DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1029, 12 October 1877, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Friday, Octobks 12, The ordinary fortnightly meeting was held at half-past ten. Present—Messrs Wright (in the chair), Hall, Duncan, Jones, and Hobbs. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs Harn a i and Ross. engineer’s report. Mr Webster, Surveyor to the Board, reported as follows : The Engineer not having returned from Wellington, 1 deem it my duty to report for the information of the Board, upon the works in the district. 1. The contractor for No 2 drain deviation has commenced work. 2. The alterations and improvements to No 1 drain and its branches, also Reece’s or Mitchell’s drain, are progressing favorably, and when complete should be sufficient to meet the wants of that portion of the Avon district. 3. The cutting of the drain through Mr Gould’s laud, to drain part of section 46, adjoining his property, is in hand, but there would appear to have been some misunderstanding with reference to the position. The course was levelled and pegged along the north side of the fence, whereas it was the desire of Mr Gould to have it fifty linki to the northward. I have made the necessary alteration, as it appears to me obligatory on the part of the Board, and it affords superior advantage in cutting and maintaining.

4. With reference to a letter from Mr Joynt re drain on section 1146, Mr Reading’s land, I was desired by the Engineer to visit the ground, and having done so, am of opinion the question should be dealt with under 107 and following clauses of the Drainage Act. 5. In accordance with the agreement signed by four members of the Board, I have delivered to Messrs Montgomery and Co, 125 casks of cement from the store at the Gasworks. Jno. Webster, Surveyor to the Board. Clauses 1 and 2 of the report were approved. The action taken by the surveyor, as stated in clause 3, was approved. In conjunction with clause 4, a letter was read from Mr T. I. Joynt, as solicitor for Mr James Reading, drawing attention to a ditch recently cut by the Board through a part of R.S. No. 1146, to drain Mr Attwood’s land into a drain known as Drayton’s drain. He was instructed that this ditch would not be as effective for the purpose intended as if it were cut in another direction, and that it also rendered a portion of Mr Reading’s land of less value to him, and would request that the Board should give instructions to their engineer to inspect the premises and report to them. Mr Duncan considered Mr Joynt’s request was a very reasonable one, and thought the engineer should visit the premises and report ; and also wait upon the other owners of property in the locality, as it was a work which would affect many of them. Mr Hall agreed with Duncan that the request was a very reasonable one, and j would move —“ That the engineer investigate the matter and report.” j Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which I was agreed to. j Clause 5 was approved. J Mr R. H. Wood, for Messrs Montgomery j and Co. (limited) waited upon the Board and i offered to take 300 barrels more of the cement, | returning them in four months, and give 6d i per barrel premium. (After some discussion of a conversational nature it was decided to accept Mr Wood's offer, the cement to be returned within the ! time stated, and to be of a similar brand to that lent. FERRY ROAD. Mr Taafe waited upon the Board to com* ; plain of water being backed on to his land, Ferry road, through the Government filling up the site of the police depot there. If the | drain were deepened his property would be relieved. It was decided that this matter is outside the jurisdiction of the Board, and they would suggest that he apply to the Government. 1 A letter was read from Mr W. P. Cow- ; lishaw, drawing attention to the necessity for ■ an outlet being provided to drain stagnant I water off land in Avonside. Referred to the engineer to report. A letter was read from Mr Thomas Moore, Heathcote Yalley, giving the Board notice not to cut through or in any way injure his section (No. 1165) of laud at Heathcote Yalley, excepting to clear out and keep in proper order the original watercourse. Referred to the engineer to report. A letter was read from Messrs Hanmer and Harper, instructed by the agents of the Barker estate, drawing attention to the nuisance existing of a quantity of water lying on rural section No. 146, at present in the occupation of Messrs Foster, Abbott, and others, Papanui road. The secretary was instructed to reply that the Board intend making use of a culvert and drain in that neighborhood, and do not intend abandoning the natural watercourse there known as Free’s creek. A letter was read from Mr W. C. Webb, Upper Riccarton, calling attention to the very unsatisfactory state of tho drainage of his land at Ricoarton. Referred to the engineer to report. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, asking [to have a footbridge placed over the drain on the south side of the Ferry road, and opposite a footpath recently formed on Ensor’s road. A second letter was also read from the Road Board, asking what commission they are to receive for collecting the Drainage rale io that district.

