DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1269, 12 April 1878, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Friday, April 12. The members of the Drainaee Board met at 10.30 a.m. at the Board-room. Present—Messrs Harman (acting chairman), Duncan, Ross, Jones, and Hall. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, the following business was transacted : DAT OF MEETING. The Chairman informed the members that the meeting was a special one, in consequence of the regular meeting having been, by an oversight, adjonrned to Good Fr.day. Mr Ross referred to the practice of bills payable on a dies non being made payable on the succeeding day. Mr Hall did not think the practice wou'd apply in the present case. He suggested adjourning till this day fortnight. Mr Duncan thought if the meeting of Good Friday lapsed for want of a quorum, the chairman could call a meeting for the following Friday. The Chairman thought the only way was to call a special me sting. He doubted that a meeting on Good Friday would be legal. It might be well to make a by-law which would meet the difficulty of 1 ipsed meetings. It was finally determined that a special meeting for the transaction of ordinary business should he called for this day fortnight. engineer’s report. The following report from Mr C. Napier Bell was read: — 1. Complaints having been made to the Board that great quantities of land were being washed into the Heathcoto by persons sluicing shingle, I have inspected the place and found a considerable shoal in the river, composed of sand washed into it in this manner. The Board should consider what measures may be ad opted to prevent the river becoming obstructed by the operations of such persona. 2. Of the cement lent by the Board about threequarters has been returned to store. It is in very good condition, and of the best brand. 3. The whole of the plans illustrating Mr Clark’s report have beeu tra-ed and put in the lithographer’s hands to be printed with the report. 4. The contract at present in force for clearing the Avon does not include dredging out the mud and other filth swept into it from the city side channels, and which will give rise to a nuisance it continued much longer. I would request the instructions of the Board as to whether I should bring this subject to the notice of the city surveyor. 5. As dircted by the Board I have made an estimate of the probable expenditure on loan account up to the end of this year, together with an estimate o: the amount required to clear rivers, drains, and creeks. 6. In regard to the complaint made by Mr Webb of the Bush Inn, that the field at the back of the Inn was badly drained, I submit a tracing showing the work required to be done to effect the drainage of the land, including the lowering of the inverts of two brick culverts. All this land is in the hands of the same proprietor, although leased to different persons. The river runs through the property, and is available for drainage without referring to this Board for assistance. The Engineer suggested that the parties referred to in the first paragraph should be requested to give a money guarantee. The money might be applied to clearing the river. Mr Ross asked if the expense of clearing the shingle would be very large if the sand was not allowed to go into the river. The Engineer said the sand must be removed at considerable expense, but a small extra charge on the shingle would cover it. This would not be prohibitive of the industry. Mr Ross moved —“ That notice he served forbidding shingle to he washed in the river Heathcote, and informing the parties that in future the operation must be conducted to the satisfa--tian of the engineer of the Board ; that notice be sent to the persons washing si ingle in the Heathcote, informing them that their operations as at present conducted must be d scontinued, and that in future their operations must be conducted to the entire satisfaction of the engineer to the Board ; and notifying that, failing compliance with the above notice, clause 43 of the Christchurch District Drainage Act will be enforced.” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The second paragraph was considered satisfactory. With regard to the third paragraph, Mr Duncan thought it a pity that the lithographing of the plan had not been tendered for. The Chairman said that the work was given to the office where the letter-press printing was being executed. With regard to the fourth paragraph, it was resolved to act upon the suggestion of the engineer. With regard to the fifth paragraph, Mr Bell said his calculations were as complete as he could make them at present. Mr Duncan considered this to be the business of the meeting, as the neighbouring Road Boards wished to strike their rates upon the data hoie given. Mr Hall asked if the rate could be struck before the allocation of the sums to the different districts had been reported by the committee. ' The Chairman said the Act required the allocation to he first made. Mr Bell explained the system he had adopted in his estimates Mr ; uncan did not think that Mr Bell’s estimates were made in accordance with the Act. He had charged the outlying di.-tricts for work which as yet was of no benefit to them. The Chairman jTduglit the matter must be dealt with by a committee. Mr Ross considered the work done would ultimately be for the benefit ol the outlying districts. Mr Duncan thought the Act contemplated the out-districts being charged only when the sewers reached them. The Board went into committee, and upon redlining the committee reported that the follow? jhg resolutions had been agreed to : “ That all charges connected with the in? auguration of the drainage schemes both for the sewage and suburban or rural districts, including all office expenses, be made a uniform charge on the rates of the whole district to be divided rateably in proportion to the valuation at the present time bet vecn the several districts and the city.” “That all the expenditure which has taken place within or for the hem fit of the City of Christchurch up to December 31st last, together with the estimated expenditure upon all works within or for the benefit of the said city during the current year shall be charged equally on the assessments of the said city ” “ That the said principle be applied to each of the cthpr districts, vig-, •Avqn< Ejccayton, jjpatiicofe, Sydenham, and Spreydon.” These were adopted by the Board until a verbal alteration in the first, by which the words “management and carrying out ” were substituted for “ inauguration,” and after the words “office expenses” were inserted tho words “ but not including the allocation of the £18.000.” A further resolution was agreed to, viz., “ That tho interest and sinking fund of the -£lß,<>oo be a charge on the cit'-, and tb it the cost of the Ferry road dra’n be charged against Sydenham and Heathcote districts.” With regard to the last p rqgrqph of the engiqeer’p Report, its Consideration was adjourned till the next meeting of the Board. CORRESPONDENCE. Two letters from the Heathcoto Road Board were read. The first acknowledged receipt of le'ter from the Drainage Board, dated March 25th ; the second forwarded a letter from Mr C. B, Taylor, complaining of a creek which runs through rural sections 39, 31 and 27, and empties i.to the Heathcote by tho Steam Wharf. The latter was referred to the engineer, with power to act. Two letters were I’cad from the Avon Road Board. The first asked tho Drainage Bopp Ito fill in or cover ditches on the siejes of St. Albany lime,’ay several .mcidohtijj Rad occurred there; He s.ccqnd that a portion of the Canal reserve, between two roads at tho Dudley creek end, might be covered in. The Board did not see its way to complying with the first request, but resolved to fill in the portion of the ‘ anal reserve referred to, if the engmeer found it advisable to have it done A letter from Mr W. Grifti hs, of Sunnyslde, asked to h *ve a ere k cleared. The matter was referred to the engineer, with power to net. .L )ettc- irqra Ajr C. Ttyebb, of RiccavWn, asked to bavp his laud drained, The secretary was ins’ructed to inform Mr that to* matter is under consideration.

