DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1307, 28 May 1878, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Tuesday, May 28. Tho Board met at 10.30 f-.ra. Present— Messrs Tancrcd (ebamman), Harman, Duncan, Eoss, and Blakiston.

FILLING OF VACANCY. A letter was read from Mr G. L. Lee, the returning officer at the late election for Christchurch South-east, stating that Mr Charles E. Blakiston had been elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr T. D. Jones. engineer’s report. Tho engineer’s report was read as follows : Aa directed by the Board I have prepared sections and estimates for the work of providing an ontfall for the rain water from tho southeast quarter of the district. The choice of a proper route for this flood water is of groat importance, and requires much consideration. Since I proposed to Mr Clark tho liuft by way of Jackson’s Creek, which involved deepening the bed of tho creek and cutting a ditch through tho fields north of tho railway, I find that those fields have been laid out in streets and sold for budding sections, and houses aro being bn s lt on some of them. This has obliged mo to change the line of proposed drain, and has added to tho expense in the culverts that would be required under now streets ; but it also raises the question whether an open ditch, Oft. deep, through this newly laid-out suburb would not soou be found to be a nuisance and very difficult to_ keep clean on account of being closely fenced in. I therefore laid out and estimated _ tho cost of another ditch alongside of tho railway. Here, however, it wonld require to be about 15ft. deep, and the cost would ho largo. Finally I have estimated tho cost of a flood-water culvert down the Perry road to discharge into Boll’s creek, and firs I think tho Board will find to he as cheap as any other line which can bo selected, and much more satisfactory. Tho estimated cost of the three routes, that is, Ist, through the fioids north of tho railway, and then down tho Jackson’s creek; 2nd, alongside tho railway and down Jackson’s creek; 3rd, down the Ferry road, are submitted herewith, and also tho cost to accomplish tho same object, viz., discharging tho flood-water from tho sonth-east quarter, by way of tho present timber drain to the estuary. Tho line by tho Ferry road I think is profcraelo, for the following reasons—the inclination is steeper on this line than on any other, consequently the smallest channel of equal shape would discharge the Largest quantity of water; any sediment, road grit, kc., which might got in would ho swept ont of the culvert by the floods, whereas in an open ditch it would merely silt up tho bottom, and must be removed by hand; the flood water is not clean water, and it would give rise to loss nuisance in a covered culvert than in an open ditch, which latter wonld also be a source of trouble from all sorts of rubbish which would be thrown into it where it passes through building sections. The Ferry road culvert wonld take all rain water, including that which at present is discharged down tho old ontfall sewer, and thus save the cost of repairing the latter, so that the half-chain reserve along Tnam street east would be kept for the sewage culvert only. If the lino by the Ferry road is approved by tho Board, I wonld propose to build tho culvert at an inclination of one in 1200 of a diameter of 50in., which would discharge about 2100 cubic feet a minute, but as the culvert could stand a little pressure it could probably when fully flooded carry 2040 cubic feet per minute, which is nearly equal to a rainfall of lin. over 1100 acres, and abont 05 per cent, more than the present old brick sower is capable of discharging if it could be filled, which it cannot on account of its height. To avoid disturbing the traffic, and to save more excavation, I would propose to build tho culvert in tho present drain under the footpath, diverting the water at present flowing in the ditch by temporary drain through tho properties as may bo found most convenient.

The houses on the Ferry road situated on the south side would drain direct into the culvert, while those on the north side would drain to side channels and pass into the sower at the gullies formed to receive rain water at corners of cross roads and elsewhere. This would avoid the necessity of each house having to lay a line of drain pipes across the street. All gullies to ho trapped to catch deposit, and to be regularly cleaned out. This culvert would discharge into Boll’s creek where it crosses the road; at the East bolt it would receive the present South belt sower, also a pipe from Tuam street, bringing the rain water from that low part, and from the stone drain in the Gasworks road it would receive a 22in. sewer bringing rain water from Sydenham; it would thus receive all rain water which cannot be taken to the Avon.

The additional work which I wotiM propose to commence would he ports of the provision for disposing of rain water mentioned in Mr Clark’s report; that is a pipe drain iu St. Albans lane, a culvert up Madras or Barbadocs street to take the water from North belt, a drain down Antigna street to the river; and to carry oat repairs to drains in Third street and Gasworks road, all these to bo provided with) proper gullies to intercept deposit, which must be regcilarly clcaucdlout. No house drainage can bo received into those drains except through side channelling and gullies, as they are intended to take surface water and that from springs and ditches only.

