DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1063, 23 November 1877, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Friday, November 23. The usual meeting of the Board was held at 10.30 a.m. Present —Messrs Tancred (chairman), Wright, Duncan, Ross. engineer's REPORT. The report of the Engineer was read as follows In the interval between the last meeting of the Board [ liave accepted the lender of Mr W. Stock for .£260 to deepen and widen the old watercourse through U.S. 1138. &c. The new contract lo No. 2 Drain, Horseshoe Lake, is nearly finished, and a number of men at day-work are employed deepening', widening, and straightening the drain from Keece's Swamp, B.S. 1818, &c. I submit a plan for a drain to divert the creek running through Papanui from the North road. which was complained of as inconvenient and dangerous to the traffic, and ;is severing all the frontages. Also, a plan of a drain to be reopened in part, and in part cut new. which will drain the country round B.S. 223. 224, of which courphthvfc was made by petition to the Board last winter. Messrs Montgomery. Turner, and Clavksou have borrowed of the cement stored at the Gasworks to the amount of 1023 barrels, to be replaced by fresh cement at short periods of time. I submit plan of levels taken at Fifth street, Colombo road south, ft S. 79, as directed to be furnished by the Board at its last meeting, on which occa.sion I read the letter of one of the owners, stating his objections to the neighbours having drainage through his section. I would suggest that the work be done under clause 38 of the Drainage Act. I have employed men to deepen, widen, and properly slope St. Allians creek through rural sections 2(53, 286, 287. I have not thought it necessary to alter its course or straighten it, as no complaints have been made about it, and the work now being douc on it will enable it to drain the district sufficiently well. Messrs Harman and Packer have been written to. askin? their assent to the diversion of the South Addiogton creek, as referred to in my last report. I would propose to remove the diversion as soon as the new street is laid out. A ll the fencing along the outfall drain as far as the estuary has been repaired, and the accompanying accounts are due to the Board from adjoining owners. The Antigua street drain has been cleared out, and will be cleaned at frequent intervals during the summer. I have, &c C. Napier Bell, Engineer. The report of the Engineer was approved. the DRAINAGE scheme. The following letter was read from Mr Clarke, a 3 to his visit to Christchurch : Sydney. October 3rd. Sir, —I am sorry to inform you that another delay in my departure from this colony has occurred. I have now completed all the work I had in hand when I hist had the honour to write to you, and I was preparing to leave for Adelaide, when I received a request from the Colonial Secretary to visit Goulbouvu and report on the water supply of that town. The circumstances of ny engagement are such that I could not very graciously decline or do otherwise than comply with the request, which will probably delay my visit to New Zealand for at lea.-t another month, and I hasten to inform you of the fact. I have. &c, I AY. Clarke. Chairman of Drainage Board, Christchurch. Mr Duncan pointed out that the summer was slipping away and yet there did not appear to be any more chance of Mr Clarke paying a visit to Christchurch than at first. Mr Wright pointed out that some five months had elapsed since Mr Clarke first stated that he was coming to New Zealand in about two months. Now, however, it appeared that he was likely to be two or three months longer before leaving Australia. He could therefore hardly be expected to be in New Zealand before the end of .January or beginning of February. Mr Hobbs thought that as the Wellington authorities required Mr Clarke's services it would be as well to despatch a joint telegram to Mr Clarke, asking him to fix definitely the date of his visit to New Zealand or decline the engagement altogether. The Chairman asked what was to be done if Mr Clarke declined.

Mr Hobbs said then that the Board could refer the matter to a Board of Engineers in the colony. Mr Boss would oppose this being done, as they were under an engagement with the ratepayers to consult some engineering authority outside the colony. It, was resolved that a telegram be forwarded to Mr Clarke, asking him to forward definitely the date at which he would leave for New Zealand. It was also decided to inform the Mayor of Wellington of the steps taken by the Ohristchurch Board in the matter. COHJJKSI'ONDJiWOK. A letter was read from MrJoynt, as solicitor for Mr James Beading, asking whatatcpe trie Board intended to take in the matter ol (he drain made by theut through Mr Beading's land. It was resolved that Mr Joynt bo referred to the answer sent by the Board to Mr Attwood on the same subject. The secretary was further directed to state that tho Board leave the parties concerned to take the initiative •"ider Clause 10'; nnd following clauses of Lht Act. a letter was received from the Kiccarton Rjad Board, enclosing a resolution that the

Drainage Board be requested to take action as to the drainage of Wright's road by widening and deepening the Addington drain. Referred to the engineer. A letter was read from Messrs Brown and T. B. Craig, as to the matter brought by them before the Board, which had been referred to the engineer. The Engineer stated that the matter had been attended to.

A letter was read from the Mayor of Wellington asking when Mr Clarke was likely to be in Ohriehchurch, as he wished to consult him on the Wellington drainage scheme. The Secretary was instructed to state what had been done in the mattor.

From the Sydenham Borough Council, calling attention to a dangerous opening existing at the junction of Madras and Third streets, Waltham. The Engineer stated that the matter had been attended to on tho day of the date of the letter.

A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board asking if the Board would allow a road through the sandhills from rural sections 4636 to 10308.

The Engineer said he had written to the Board asking for a tracing of the line of road proposed. The matter was deferred until the receipt of the tracing. A letter was read from the Town Clerk of Christchurch, forwarding details of the expenditure on account of making the assessment of the city for the Board. Mr Hobbs characterised the account as forwarded as a " cooked " one. Even supposing the whole time of the officers of the Council had been devoted to the work the items rendered by the Town Clerk would be simply ridiculous. He might say further than this that Messrs Pratt, Briggs, and Thomson had informed him that the matter had never been before the City Council, consequently the town clerk had exceeded his duty altogether in forwarding such an account as the one now before them. Even supposing the account to be correct, the proportion to be paid by the Board was to be according to the rate levied—that is, if the Board's rate was 3d and the Council's Is, the proportion should be as 3d to Is. He would move—" That the City Council be informed that the Board decline to pay such on account." Mr Ross would second the motion. Mr Wright thought that the account was perfectly absurd. The Chairman thought the letter should be acknowledged, with a request that the matter be laid before the City Council. Mr Hobbs stigmatised the account as one of the most absurd and "cooked" he ever saw. It was a very disgraceful tiling to eee such an attempt as the one now before tho Board. It was ultimately dec : ded that a letttr should be sent to the City Council declining to pay the account, and pointing out that no private agreement between the secretary and the Town Clerk as to the proportion could be entertained. All the Board recognised was a proportion of actual expenses on the basis of the amount of rate levied by each body. A letter was read from Mr R. M. Cresswell applying for compensation for land taken by the Board in cutting a drain through sections 902, 1600 Papanui. The letter alleged that the Board had taken very nearly a quarter of an acre. The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was read signed by a number of residents on R.S. 9,113,118, and 145, Addington, calling attention to the innefficient state of the drainage of these sections. Mr Wright moved—" That the Engineer report at next meeting on the best means of affording relief." Mr Hobbs seconded the motion, which was agreed to. PAYMENTS. Accounts to the amount of £438 17s 2d were passed and ordered to be paid. The Board then adjourned.