DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 971, 6 August 1877, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, August (i. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Drainage Board was held at'lOAO a.m. Present — Messrs Tancred (chairman), Ross, Harman, Jones, Hall, and Duncan. THU NEW DIIAINAGE SCHEME. The Chairman said he had received a letter from Mr Clark, but as the matter was not pressing, he had not called a special meeting. The secretary would now read the letters of Mr Clark. The Secretary then read the letters. The first one stated that the writer would be passing through Hew Zealand to England by the San Francisco route, and could arrange for a week’s stay here to make the enquiries required by the Board. He was unable to give a definite answer as to the time when ho could visit Christchurch, as he had been engaged in the work of advising the Sydney Government, and had received an application from Adelaide of a similar nature. His terms were £125 per week and expenses. Mr Duncan thought that the terms asked by Mr Clark were very reasonable. Mr Hall said that Mr Ollivier desired an interview with the Board, to ask some questions regarding the new scheme. Mr Ollivier then had an interview with the Board. Mr Ollivier explained that he had waited on the Board to make a few enquiries as to the .revised scheme the Board were going on with. He wished to know before calling a meeting of his committee to lay before them the information he had received from Mr Bell, whether there were to be silt pits communicating with the off-take sewers. That was, would fjhcgo bo silt pits to intercept the surface drainage, and prevent the solid matter being taken outjto sea. Mr Bell said £ mat the sewers would In* Jitted willi concrete pits at various points, having gratings and being trapped, so that the solid matter would settle down and could be removed. *' i Mr Ollivier said tliat was what ho meant. They might have to drain into the river for a time, until the main outfall was completed, and the adoption of these silt pits would prevent any pollution. What he wanted was (o lay before the committee the exact intentions of the Board, if they adopted the scheme proposed by Mr Bell, so that they might be able to give the Board, at an early date, their opinions upon it. Mr Duncan —Then there will be no need for employing Mr Clark Mr Ollivier could not see that. Tills was a matter of administration, and it was for the Board to decide, fclu far as tin - camuuttee were concerned, they did not letvl themselves called upqn to make an/ comment's Updii it. Mr Harman said chat he Thought it would be worth while waiting for a tune to obtain the opinion of so eminent an authority as Mr ; Clark upon the scheme. Mr Jones —But supposing Mr Clark endorses either one of Mr Carruthers’s plans, what then ? Mr Ollivier—Then you will hear a very strong expression of public opinion. I do not ; believe that there is anything like a large ■ section of the ratepayers who at all believe in ! Mi* Carruthers’s scheme. I 'My JWlurßut X tako it tot Jly Cfcrii l+w

nothing! whatever to do with the opinions of the ratepayers. He will have to select the plan he thinks best. Mr Ollivier—True, but still I only tell you what would be the result if the plans of Mr Carruthcrs were selected by Mr Clark. The Chairman—The resolution arrived at by the conference of the Board and the committee was to the effect that an amended scheme should bo prepared by Mr Carruthcrs or some other engineer, and submitted to Mr Clark or some other eminent drainage engineer. Mr Bell said lie would be happy to show Mr Ollivier the plans for the gullies and silt pits, which would be placed in such positions as to intercept the surface water prior to its entering the outfall drain. Mr Ollivier having inspected the plans, thanked the Board for their courtesy, and withdrew. THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer’s report was read as follows: — 6th August, 1877. Mr Stndhohue. of Merivale, has complained to the Board of want of drainage to his property, and states that this has been caused by the action of Dr. Back in stopping what Mr Studholme asserts to be the old natural course of the drainage, the appearance of the ground and the levels taken, and the fact of there being an old culvert across the road at this place seem to justify tins assertion of Mr Studholme ; but whether it was the old course of the drainage or not, it is the only practical course for the drainage of the springs and fields situated to the north of the road; to take it down Hewitt’s road to the mill race would entail great expense and place a ditch sft. deep along the roadside, which, besides cutting all the frontages, would bo inconvenient and dangerous, I can sec no substantial reason why the water from Mr Studholme s land should not pass through Dr. Back's, provided no sewage were permitted to enter the drainage. Messrs Kossitor, Barnes, and Sisson, of Papauui, have been subjected to great inconvenience ami loss by want of drainage from their land. I have examined the locality and find that the best course to relieve them and at the least expense and inconvenience would bo to reopen a ditch through the property of Mr Ponninghonse which served the same purpose until recently stopped by him. In regard to the drain on the Gasworks road, from the railway to the south belt, which the Heathcotc Bead Board have requested this Board to cover over, I would call the attention of the Board to three methods as temporary expedients for abating the inconvenience occasioned by this drain ; 1. Cutting a new drain through private land, at a cost, with compensation of £SU. 2. Placing 18-inch pipes inside the present drain and making up the footpath on top, at a cost of .