It was decided,to construct the footbridge as asked. With reference to the second letter, the Board agreed to pay 10 per cent, for collecting the rates this year. A letter was read from Air J. Carruthers, Wellington, in reply, saying that he had calculated the percentage on the cost of the revised scheme with low-level outfall drain ; but as the plans were not in detail, he was quite willing to accept the percentage on the pumping scheme. His account would therefore amount to £741 13s 4d. It was resolved that a cheque be forwarded to Air Carruthers for the balance of his account. A letter was read from the Hon. E. Richardson, dated 4th October and received on on 11th instant, forwarding six copies of the Amended Drainage Bill which had been read a second time in the House of Representatives. He would be obliged if informed by wire or return mail of the Board’s opinion of the proposed measure. The Bill was read at the request of members. Mr Duncan said he had received a'telegram from Air Stevens, saying a meeting of mem bers would be held that day re Brown’s Bill. He did not understand what it referred to at the time, but on receipt of a letter the following day from Mr Stevens on same subject, he had immediately forwarded the following reply, as his individual opinion : October sth. My dear Air Stevens, —I received your telegram. but did not understand its meaning until your letter came to hand on the fo lowing day. You are aware that public meelings were held condemning Air Carruther’s sci.eme, as being far beyond the requirements of the district. These meetings were quite distinct from a deputation that waited on the Hon Air Bowen, pointing out to him the unfairness of rating the rural portion of the drainage district on the same basis as the central portion, seeing that one required sewerage drains and the other open drains. At my request, a return was furnished showing the assessment of each portion, and the amount that would be requbed to be expended on each. This return shows that although the rural portion would have s comparatively small portion out of loan expected, the annual payments for clearing creeks and rivers will absord more than the central district in such works. I think from the calculations made that the rural districts will have an advantage equal to 30 per cent, over the central. 1 am aware that the great body of ratepayers in the rural districts think they will be mulcted in large rates to pay for the sewer ige of the city and suburbs ; but this is not so in fact, the latter would be better without the former, considered in relation to rates ; but the advantage of having one central authority controlling the whole is absolutely necessary, as the sewerage works will have to extend through the rural districts.

Mr Bell, our engineer, goes to Wellington tomorrow, and will be able to explain fully the whole matter, and I have requested him to call on you in reference thereto. I am, &c., Andrew Duncan. In reply to Mr Hall, Mr Duncan said that £IB,OOO would be spent on open drains in the rural districts and the balance in sewers. As the latter work could not be carried out for some time the rural districts would in the interval have the advantage against the central portion of something approaching 30 per centMr Hall said he did not approve of these hole and corner meetings, and a special meeting of the Board should have been called to consider this question. It would have been not only more satisfactory to members, but also to the public. It was a bad principle to adopt to have the opinions of two or three members go up as the united opinion of the Board. Mr Wright said the action taken had not been adopted as a principle, but merely that course had been carried out on an occasion of emergency. Mr Hobbs said that it had been found difficult to get the country members together at a short notice. A letter had appeared in Saturday’s Press making it appear that the Board were desirous of obtaining powers to levy rates to the amount of 2s, and anxious for the Board’s reputation after the statements they had sent forth to the public, and considering the quarter the letter had come from, he thought something should be done immediately. He went to Mr Harman, but it was found members could not be got together at a short notice to hold a special meeting, and ultimately the following telegram was sent to Wellington, which was first approved by those members of the Board residing in the city ; —“ The members of the Christchurch Drainage Board, incorporated by Act of the General Assembly, disapprove of the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Bill, 1877. October Bth.” So far as the Amended Bill was concerned the 2nd clause was simply an abortion, and the mover of it could not have intended that justice should be done equally to all parts of the district, as the suburbs were simply portions of the whole district. A Bill to suit the circumstances could be brought up next session in a proper manner. The Chairman said he quite concurred in the action which had been taken. Perhaps it would be as well if a resolution were moved in this direction. The Board could have no hesitation whatever in saying that the boundaries named in the proposed Bill were quite inapplicable, and the Board, as a whole, disapproved of the Bill, and besides it was premature. Mr Hall would prefer that this matter should be postponed until next meeting, when all the members might be present. Though he did not agree with the boundaries named, still he did not think the action intended was premature. If the matter were postponed until next meeting they might be able to suggest clauses which would meet with the approval of the suburban portions of the district. Mr Duncan moved—“ That the action taken by the secretary in forwarding a telegram bearing on Christchurch Drainage Amendment Bill to Mr Stevens on the Bth October, be approved, and that in reply to Hon. E. Richardson’s letter a copy of the telegram be sent to that gentleman.” Mr Hobbs seconded the motion. Mr Hall desired to enter his protest against the action tako7i before a special meeting of the Board had first been called. The motion was put and carried, Mr Hall’s protest being recorded at his request. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Hobbs gave notice to move at next meeting—“ That the works of the Board be carried on by contract for the future.” Mr Hall gave notice that at next meeting he would move—“ That a culvert on the Northern line of Railway be lowered.” ■ |Jom’d then adjourned.