DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 924, 11 June 1877, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, June 11 The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held at 10.30 a.m. Present —Messrs Tailored (chairman), Harman, Duncan, Hall, Boss, and Hobbs. THE MODIFIED SCHEME. The Chairman said that the following telegram had been received from Mr iSTapier Beh ; —“ Carruthers will submit modified plans for drainage. Letter by post.” ENG INK Ell’s REPORT. The following report was received from the engineer : June 11th, 1877. In the absence of the engineer I have to report, for the information of the Board, upon the various works at present being carried out in the district. The repairs to the outfall sewer have been discontinued pending the settlement of the scheme to be finally adopted for drainage, when it will be known what part the sewer will perform (if any) in the new system. I may, however, state that the recent attempt to exclude the quicksand from the sewer has been eminently successful, and that about five chains is perfectly clear; however, a little time will be required for observation, that an estimate may be formed of the permanency of the work. The extension of the outfall drain over the mud fiat at the estuary is in hand. The clearing of drains and crocks in the Heathcote district is receiving attention. The Heathcote river and the northern branch of Jackson’s creek being more than ordinarily choked, require considerable time and labor expended upon them. I have six men now cnagaged on the work. I beg to "hand you a report, by the engineer, upon the Salisbury street drains and Free’s Jno. Webster. Messrs Forest, King, and McLean have certain drains passing through their property, and of which they complain as an annoyance. Mr King has applied to the Board to he allowed to cover in the drain by an 18iu. pipe ; the former gentlemen have attempted to cover the drain in without the permission of the Board. The objection to allowing individuals to cover over these and other drains on private lands arises from the difficulty in that case of having access to them, and their liability to get choked up in which ease the Board would still be responsible for the condition in which the drains were kept. It is difficult to determine what is best to be done with these drains while a definite system of drainage for the town district is undecided ; in the meantime the Board appear, by the Act to have the right to insist in having access to and entire control over all public drains. Cases may and have arisen in which the Board may see lit to allow parts of drains to he covered over by special permission granted in writing, but in such cases 1 would recommend that the applicant, for such permission, give the Board a proper legal agreement to the effect that he holds himself liable to maintain the drain so covered over in an efficient condition to the satisfaction of the engineer, that the Board may at any time, without notice given, remove the covering, and charge the appliplieant with the cost of so doing, that the applicant shall have no right to prefer claims for damages of any kind on account of the Board exercising its right to restore the drain to the condition it was in before the application was made, and that nothing in the agreement shall he construed to mean that the Board has surrendered or made over any of its rights over the parts of drains in

question. I would recommend such an agreement to he procured from Mr Win. McLean, and that he he allowed to cover in his drain, which is merely ,;| ir ing wafer, but the City Surveyor should not Tv* allowed to drain the street into these pipes, as this will soon cause them to be choked up. If Mr McLean will not execute such an agreement the Board should uncover the drain at once in accordance with the notice already served on llim - , ~ , .... I cannot recommend that permission be given to either Mr Forrest or Mr King to cover over

their drains, as very large quantities of water and all sorts of objects pass through the drain, and it would be exceedingly likely that it would get choked and overflow into the streets, as has already occurred in many places where these and other drains are covered over in places, while the rest of them is uncovered. C. Napier Bell.

The report was considered m riatiiu. The first part of the report was passed. On that portion referring to the Salisbury street drain, some discussion arose, and ultimately Mr Harman moved “ That [the question of the Salisbury street drain be referred to the solicitor to the Board, with a view to the defining of the legal rights of the Board with reference thereto.” Mr Ross seconded the motion, which was agreed to. DRAIN NO. 2. A letter was read from Mr Dunlop, calling attenting to the bad state of drain No. 2 running through his property at St. Albans. The letter was referred to the surveyor, with power to take temporary measures for relief. THE PERRY ROAD DRAIN. An application from Mr H. E. Riley for a bridge over the Ferry road drain was acceded to. CALEDONIAN ROAD. A letter was read from Mr Blakiston calling attention to the large amount of water collected on section 2436, which was a very great nuisance. The clerk was instructed to reply that the matter would be attended to immediately after the return of the engineer from Wellington. CANAL RESERVE DRAIN. A letter was read from Mr W. Craddock, calling attention to the bad state of the Canal Reserve drain, which overflowed and flooded the surrounding land, thereby causing a large amount of stagnant water to back up. The Clerk was directed to inform the writer that tire engineer would be instructed to take steps immediately to remedy the nuisance. SPRINGFIELD ROAD. A letter was read from Mr Hislop, calling attention to the fact that the drain on the Springfield road was choked up with watercress. The Clerk was instructed to reply that the matter would be attended 1 o on the return of the engineer from Wellington. THE RTCCARTON DRAIN. Two letters were read from Mr T. J. W. Shand, protesting against the removal of the soil from his property in the course of cutting the drain, to do which the Board had been given permission by him. Mr Shand contended that the Board bad no right to cart away his soil, or divertc watercourses on his property. If the soil were taken away, he should require Is per load for it, or should institute the usual proceedings for compensation. Mr Hall, in reply to questions, said that he thought they could get the earth they required from a reserve, which would be cheaper than paying Mr Shand Is per load. Mr Shand, in common with the other proprietors of property in the district, had signed an agreement, giving permission to the Drainage Board to cut the drain, and that they woidd not claim compensation. After some discussion, it was resolved that Mr Shand be informed that the carting away of the soil would at once be discontinued, and that Mr Webster be requested to confer with Mr Shand on the subject. PAYMENTS. Accounts to the amount of £497 17s 6d were passed and ordered to be paid. The Board then adjourned for a fortnight.