l 13s 4d ; secretary’s salary for March, £25 ; wages for week ending 31st March, £7; ditto, outfall drain, £lO 15s ; wages to April 6th, £7 16s ; repairing outfall drain, &c., £l3 4s ; total, £122 12s 4d. Rate Account—Avon Road Board, wages,. £l2 12s; wages for weekending March 24th, £0 ; ditto to 31st , £6 ; ditto, to April 6th. £6 ; Riccarton Road Board, £2O 11s 6d ; total, £4l 3s Od. CORRESPONDENCE. 4 letter was read from the Heathcote Road Boanl, requesting to be supplied with a copy of' the specifications and conditions of the drainage works to be carried out ou the If erry road.

The Engineer was instructed to comply with the request. A letter was read from Mr W. E. Stamford, notifying that he had commenced his business as a tanner and currier on premises abutting on the outfall drain, Woolston, and requesting to be allowed to carry on the same. Referred to the Local Board of Health. A letter was read from the Surveyor to the Riccarton Road Board, enclosing the following resolutions passed by the Board at a meeting held on April 7th: —“ 1. That in the opinion of this Board it is necessary for the drainage of the main road to extend the Riccarton drain through sections 78 and 95 to the Middleton road, and that the Drainage Board be requested to carry out the work on similar terms to those agreed upon for the first portion of it. 2. That the Drainage Board be respectfully requested to extend Cartwright’s drain through section No. 70 to Webb’s road, so that the said road may be formed and drained,” The Engineer considered that this extension was necessaiy. He cut the first portion only to see if the other could be done without, but he found this was not the case. The Chairman said that if this drain fitted in with Mr Carruthers’ general scheme of drainage, it ought to bo constructed out of loan instead of rates. Mr Harman said he was certainly of opinion that the expense of this work should bo borne out of loan. On the motion of Mr Duncan, seconded by Mr Hall, it was resolved that the work be done, and that the engineer be instructed to make suitable arrangements with the Riccarton Road Board to pay proportion of cost. With regard to the second resolution of the Riccarton Road Board, On the motion of Mr Duncan, seconded by Mr Hall, it was resolved that the engineer should proceed with the extension of Cartwright’s drain, conditionally on Mr Boag agreeing to waive all claim for compensation, and allowing it to be a public drain. A letter was received from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand on the subject of the negotiation of the £IOO,OOO loan. The letter was referred to the acting chairman, Mr Harman, and Mr Duncan, to bring up report on the subject at next meeting. ACCOUNTS. Salaries, wages, and a number of accounts were passed for payment, as above. LITHOGRAPHED PLANS. Mr Duncan said that as these were not yet at the disposal of the public, and would not be for a fortnight or so, it would be as well to extend the time for receiving tenders for the drainage works. He thought the public ought to have plenty of time to consider the plans, and he begged therefore to move that the time for receiving tenders be extended from the 7th to the 21st May. Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was agreed to. LEAVE OE ABSENCE, On the application of the Engineer, leave of absence for ten days was granted to that gentleman. The Board then adjourned.