DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1209, 18 January 1878, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Feidat, January IS. The usual fortnightly meeting was held at 10.30 a.m. Present —Messrs Tailored (chairHall, Duncan, Harman, Roes, Hobbs. engineer’s bepoet. The engineer reported as follows ; 1. I have again examined the River Avon, and find that there is now no cause for complaint on account of the height of the water ; hut there is still much more to be done to bring the rhbr into the condition required bythe ; specification; This will take about one month, by which time the season will be too late for much growth of weeds. 2. I have called for tenders to clear the Heathcote, as the contractor who offered‘to do the river at tlie price gut hoy is ed by the Board mistook tl’,e Ipngth of which ho was required to clear. 3. 1 have not yet made a complete survey o£ the ground nor taken the necessary lerels, and mpst therefore defer reporting on the subject of Mr Boag’s request to alter the course of one of branches of the Wairarapa River. •4. I gubmit a sketch of the St. Alban’s Creek, J wuJ4 ope to ptraifhten ft*

part running parallel to the | Edgewore road. This will improve the flow of the creek, and it is important that any improvements should he made before the property is eat up for sale. This creek must be kept open as a storm overow, but in dry weather it is intended to be turned into the sewers. 6. I have engaged man to dig out the sludge from the south city drain nfr mt of the breweries along the High street. This is merely a ternporavy alleviation of the nuisance caused by this drain, which would be further improved if the brewers were required to drain directly* into tlio sewer on the south and east belt, and not into the open drain, its it is asserted that the yea -t from the breweries causes putrlfieation in the deposits earn .'d down with this water. On clause 1 being considered the engineer was requested to keep the matter under his special supervision With regard to No. 2 .danse it was resolved to extend the tender for a fortnight on account of a misapprehension. Clause 3 approved. It was decided to allow clause •> to stand over to a future date. On clause 6 being read, it was resolved to make application to the City Council for the use of their sludge carts. The engineer was requested to communicate with the owners oi the breweries in question, requesting them to carry out the suggestions stated in the report. A NUISANCE. Mr Hobbs brought under the notice of the Board a practice of the men in the employ of the Avon Road Board, who when cle .ring out the drains threw the stuff on one side, leaving it to poison the air and breed icvor. Mr John Rutland, who lived on the road referred to, had told him that he was often compelled to keep his doors and windows closed for hours, and that the s cch was at times intolerable. He hoped the engineer would endeavor to remedy this ns much as possible. The engineer stated that it was necessary to clean these drains out, and that he would ece to the matter in the future. aiCCAHTON DISTRICT. Mr Hall ft ted that ho was constantly being stopped to listen to complaints of the creeks being block id up in the Riccarton district. He would like that the engineer should be instructed to take steps to remedy this as soon a- possible. The Engineer said that men were employed on this work. If the complaints were sent to him direct., he would know where to put on men at a special place requiring immediate attention. Mr Hall said he would forward all complaints for the future. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the late Mayor of Christchurch in reply to letter of 29th Oct., saying that the matter of the charge made for the Board’s proportion of the assessment had been fully considered by the Council, who had agreed upon the following resolution That the charge already sent in for £IOO is a fair and equitable charge to make.” Be (the Mayor) was sorry there should have been any cause for misapprehension on either aide, and trusted the matter would now bo settled. Mr Hobbs read a statement he had prepared which bore out the subssance of his previous remaks on this claim. He said that the amount had been arrived at by the finance committee without any data before them. If the City Council had looked up facts they could not have sent in a claim for such an amount as £IOU. 11 e read the actual cost to the City Council, showing the total sum to be £153 7s 2d, including clerical labor and money paid out of pocket. I n addition to this sum about £24 8s expense had been incurred in notifying those ratepayers who need not be in attendance at the Appeal Court. This expense did not in any way affect the Board. The town clerk had publicly acknowledged that the whole amount had been guessed at. Considering that the Board only received a fivepenny rate, and the Council a shilling, he thought £SO would be amply sufficient for the Board to pay. He would move that that amount be paid to the City Council. Mr Harman said, as some further expense had been incurred, he would suggest £6O. Mr Hobbs altered his motion to £6O.

Mr Duncan said that he was certain the Board would he as little inclined to take advantage of the City Council as that body would be of them. [Hear, hear.] If they offered the Council a lump sum it might bo considered objectionable, and he would propose that a sub committee be formed to meet the finance committee of the City Council to go over the whole of the figures and pay to the last penny the Board’s fair proportion. That would be the amicable way, and he thought the best. He would move—“ That the chairman, Mr Hobbs, and the mover be a committee to meet the finance committee of the City Council, and investigate all expenses incurred in assessing the city.” Mr Boss had very great pleasure in seconding the resolution, and thoroughly endorsed all that had fallen from the mover. The motion was carried. A letter was read from Mr A. Maher, St. Albans, complaining that the drain running through Mr Eountree’s property had spoiled his crop. He would be willing to leave the amount of damage done to valuation. Mr Maher waited on the Board, and explained the damage he had sustained. On the motion of Mr Duncan, it was resolved “That the engineer report on the amount of encroachment, if any. beyond the boundaries of the creek, and if it is found that the Board has encroached, the chairman be then authorised to appoint an arbitrator. A letter was read from Mr T. McDowell, lower High street, complaining of the smell arising from the drain in that road, and suggesting a plan to remedy the nuisance. The clerk was instructed to reply that the plan suggested had already been adopted. A h-tter was read from Mrs Sarah Alley, River Styx, saying the Board, in deepening and widening the cutting which was through her section, had smothered about a quarteracre of her land, asking for compensation, or that the Board would purchase the section.

Referred to the engineer to report. A letter was read from the Railway En gineer, saying lie had applied for permission to deepen the culvert lea ing into the Riccarton drain.

‘ A letter was read from Air D. Kruse, ii. peply, stating that he was still of opinion that the drain could be taken along the northern boundary of his farm, along Winter’s road, pi’ along the private road which runs through eectipns 312 and 313. He objected to tin drain the Board proposed to make. Mr Harman, as chairman of the com naittee appointed to consider this question, brought up an inieriw report, saying tin committee were engaged on the work, anu would require another fortnight to completi their report.

MB class;. Ju reply (o a question from Mr Kom, the

Chairman said that nothing had since been heard from Mr Clark ns to the time he would probably arrive in Christchurch.

ACCOUNTS. After passing a number of accounts the Hoard adjourned.