£230. ;’>. Fencing the drain as was done at Antigua street, at a cost of £l4. I would recommend the third as sufficient for the purpose and saving money. The timbering of the drain beside the milway at the gasworks and connecting it with the Waltham drain as a precaution against flooding of the land is completed. The sections of property at Waltham, near the junction of Third street with Colombo road, have been drained by ditches and pipes leading into the ISin. pipe in Third street. The Eiccartou Eoad Board has been written to, asking it to place a culvert under the road, in order to afford drainage to the property of Mr Matson, at Papauui. When this is done a drain will have to be cut by this Board to connect the culvert with the railway drain. The proprietors having cut the gorse hedges, some men have been set to clear out the creek which drains the land of Mr Brittan, of which complaint was made to the Board. Steps arc being taken to get the sides of No. 1 2 drain. Horse Shoe Lake, planted with willows during this spring. The ponds at Phillipstown arc being drained by a ditch, and line of pipes leading into the brick outfall sewer. Levels are being taken to determine the best course to drain the sections 378, 221, 322, concerning which a petition was sent to the Board at the last meeting. I have the honor to remain, C. Napier Bell, Engineer. With reference to the first paragraph, it was resolved, after a lengthened discussion, that the engineer lay all the facts of the case in question before the solicitors to the Board, and that they be requested to give their opinion thereon as to the obligations of the Board. It was also resolved that Mr Bell collect information as to the existence or otherwise of a natural watercourse. On the second paragraph of the report, Mr Hell explained that this was a similar ease to the one preceding it. The solicitor was of opinion that it was necessary that the engineer should be supported by a formal entry in the minutes that the Board approved of the action proposed to be taken. When this was done, if Mr Ponninghonse again stopped up the ditch the Board could proceed at once against him. What was wanted, therefore, was a formal confirmation of the action proposed by the engineer to relieve the residents now inconvenienced by Penninghousc’s action. Mr Harman desired to point out that Penninghousc had said that if the Board wished to take a> drain through his land they must pay compensation. In the case of Mr Sludholme the Board held that they had a right over the watercourse, as they alleged that it was a natural one. Mr Duncan said that I Ik- proper course for the Board to take was to open the ditch, and then if Penninghousc slopped it up they would have cause ul action. 1 p to the present Penninghousc had given no notice of his intention to claim compensation. Mr Jones enquired what would be the cost of the land taken for fids drain. Mr Bell said that he should assess Mr Ponninghouse’s compensation at Is. The opening of Iho ditch - would bo of great service to him as well as to the public. Mr Duncan would move—“ That the ditch through the property of Mr Penninghousc, which lias been used for draining the adjoining land, and which has been stopped by him, bo re-opened for the same purpose.” Mr Hull seconded the motion, which vgu carried. Mr Hall moved—“ That a so;!,icc be served on Mr Penninghousc, as to the clfuisc under which the Board, is acting.” Mr liman, - n seconded the motion, which was agreed, to. Respecting 'the work pruuw dto done luu the Gasworks road, ; Mr Duncan said he should oppose the last recommendation. 'Hie road was a very narrow one, and to takeout a ditch from it would render it most unsafe, from the very large amount of traffic passing over the road. Mr Bell explained that this was only a temporary expedient, and as the cost had t o bo charged on rates, and not on loan, he had recommended the cheapest. Mr Jones would support the first rccom.uiendation of the engineer being carried out. Mr Harman suggested that it would be the • best course for Mr Dell to see Sir L. L. tlio owjjcjr of the pvojju'ty