In regard to the complaint from the Heathcoto Eoad Board as to the ditch in Stnnmore road, there is no provision iu the estimates for a pipe in this part of the road, except for sewage, but there is no reason why the sewer pipe should not bo laid down, provided the Eoad Board are prepared to look after it when laid, that is to keep the gullies, &e., cleaned out; there are many ditches in the town much worse than that one. The drain on tho east side of the Stanmore road is already filled up. C. Napieb Bell, Engineer. Tho report was considered seriatum.

On clause 1 being read, Mr 801 l produced plans, &c., and explained to the Board tho course of tho drain proposed by him, and also tho estimates of the cost of tho proposed work. After some discussion had taken place, Mr Duncan moved—“ That tho proposal of tho engineer to take tho storm water by built drain down tho Ferry road be approved, and that he be instructed to take tho necessary stops to carry out the work.” Mr Harman seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. On tho next clause being discussed, Mr Duncan moved— 11 That tho engineer take the necessary steps for putting tho various additional works recommended by him in his report in hand at once.” Mr Harman seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. Mr Harman then moved —“ That tho engineer bo requested to advertise for tho supply by public tender of tho pipes required for immediate use.” Mr Duncan seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved that the consideration of the works on tho Stanmore road bo deferred for tho present. It was resolved —“That;thc engineer be requested to prepare by tho next meeting a list and specification of the pipes, junctions, &e., which in his opinion are necessary for the commencement of tho sewage works.” CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Messrs If. Matson and Co., calling attention to tho foul state of the main drain running through their land on tho Hare wood road. The matter was referred to tho engineer, with power to act. A letter was read from Mr Corsor with reference to a petition presented some time back re Barker’s drain at New Brighton. Ho asked that the Board would give him an answer to the petition which had been signed by a numberof persons resident in tho district who were interested in the matter. Tho engineer was requested to inspect the drain referred to, and report to tho Board thereon. A letter was read from Mr C. R. Blakiston, stating that he had referred tho notice served on him by tho Inspector of Nuisances to clear out a drain on the Springfield road, to tho Avon Koad Board, who had informed him that there was a dispute between the Drainage Board and Koad Board as regarded who was liable, in the meantime tho ratepayers suffered. Up till very lately the Avon Koad Board had cleared out tho ditch.

Mr Blakiston explained the position of matters to the Board. Mr Duncan desired to point out that the Drainage Board had requested the Koad Board to send in a li.it of drains which were considered to be public drains, in order that tin Drainage Board might keep thorn clean. 'J his one was not included nor were many others. He felt that the Drainage Board should not clear out every little drain. Mr Harman moved — <! That Mr Blakiston be Informed that the drain referred to has not been taken over by the Drainage Board as a public drain ” Mr Duncan seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. "A letter was read from Mr A. Vv. Money, pointing out that a drain in his p iddock was in a choked state, and overflowed on to his land. The matter was referred to the engineer, to report upon at next meeting of tho Board. A petition was read from certain residents of tho Papanui Swamp, calling attention to the imperfect drainage of rural sections 799, 1000, and IGOO. Tho petitioners pointed out

that the drains wore choked with cress, &c., which if cleared out would give them the relief desired.

The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, calling attention to the dangerous state of the drain in Stanmore road from Worcester street to the river, and requesting that the Drainage Board would have it piped as soou as possible, as the Road Board were prevented by its present state from carrying out important works. Mr Harman moved —“That a reply be sent to the Heathcote Road Board that the Drainage Board were not prepared to do the work, as the drain referred to was considered by the Drainage Board to be a road drain.” Mr Ross seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ' A letter was read from Mr.iT. Preston with respect to tho drainage of certain lands at Papanni. The Engineer explained that tins had boon left in abeyance, as they did not know which way Kruse’s drain was going. The matter was referred to tho engineer to report on the host manner in which tho proposed drain will join tho new drain lately formed by tho Board. A letter was read from Messrs Ingles, Bennington, and Adams, applying to tho Board for the cleansing of the creek running through their sections at Shirley, which was choked with cross• The matter was referred to the engineer, with power to act. A letter was read from Mr R. Fenton having reference to a nuisance existing from stagnant water lying in the ditch passing through his property, and suggesting a remedy whereby he thought tho nuisance could be removed. It was resolved to reply that, the drain, not being under tho control of tho Drainage Board, the matter referred to was strictly a Road Board one. THE KATE ROLL. Mr Harman moved —“ That tho Board notify their intention to levy a rate of SJ-d in tho £ on the City of Christchurch, and that tho said rate shall be for tho period ending December 31st, 1878, and that it shall ho payable on and after Juno 11th, and that tho rato book bo open for inspection at tho office of tho Board.” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ACCOUNTS. Accounts to tho amount of .£129 Gs fid wero passed, and ordered to bo paid. The Board then adjourned.