DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1081, 14 December 1877, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Friday, December 14. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held at 10.30 a.m. Present —Messrs H. J. Tancred (chairman), Jones, Ross, Hobbs, Hall, Harman, Duncan, and E. GK Wright. engineer’s report. The report of the Engineer was read as follows : Mr O’Malley has completed his contract to cut a new outlet for No. 2 drain. The water is turned into the new channel, and is now much lower than before. A body of men on day work are employed to deepen the same drain up through the flax swamp, and to cut out timber and logs which obstruct it. The drain through R.B. 1818, &c, has been widened, deepened and straightened as far as Winter’s road, thereby lowering the water nearly one foot. I have written to the railway engineer, asking him to lower the invert of the culvert under the railway on R.S. 10, and whenever this is done the Riccarton drain canbc deepenedand widened. The Addington drain through R.S. 113 to 145 is also being deepened. The improvement of these two drains was the subject of a petition to the Board by the residents of the locality. Regarding the request for compensation by MrP. M. Cresswell, I find that the slopes of the Styx drain through his land has been widened so as to cut off about one-fourteenth of an acre, which was necessary to prevent the sides from falling in. This drain was cut in 1868 by the owner of the land, and handed over to the Road Board,which transferred it to this Board. I have, at Mr Creswell’s request, carted earth from the slopes so as to fill up ground for a slaughteryard, and to form a road for the same, and have levelled off all earth not so used. I have the honor to remain, &c., C. Napier Bell, Engineer. The clauses of the report were considered seriatim. Clauses 1 and 2 passed as satisfactory. On clause 3 some discussion arose, and ultimately it was decided to leave the matter over until a reply was received from the Railway Engineer. Respecting the compensation claimed by Mr Cresswell, it was decided to reply that the Board declined to pay the amount asked. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read, signed by Mr Haskins and other residents of the Avon district, praying that the Board would take into its consideration again the proposed drain at Papanui, and giving a number of reasons why the Board should re-open the drain through Mr Kruse’s land. A deputation also waited on the Board with reference to the same subject. Mr Haskins produced a plan dated twentyone years back signed by the chief surveyor, showing the drain through the land occupied by Mr Kruse. Mr Kruse having also addressed the Board, Ultimately the Board resolved to remit the matter to a sub-committee, comprising Messrs Harman and Wright and the engineer, to bring up a report as to what course they recommended to be taken with regard to Kruse’s drain. The report of the auditors and the statement of accounts of the Board were submitted and adopted. A letter was read from the town clerk, asking if the Board intended to divert the present Antigua street drain, so that the drainage from the Hospital might be prevented from flowing into the river. It was resolved to reply that the Board intended to construct the Antigua street sewer so soon as the permanent drainage scheme was established. They had hoped to have done so before, but have been waiting for Mr Clark’s report. It was the intention of the Board to divert the Antigua street drain so soon as the permanent plans had been approved by Mr Clark. A letter was read from Mr Joynt, as representing Mr J. Reading, asking them to give him their decision on the matter put before them by him on behalf of Mr Reading. It was decided to acknowledge the letter. A letter was read from Mr H. W. Packer, asking that the ditch along Piper’s road should be made larger, as at present it was far too small to carry off [the water accumulated there. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Harman, that the engineer be instructed to place the ditch along Piper’s road in an efficient i[atq'before'winter. ” A letter was read from Mr Dunlop, asking [he' Board to deepen the ditch along the Canal reserve.

|t was decided that the Board would do the portion within itg district, provided the ] Ayoh Eoad Board did that lying within its jurisdiction. » A jetter was read frcm Mr Yiper, drawing thp attentipn of the Ijoa* 1 tq the bad state of Lyttelton strept, capsc A by the defective drainage. " The ‘letter was referred to thp Local JLioarc) pf Health. A letter Tyag read from Mr John Ravage, asking that the mouth of Dudley s Creek should be cleared out. The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was read from Mr Beatb, calling the attention of the Board tp tqe bad state of the Biccartpn Government drain, and the necessity which existed for deepening and widening it. The. letter stood over until a reply had been received from the Government aa regarded the culvert. A letter was read from Sir -I. C. Wilson, pointing '”'l that the water of the Cashmere river haft been dammed up bv the filthy state of the Hivtr Heathcote, and asking that the weeds, £e., should be cleared out. Ike natter was referred to the engineer.

A letter was read from Mr Denett, protesting against any new drain being opened through his land. The letter was referred to the sub-com-mittee appointed to consider the subject of Kruse’s drain. mr clark’s visit. A letter was read from Mr Clark, stating that he would visit Christchurch in about a month from November 29bh. Mr Clark regretted that so so long a delay should have occurred, but it had been unavoidable. Ho now hoped to leave Adelaide in about a month from the date of his letter A telegram was received, dated November 29th, stating that Mr Clark would finish in Adelaide in about a fortnight. It was decided to telegraph to Mr Clark that the Board relied upon his coming at as early a date as possible. THE SECRETARYSHIP. Forty applications were received for the office of secretary and treasurer, and Mr Thomas Q-ordon was elected. The Board then adjourned.