DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1411, 23 August 1878, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Friday, August 23. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was litld at 10.30 a.m. Present —Messrs Tanered, Hall, Harman, Duncan, Wright, Blakiston, anil Ross. ENG INKERS’ REPORT. The report of the engineer was read. He reported that, with regard to the complaint of Messrs Duncan, Garrick, Rhodes, and others, respecting the condition of the upper part of Free’s creek, he had seen the creek and found tint it was polluted by house slops and other filth thrown into it by the residents upon it. The only i-elief the Board could afford at present is to clean'out the creek from time to time, and prevent the water from stagnating. The system laid out by Mr Clark did not extend to the back lanes through which the creek flowed iu its upper part. When the main sewer pipe was laid under the Papauui road it would he practicable to lay branch pipes down Merivale "and othtr linos into the main Papauui road pipe, and if this were done the creek would be purified to a great extent. The creak, however, would have to ba maintained as an outlet for storm-water and the drainage of the roads. A line of pipe which was shown on a tracing attached was into tied to convey the drainage of Merivale lane and Free’s creek directly into the Avon at the Carlton mill, and so cut off a large drainage area from pouring through the town, •and it would a’so drain the swamp ouli.S. 0 and 33- The pipei would have to pass through private land unless the Board acquire a slip of land for the purpose. ; ■ - - The report was discussed as regarded Free’s creek. ■ ■ \ ■ Mr Wright thought the pipes suggested by Mr Bell should be put in at once, and the water led into the Avon. Mr Dune in feh that tin y would have to keep the crock as a storm-water outlet, taking care that a division was made between the stormwater and the sewage. Mr Wright said that all that would go into the river by the pipes proposed would be what now reacho 1 it through Free’s Creek. The Chairman enquired whether it wa& in-.

tended that this should be a permanent or temporary work? ~, , Mr Wright said that it would be a permanent work, because the creek would always be wanted to carry off the storm-water. He would move be carried out.” Mr Hall seconded the motion. Mr Duncan suggested that the engineer should be instructed to prepare plans and specifications at once, and carry out the work from the Carlton Bridge to Merivale lane. _ . Mr Wright would amend his motion by moving that the engineer be requested to carry his recommendations into effect as speedily as possible by laying down pipes from Merivale lane to the Avon. Some discussion ensued as to the powers ot the Board with regard to taking the necessary laud for laying the pipes as proposed, and ultimately Mr Hall suggested that it would be better for the engineer to see the residents in the neighborhood, through whose property the drain would pass, as to allowing the Board to make the drain without compensation. Mr Wright pointed out that all the properties would be immensely benefited by the drain, and it was unrensonable to expect the Board to pay compensation for this being done. It was resolved to pass the motion in the following shape: “That the engineer be empowered to negotiate with the owners of land on the line of drainage from Merivale lane to the Avon for permission to lay down the line of dram pipes proposed by him. and that he be authorised to carry out such work when the required permission is obtained.” CEMENT. It was resolved to advertise for tenders for the supply of about 2400 barrels of cement, to bo supplied at the rate of 200 barrels per month for a period of twelve months, the first delivery to commence during the month of December. Tenders to be sent in to the chairman and Mr Harman within one week from date of advertisement. Payments to be made monthly on delivery. THE FERRY ROAD DRAIN. Mr Duncan said that he had been waited upon by the ratepayers in his district complaining of the diversion of the water from the Ferry road drain. He thought that the residents should be informed that the Board only required the use of the land temporarily until the works were advanced sutfisufficiently, and th t the Board could pay any damage done during the occupation of_ their land. He desired to bring under the notice of the engineer that Dudley’s creek had been dammed up by a wool scouring establishment. He thought that the engineer should see that no damming up of creeks should be allowed unless the permission of the Board were obtained. Mr Bell said, as regarded the matter of the Ferry road drain, the notices served upon the occupiers of land contained the information that the Board only intended to occupy the land temporarily, and that when the storm water channel was constructed the drain would be filled up and the surface restored as before. As regarded the wool washing works at Dudley’s creek, he might say that the man let the water off at night, and that he did not think it affected the drainage much. Mr Ross enquired why the deviation had been made in the Ferry road drain. He —and he believed other members—were under the impression that the old ditch would be used. Mr Bell said that the reason why it had been done was that the road was too narrow to allow of all the works going on at once, because it was not possible to close the same as in the case of a narrow street. They had to provide for the carrying on of the traffic, the excavation of the sewer, and the filling up of the roadside ditch. The excavation of the sewer was used to fill up the ditch by the roadside. It was resolved that the engineer he requested to examine and report upon the dam in Dudley’s creek as to whether any damage to adjoining property was caused thereby. CLEARING THE CREEKS. Mr Hall suggested that the Board should place the supervision of the clearance of drains and creeks in the Riccarton district, under the surveyor to the Riccarton Rond Board. This would be a very great saving to the Board, besides which the thorough local knowledge possessed by the surveyor would enable the work to be better done. Now that the Board had determined to let the clearance of the creeks and drains in the Avon district bypublic tender, they could very easily dispense with the services of the foreman engaged. Mr Wright suggested that it would be better to let the clearance of the drains and creeks in the Riccarton district by tender, the same as iu the Avon district. The inspection of the works under contract could then bo carried out by an officer of the Board. Mr Bell said that while the work was done under the supervision of the Road Board survevor, there was very good work done. The Board however thought that the appointment of a foreman would be better, and this was done. Mr Duncan sa'd that while Mr Hall was entitled to the thanks of the Board for bringing the matter forward, he desired also to point out that whilst the Road Board supervision was continued they found that a number of drains over which the Drainage Board had no control were cleared out and re-made with the money of the Board. He thought that it would be very much better if the Riccarton district was treated in the same way as the Avon district, and tenders called for clearing out the drains, &c. Mr Harman said that before tenders were called for it would be necessary to have a schedule prepared of the drains belonging to the Board, which would come within the scope of the powers of the Board. It was resolved —“ That a schedule of drains under the control of the Board in the Riccarton district be prepared, with a view to calling for tenders for clearing the same.” no. 2 DRAIN, Mr Dunlop waited on the Board with reference to the building of abridge across No. 2 drain. After consulting the map the Board decided to fill up some portion of the creek as required by Mr Dunlop. CORRESPONDENCE. Several letters with reference to the tenders for pipes were read. A letter was read from Messrs King and Co,, forwarding tracing of site of proposed mill. It was resolved that the Board have no power to grant the required permission. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, asking for permission to contract a drain into the outfall drain from Smith’s road. On the motion of Mr Duncan, the request was granted. A letter was read from Mr Banks, stating that he had received a notice from the engineer as to the temporary occupation of his section by the Board for the purposes of the Ferry road drain. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the engineer to arrange with Mr Banks. DRAIN PIPES. The Board went into committee to consider the tender’ for drain pipes, Mr C. W. Turner’s tender was accepted. TENDERS FOR CLEARING. For clearing the drains in the Avon district, the tender of Mr Good was accepted.