DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1243, 1 March 1878, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual meeting of the Drainage Board wae held this morning at the Board room. Present—Messrs Harman (in tha chair in the absence of Mr Tancre ), Hobbs, Hall, Duncan, Wright, Jones, and Ross. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. MR CLARK. Mr Wright suggested the notes of the reception of the deputation from the Ratepayers Committee should be read. The chairman was reading them when Mr Clark arrived, and was introduced by Mr Napier Bell to the members of the Board present. Mr Clark in reply to a remark from the chairman said he would be very glad to see any plans or estimates in the possession of the Board. He had seen two reports of Mr Carmthers which had appeared in the newspapers. He was prepared to receive the instructions of the Board. He might mention that he had received a communication from Mr Treadwell. The Chairman said that the gentleman just named had no connection with the Board, which knew nothing of what his views were. The members would arrange what questions should be submitted to Mr Clark, and would place at his disposal the services of their engineer, who would afford any information required. M - Clark said he was always happy to receive suggestions fr.m any one. If any one had adverse opinions, it would be satisfactory to hear what they were. Mr Wright suggested that Mr Clark should be furtiished with a brief resume of what had been done. Mr Duncan agreed with the suggestion. The Chairman then briefly related the history of the drainage question. After a considerable amount of conversational discussion, Mr Clark withdrew, and the Board went on with its ordinary business. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following report was read:— Having measured the land taken for purposes of No 2 drain new om let I find the amount taken from Mr Seif to be 0.45 acre, from Mr Snelling 0.45 acre, and from Mr Seers 0.62 acre. Every accommodation has been given them that can be required, but I think the drain ought to be fenced. In regard to the complaint of Mr Mulholland, I would recommend that the Board keep the drain in good order and repair along the Avon side from the end of J; arquhar road to the Styx river. This lies outside of the boundary of the district, but it is the only outlet for the drainage of several sections within it. In regni-d to the request of Mr Waits and other petitioners to take over the drain through E.S. 1144,1 would recommend that the Board maintain the drain along the Canal reserve and up the occupation road as far as where the drain enters on private land, and I do not think anything more is necessary. The land is exceedingly level on this part, and the ontfall drain too high to afford good drainage to R.S. 1144. I submit plans and levels of Mr Boag’s section, showing how he wishes the course of the Eiver Wairarapa to be changed. I think Mr Boag should net under danse 107 of the Drainage Act to effect the object he has in view. I submit plan of the road through the Sandhill reserves, which the Heathcote Road Board wishes to acquire, instead of the old road shown on maps. I dp not know any reason why the one should not he given for the other. The drain in Lower High street has been cleaned out; this part of the drain cannot be kept in good order and clean nnless it is timbered, the cost of which would be about £6O. I have received no reply from Mr Krnse as to his choice in the matter of a new drain through his land. C. Napier Bell, Engineer. The matter of compensation to Messrs Self, Snelling and Seers was left to Messrs Harman and Bell to arrange to the best of their judgment. The Engineer’s suggestion in the second paragraph of his report was approved, and he was given power to act in the matter. The recommendations made in the remaining paragraphs were adopted. The question of the Lower High street drain was left in abeyance untd after the receipt of Mr Clark’s report. Mr Kruse was requested to make his choice before the 15th March. ST. alban’s creek. The Engineer submitted a plan for straightening the St. Alban’s Creek. It was approved of by the Board. correspondence. The Engineer read a letter from the railway department saying that the cost of constructing a culvert under the railway at Riocarton would be .£6O, and the work would be undertaken upon the receipt of tha money. It was resolved to forward the amount, COMPENSATION. A letter was read from Mr Joynt, on behalf of Mr Green, accepting the compensation offered by the Board, £22 9s, The amount was directed to be paid. Mr Marr’s claim had also been settled satisfactorily by the payment of £l6. