DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1097, 4 January 1878, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Friday, January 4. The usual meeting of the Board was held at 10.30 a.m. Present —Messrs Tailored (chairman), Jones, Harman, Roes, Duncan. ANNUAL MEETING. Mr Duncan said he desired to call the attention of the Board to the fact that this was the first annual meeting of the Board, at which they would have to elect their chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Ross said t hat lie had very much pleasure in proposing the re-election of Mr Tanered as the chairman of the Board for the year. That gentleman had discharged the duties of the office most efficiently, and he thought they could not do better than reelect him. [Hear, hear.] Mr Harman had very great pleasure in seconding the motion. The resolution was thep put and agreed tp unanimously. ' engineer’s report. The Engineer’s report was read as follows :

As directed by the Board, I have inspected the River Heathcote, and find that it is in fair condition ; but there ai’c many places where the growth of weeds is considerable, and as an annual clearing is necessary, I would recommend that the work he let for contract.

As the Avon Road Board have filled up part of the drain on the south side of St. Albans lane, it will be necessary to lay about five chains of 12in. pipes on the other side, to prevent the flooding of properties in time of rain. The pipes would be useful afterwards as part of the permanent sewers. The Avon Road Board having refused to substitute a bridge for the small culvert under, the road at 11. S. 1071, I have been obliged to build a bridge in order to give room for the passage of the water in the drains now being deepened and widened. In the Addington drain also, which I have deepened and widened, the Biccarton lioad Board refuse to lower the culverts, thus throwing the expense of doing so on the 'Board, as I will have to got it done before the drain can be of any use. The deepening and widening of the old course of the Dudley creek has been completed under the contract of Mr Stocks. As there is much sand in the sides and bottom, the sides h.,d to bo protected with fascines of Manuka scrub, entailing considerable expense. The work of deepening No. 2 drain up to Rhodes’s Swamp is proceeding satisfactorily, part of it being lot by contract. I expect that this new drain will entirely dry up these swamps if the land owners choose to cut the necessary cross drains into the main one. C. Napier Bell, Engineer. The clauses of tlio report were considered seriatim.

On clause 1, it was resolved that the engineer be authorised to make arrangements

for having the River Heathcote kept clean from the Lincoln road bridge to Wilson’s bridge at a cost not exceeding £‘lo per annum.

On clause 2, it was resolved after some discussion to adopt the engineer’s recommendation.

Clause 3 was adopted by the Board, and the recommendations of the engineer agreed to. Clauses 4 and 5 wore passed as satisfactory.

The report as a whole was adopted CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was read from J. Linney, calling attention to a creek running through Mr Barker’s property, St. Alban’s lane, by which his land was submerged. It was resolved that the secretary inform the writer that the matter was being attended to.

A letter was read from Mr I*. Taafc, Avonside, claiming £4O damages on account of the overflow of the River Avon on to his property. He also called attention to the fact that the weeds which had been cut. had drifted down near his property and stopped the How, thereby causing the damage complained of. The Engineer stated that he had written to Mr Macnaraara, urging him to keep the work of clearing the river well up. He (the Engineer) had told the contractor that unless he put a large gang of men on he should do it tor him. Since then the contractor had done so, and was near the New Brighton school. Above this the river was clear, but below, of course the weeds had accumulated. It was resolved that the engineer be requested to see that the river be kept clear at short intervals in future. Mr Duncan would like to know what was the position of the Board in the matter if the contractor sent down a lot of weeds and thereby caused the river to overflow. Would they not be liable to the aggrieved party ? The Chairman thought not. The Board had contracted for the clearance of the river, and had therefore given over all charge of the river. If the contractor caused damage he thought ho was liable, and not the Board. After some further discussion it was resolved that the secretary write to Mr Taafc informing him that strict instructions had been given to the engineer to see that the river was kept clear, and that the contract is strictly carried out.

A letter was received from Mr Thomas Gordon relative to his appointment as secretary to the Board, and stating that he would bo prepared to commence his duties immediately after Christmas. A letter was read from the Avon Road Board, stating that they declined to interfere in the matter of the culvert on Rclly’s road, and they do not recognise that it is their duty to deepen the Canal Reserve drain.

It was decided to acknowledge the receipt of the letter and forward the whole correspondence as to Kelly’s Creek culvert (o the petitioners originally bringing the matter before the Board.

A letter was read from Mr W. Boag, calling the attention of the Board io the wet and swampy state of certain sections in the Wairarapa district. He offered to bear the cost of the drainage, but washed the Board to give him an outlet for the water therefrom. The matter was referred to the Engineer to report upon at next meeting. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, forwarding a letter from Mr Mitchell, of Woolston, asking for a road alongside the city drain, and also a bridge over the drain.

It was resolved that the matter be referred to the Engineer. A letter was read from Mr Ellman, culling the attention of the Board to a creek running through section 2431, which he wished cleaned out.

The matter was referred to the Engineer, with power to keep the creek clear of obstruction.

A letter was read from the Heathcote Eoad Board, calling the attention of the Board to the bad state of the creek running through R.S. 6154.

This was referred to the Engineer, with power to act. A letter was received from the City Council, forwarding a resolution passed by that body on the subject of the share of the assessment of the city. The resolution was to the effect that they considered £IOO a fair and equitable charge.

The consideration of this letter was deferred until next meeting.

KRUSE’S DRAIN

Mr Harman reported that, in company with Mr Wright and the engineer, he had inspected Xruse’s drain, and had made all the necessary enquiries. No report had been prepared ; and as it had occurred to him that an alternative line might be got, he had asked Mr Bell to furnish him with levels. This had been done, but as Mr Wright was not present he would ask that the bringing up of the report of the Committee might ho deferred until next meeting. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment. .MU clabk’s visit. It, was resolved that in view of Mr Clark’s visit the engineer be requested to furnish himself with full information as to a water supply for Hushing and other purposes for the city of Christchurch and suburbs. The Board then adjourned.