A letter was read from Mr Scars, of New Brighton, calling attention to his claim for compensation The Chairman stated that he, with the engineer, had visited the place, and recommended that the payment should be made in the same proportion to Mr Self as to Mr Sears. The recommendation of the chairman was adopted ; the amount to be paid when the legal documents are signed. A letter from Mr W. Horner asked for .£3OO compensation for land at Papanui, taken by the Board.

Its cousideration was adjourned till next meeting. A letter from Mr R. H. Rhodes called attention to a drain running through his land, and requested that it be cleared at earliest convenience.

The Engineer reported that the matter had been attended to.

A letter from Mr T. Abbott asked permission to put in a culvert in St. Alban’s creek. It was referred to the engineer, with power to consent. A letter from Bank of New Zealand informed the Board that a charge of three guineas had been made for advertising in T ondou on account of the Board’s loan. Received. A letter from Mr Ellman asked permission to divert a creek running through Ids garden. Perraisf-ion was granted subject to the approval of the engineer. A letter from Mr Henry Toomer asked permission to make a slip pannel in the fence opposite his house. Referred to the engineer, with power to grant permission. A letter from Mr F. Innis asked permission to connect a drain from an artesian well with the common drain at his brewery, and called attention to the state of the common drain. The letter was referred to the engineer, with power to act. A letter from Mr Thomas Harris, of Papanui, asked the Board to continue clearing a drain from his house. It was referred to the engineer, with power to act. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of about £6OO were passed for payment. NEXT MEETING. The Chairman announced that the next meeting would be convened for the 26th April.