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. Mr H. J. Tancred was granted leave of absence for a month, and Mr Harman was appointed acting chairman in his place. PI NANCE. A memorandum from Mr Tancred was read. From this it appeared that a fixed deposit of £4500 fell due, with interest, on the 9th February, and had in the meantime been paid into the Board’s account—pi’iucipal to loan account and interest to rate account. The balance in favor of the Bo,ard on loap account is now £BO3O 14s, while the balance against the Board on rate account is £3400. Mr Tancred had remitted the sum required for payment of interest, £3048, by a dralt at sixty days, thus saving iOs per cent., as compared with adiaft at thirty days, and £1 per cent, as compared with a draft payable on demand. The action of the chairman was approved. SYDENHAM BOROUGH. A letter was read from the Borough Council of Sydenham, calling attention to the filthy state of the old watercourse, between Windmill road and Selwyn street, an,i requesting that steps be at once tqken to do away with the nuisance, as some cases of fever had been reported in its neighbourhood. It was resolved that the engineer be requested to examine the watercourse complained of, with power to act. assessment. A letter was read from the Avon Road Board, consenting to supply a copy of thenr Assessment Roll on payment of £3O towards the cost of assessing the district, From Heathcote Road Board, offering to supply a copy of thei • valuation list 1878 for £SO, 5-12ths of cost of assessment. Mr Hobbs pointed out that ’.he 65th clause of the Eating Act empowered the Board V> obtain a copy. The Board would hayp pay only for the clerical work. It he illegal for them to pay towards of making, tli? assessment, Th? sacretary was directed to make- the necessary arrangements for copying iV,« rolls. A letter was read from George Alfred Buck, offering to supply u complete list of ratepayers within the Drainage Board district for the sum of £2O. The offer was declined with thanks, and the writer was directed to see the secretary. DANGEROUS CHANNEL. Another letter was read from the Heathcity 1 Road Board, calling attention to th§ fiapgurons state of a side channel in Philip street, 1 It was referred to engineer, with power to 1 act. ' i petition. • , A petition was read from E. W. and others, desiring the Board to cieayand widen a , drain on Barker’s road, also suggesting the , necessity for a better trapped culvert to the * river entrance, which is the main drain for about 1600 acres. The matter was. referred to tko engineer with 1 power to act. f 1 A petition was read from Bobert Lindsay 1 and ot hers, asking that a drain cu the Edgeware ] road might bo deepened before the winter. t The engineer reported that the matter had -i been attended to. < A petition was read from AN'. Cartwright, £ calling attention to the had state of a drain £ kuoAii as Cartwright’s drain, running through - section 94. It was referred to the engineer with power to 3 act. ; ■ LETTER FROM ENGINEER, ' c A letter was read from Mr v>- Naytcr Bell, ' informing the Board tha,t' ffo had been selected . for the appnL.tuieut of engineer to the Lyttelton c Harbor '’Hoard, and asking tho Board's 1 consent to his taking the appointment, j Mr Bell offered, in the event of the Bo:«x\ 3 considering that this did not co.ijje, b within the terms of tho to take a re- s durtipp of *9 Up pe/ wfcieb j

would enable the Board at the same cost to pay for additional supers i ion of their own works. After considerable discussion, the following’, moved by Mr JL'nncan, seconded by Mr Eo'-bs, was carried by the casting vote of the chairman : —“ That Mr Bell be allowed to take the position of consulting engineer to the 1 yttelton Harbor Board, providing that the acceptance of that, post does not interfere with the discharge of the duties required from him by the Drainage Board, and that Ins offer of a redu tion of salary during the time he occupies the position of consulting engineer to the Harbor Board be accepted. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts wore passed for payment. THE DRAINAGE SCHEME. Mr Duncan moved, and Mr H all seconded, the _ following resolution That the actingchairman and engineer place before Mr Clark all the various plans and reports as well as other information in th” possession of the -Board relative to the drainage of the district under the charge of the Board, and further that Mr Clark be informed that he is left entirely unfettered in advising the Board as to the Best means of drainage for the district.” Mr Hobbs desired that the ratepayers should be made aware that they would have the full benefit of Mr Clark’s abilities independently of any lormer schemes that might be placed before him. The resolution was unanimously agreed to, and the Board adjourned for $ week.