Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 908, 23 May 1877, Page 3

' aMvtmtmtntß. CHRTSTCHUR H KILWINNING QUOITING CLUB. * MATCH will be played on the l. Quoiting Ground TO-MORROW. Members desirous of playing to be on the ground not later than 11 o'clock. The Cup Presentation will take place at the Eastern Hotel at S p. m. D. PEARSON, 5562 Hon. Sec. 1.0.0. F., jf^l-f 333- M.U. LOYAL VOLUNTEER LODGE. 3R. DOYLE lias been ELECTED MEDICAL OFFICER of the above Lodge. His residence is at the corner of Armagh and Manchester streets. 5661 TO THE RATEPAYERS OF THE CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE DISTRICT. Christclmrch District Drainage Board, Hereford street, 21st May, 1877. GENTLEMEN —The agitation by means of public meetings which is being carried on in opposition to the scheme of drainage adopted by the Christclmrch District Drainage Board has led the members of the Board to think it likely that they no longer possess the confidence of those by whom they were elected. The Board feels that, should this be the case, no good, but rather harm, would be the result of their continuing to be members of the Board. The members of the Board desire therefore to test formally and definitely the views of the ratepayers, to whom they are responsible, upon the point at issue, in order that, should the result show that the present members of the Board are not acting in accordance with the wishes of the ratepayers of the drainage district, they should give place toothers representing more faithfully those interested in the decision of the question. The members of the Board feel that they would not be justified in bowing to the decision of meetings, the composition of which they have no means of knowing. By so doing they might be abandoning a work which it is possible their constituents might desire to see carried out. The real point at issue, as the members of the Board understand, is whether the system should be an underground drainage, or a surface drainage to be effected by means of side channels or shallow drains. The members of the Board ai'e of opinion that no drainage can be satisfactory unless the main drains and sewers are placed at a considerable depth. They believe that no improvement in the sanitary state of the district can be hoped for unless the two following conditions are complied with: — 1. That the water and slops from houses be removed quickly. 2. That the soil near the surface be not allowed to get permanently saturated. It is evident that, in however effectual a manner the first of these conditions may be satisfied by means of shallow drains, the second, and more important object, the removal of moisture from the land, can only be attained by means of underground drains and sewers. It must be remembered, moreover, that the district for which drainage is to be provided, consists not only of Christchurch, but includes a considerable area of land around the city, and that the drains must be of sufficient capacity to carry off the water brought into them from the suburbs. The system of complete arterial drainage for the whole district is the system originally contemplated by the Act. It was to carry out this system that the Board was constituted and that the Act was passed. It was throughout assumed that from the flatness of the country to be drained an effectual system of drainage (at least if the health of the inhabitants was to be thereby improved) would entail great difficulties, and would require a very considerable expenditure of money. It is hardly reasonable to suppose that, had the promoters and framers of the Act contemplated effecting the drainage of the district by means of side channels, and other surface drains, they would have authorised an expenditure of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, by giving power to the Board in the first Act to borrow that sum. If the Board becomes satisfied that the ratepayers generally do not think it necessary to employ underground drainage as a means of providing for the healthfulness of the districts affected, then the Board will see that it has mistaken the wishes and intentions of its constituents. Upon the vital point of underground drainage the members of the Board must insist as a condition of their retaining office. They will be no parties to the abandonment of a system of drainage sufficiently deep to carry off the water from all the low-lying parts of the district, and to remove the moisture from the soil. As to other points, the members have no reason to suppose that they are not in accord with their constituents as a body, but in order that the main point of difference may not be complicated by collateral issues, they wish to state their intentions as follows : 1. They do not intend to introduce the system of water-closets in connection with any drains, sewers, or watercourses under their control. 2. Thoy propose immediately to carry out the portions of the drainage scheme most urgently required to relieve the low-lying parts from surface water; to effect this it will be necessary that the Ferry road, Colombo road, St. Asaph street sewers, the drainage of the low-lying parts of St. Albans, &c, should be proceeded with at once. 3. Generally to put down drain pipes, or sewers in those parts where side channels will not answer for carrying off surface water. 4. To delay carrying out those portions of the general scheme which can remain in abeyance without injury to the public health. 5. To provide for the arterial drainage of the rural parts of the district. It may be pointed out that the time has already expired during which permission was given ito keep open the drain at the south-east corner of the town belt, and that in case the Board should be compelled to close it, very disastrous consequences to life and health are to be apprehended in the districts from which the surface water empties itself into this drain. The districts of Waltham and Colombo road would, as experience has shown, be great sufferers. For this reason it is of the utmost consequence that the works for permanently relieving these districts should be undertaken without loss of time. The members of the Board propose to adopt the following method of ascertaining the wishes of the ratepayers with regard to the retention of their office. If within one month from this date, a requisition is presented to them condemnatory of the plan above specified, signed by a majority of the ratepayers in the district, they iwill immediately resign ; if no such requisition be presented, then the Board will consider that their own views are those of the majority of the ratepayers, and will continue in office, and will carry out the works as above specified, without regarding any opposition from public meetings. (Signed) HENRY JOHN TANCRED, FREDK. HOBBS, T. D. JONES, J. V. ROSS, E. G. WRIGHT, ANDREW DUNCAN, 5660 Z R. J. S. HARMAN.