the road, and inquire whether the Board could not make an arrangement with him as to constructing a temporary drain through it. Mr Duncan would move “That the engineer be instructed to make arrangements with Mr Nathan for the construction of a drain on his "property 1 along the Gasworks road.” ‘ ‘ 3 Mr Harman thought it would he much better to let the matter stand over until next meeting, and that Mr Duncan might sec Mr Nathan in the meantime, and ask him to allow the drain being made, the Board undertaking to till it up within a certain time. He should move “That the further consideration of the paragraph of the report stand over till next meet ing.” Mr Harman’s motion was then put and agreed to. The following two paragraphs of the report were passed as satisfactory. As regarded the drainage of Mr Matson’s land, a letter was read from Mr George Harper, complaining of the nuisance caused to I him by the stagnant water. Mr Hall said that the Eiccartou Eoad Board would probably put a culvert under the road to assist the Drainage Board in getting rid of this water. Mr Jones moved —“ That the work be done on the terms mentioned in Mr Harper’s letter as to the clearing out of the ditch, it being understood that the Eiccartou Eoad Board will place a culvert under the road.” Mr Eoss seconded the motion. Mr Hall said t hat there would be no difficulty with the Eiccartou Eoad Board, as they wore very liberal men. The motion was then put and carried. As regarded the planting of No. 2 drain, Mr Duncan said he understood that the Board had decided upon deepening and widening the drain even to the extent of the oxpenc diture of £SOO. The willows would taksome three years to grow up, and therefore it was necessary that some steps should be taken to relieve the residents of the districts from the water. Mr Harman thought, it would bo better to defer this matter until they had the final report of the Engineer before them as to the channel. Mr Jones moved—“ That the Engineer be instructed to furnish the Board with his final report on No. 2 drain.” Mr Eoss seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The report as a whole was approved. CONDITION OK CEMENT. Mr Jones said ho would like to ask the engineer whether the cement stored in the Gasworks store was in a good condition or not 'i He had heard that the place was a very damp one, and that the cement would become perished. Mr Bell said that every precaution that was possible had been taken. The under tier of cement might get a little damp, but they were unable to plae it elsewhere. DRAINAGE OK THE RURAL DISTRICTS. Mr Eoss asked whether the engineer could give the Board any information as to what was being done as regarded She drainage of the non-sewerage district. Mr Bell said that he had made sections of the district, ami had also invited the opinions of the surveyors lo the various Eoad Boards as to the works necessary to be done. These reports woidd be laid before the Board in due course. Mr Duncan said he should like to ask the engineer whether it was not possible to go on with some of theiv works now that they were geeting good weather. He thought that they might carry on their works now, or some of them, so as to go on gradually and steadily. By so doing they woidd afford opportunities for the employment of surplus labor. Mr Bell said he had some small works at Bottle Lake, Ac., in hand, but ho did not think they could enter upon the general scheme until Mr Clark had inspected the plans. THE DRAINAGE ACT. Mr Hall said he would like to ask the Board whether it was intended to make any alterations in the Act during the present session. Why ho asked this was because of the rating of the country and rural districts for the sewerage of Christchurch. It was felt that it was unfair to ask the country districts to contribute towards what was of no benclib whatever to them. For tins reason he hud thought it was necessary that (ho Act should bo altered. Whilst iu Wellington ho had spoken to the Canterbury members, and Hon. Mr Eichardson had expressed his willingness to take charge of the amended Bill. The chairman said that the discussion was out of order. hr clark’s engagement. Mr Harman moved “That, iu reply to the letters from Mr Clark, dated the 17th July, 1877, a telegram be sent to that gentleman intimating the desire of the Board to avail themselves of his services at as early a date as possible, on the terms indicated in his letter, and that a letter to the same effect be forwarded to him by post.” Mr Jones seconded Hie motion, which was agreed to. COERESI’ONDKNCK. A letter was read from Mr John Rountree calling attention to the had state of a ditch near his land in the Avon district.. The matter was referred to the engineer lo take action in the matter. THE AVON. Mr Eoss asked what was the state of the River Avon under McNamara’s contract ? Mr Bell said that McNamara had six mw* at work now, and was keeping the rviAC clear. Of course in the spring the coufyuotor would have to put on more men. AGCOVXTS. Accounts to the amount of £l3l 7s Gd were passed, and ordered to be paid. COLONIAL INDUSTRY, Mr Boss,said he desired to call the atton*h»h of the Board to the desirability of giving Messrs Austin and -Kirk an opportunity of haying a share iff Hio- patronage of the Board. If the artii'ie va* a good one, he thought they shovdd eirKOimige colonial industry. What . Messrs Austin and Kirk wanted was thatthey mtglil have a share <»1 (lie business of the Hoanl ff.ii- cnrreut use. The Engineer said (hat la- was using pipes from Air Turner, whore lie could get. ’better ones and longer lengths at a cheaper rude. After a slight discussion, Mr .Duncan moved- T-iaii the engineer be instr;.;eled to receive offers , ITjpm local makers for (he supply of pipes of various sizes for prompt, iho—accompanied by samples.” Mr Jones seconded the motion, which was "carried.' 1 Air Duncan moved —“That a special notill cation be sent lo each member that the floan of the allocation of the Joan between the city and rural districts would bo discussed.” The Chairman said this would be done. This couduffeT the business.