DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1251, 22 March 1878, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordiuary meeting of the members of the Drainage Board was held this morning at the office of the Board, Hereford street. Present— Messrs R. J. S. Harman (acting chairman), H. J. Hall. A. Duncan, E. G. Wright, F. Hobbs and J. V. Ross. . The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the following business was transacted: — MR CLARK’S REPORT. The Chairman iutormed the Board that Mr Clark’s report was in a very forward state, and would be laid before the Board in a few days’ time. He thought, as the report would be of a very important nature, 260 copies at least should be printed. Mr Duncan moved, and Mr Wright seconded, 11 That the chairman should cause to be printed 250 copies, or 600, if not too expensive.” Carried. The Chairman said that the Board would be called together to consider the report, and that at least two days’ notice of such meeting would be given to members. engineer’s report. The Chairman informed the Board that, in consequence of Mr Bell -■ having been occupied with Mr Clark, there was no engineer’s report to be submitted. boag’s farm. The committee appointed to examine the drainage required by Mr Boag, reported in favor of certain drains being cut, at a cost which would be merely nominal. The work as recommended was ordered to be carried oat. ASSESSMENT. A letter was read from the town clerk of Christchurch, enclosing the following resolution passed by the joint committee held on Thursday, the 14th instant; —‘‘That the joint committee, after investigating the matter of the charge to be made to the Drainage Board for its share of the expenses of making the assessment for 1877, recommend to their respective bodies that £6O be the amount to be paid; also recommend the collection of the rate for 1878 at 5 per cent.” The payment of the amount stated was authorised, on the motion of Mr Hobbs, seconded by Mr Wright. SYDENHAM BOROUGH. A letter from the Town Clerk of Sydenham was read. It informed the Board that the Sydenham Council would have much pleasure in forwarding a copy of the valuation roll of that district as soon as it is revised, upon payment by the Board of the actual cost of clerical labour. It mentioned incidentally] that the revised total of rateable value of property iu the district is expected to be about £-10,000. The letter was received. CANAL RESERVE DRAIN. A letter was read from Mr W. Dunlop urging the Board to immediately take in hand the clearing of the Canal reserve drain. The Board resolved to comply with Mr Dunlop’s request on the motion of Mr Wright, seconded by Mr Duncan. RIVER HEATHCOTE. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, calling attention to the silting up of the river Heathcote below Wilson’s bridge, caused by persons washing shingle, and praying that steps should be taken to have the matter remedied. Mr Duncan said that the parties who are causing the obstruction have been warned by the Road Board, hut that body had no power to deal with them. The Drainage Board had full power in the matter. It was resolved that the engineer should inspect the obstruction, and order its removal, at the same time pointing out to the offending persons their liability to a penalty of £SO. AVON ROAD BOARD DISTRICT. A memorial from Messrs Suckling, Jones, and others was read. It requested the Board to deepen and clean drains ia Avon Road Board district. The matter was referred to the Engineer to report upon, as soon as he has time. LEGAL OPINION. The Chairman reported receipt of legal opinion as to the question of the City Council and Road Board being compelled to furnish the Drainage Board with copies of thrir assessment rolls. The opinion was that such bodies were not compelled to furnish copies; but that the Drainage Board was entitled to inspect the rolls and take copies thereof. The opinion, as written by Mr Cowlishaw, applied only to the City Council, but the chairman explained that it was equally applicable to other local bodies having assessment rolls. OPENING A DR IN. A letter from Mr William Atwood called attention to the fact that a drain running along the northern boundary of rural section 1146 had been filled in, and requested that the drain might be cleared out, referring the Board to the 43rd clause of the Drainage Act, 1875. The matter was referred to the Engineer, with power to have the work carried out at Mr Atwood’s expense. FINANCE. Accounts to the amount of £66 were passed for payment. CEMENT. Mr Wright asked if the merchants who had borrowed cement from the Board had returned it. The Chairman believed that little or none had been returned. It was resolved to ask the return of the borrowed cement, amounting in all to 1018 barrels, within one month of this date. DIVISION INTO SUB-DISTRICTS. Mr Hail moved in accordance with his notice of motion —“ That the drainage district be divided into separate city and suburban or rural districts, for the purpose of levying rates.” Mr Hobbs seconded the motion. Mr Duncan moved as an amendment —“That the drainage district be divided into districts as provided in the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Act, 1877, for the purpose of levying rates. Mr Wright seconded the amendment. Messrs H all and Hobbs accepted the amendment, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr Hall then moved—“ That in accordance with the following resolution the boundaries of the city of Christchurch and the respective suburban or rural districts shall bo defined as follows; “1. All that block of land as described in the Ist schedule of the Christchurch District Dr inage Act, 1875, and known as the said city. “ 2. All that portion of the Avon Road Board district as described in the Ist schedule of the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875. “ 3. All that portion of the Ricoorton road district as described in the Ist schedule of the Christchurch Drainage Act, 1876. “ 4. All that portion of the 8 prey don road district as described in the Ist schedule of the Christchurch Drainage Act 1875, save and except that portion now comprised within the Borough of Sydenham. “5. All that portion of the Heathcote road district as described, &c., save and except that poition within the Borough of Sydenham. “6. All that portion of land situate within the boundaries of the Borough of Sydenham. “ 7, That the engineer be requested to furnish an estimate of the probable expenditure for the current year to be incurred for the benefit of each district respectively, both in regard to the annual expenditure for ordinary works and also for the payment of interest and sinking fund on the sum already expended within each district for its especial benefit.” The motion was seconded hy Mr Hobbs and duly agreed to. Messrs Harman, Duncan, and Hobbs were appointed to report upon the allocation of the interest and sinking fund on the £IB,OOO spent on the outfall drain and other works for the benefit of the outlying districts. The Board then adjourned.