DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1557, 14 February 1879, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Feiday, Febeuasy 14. The ordinary meeting of the Board was held at half-past ten o’clock. Present—The Chairman (R. J. S. Harman), and Messrs J. E. Brown, Hall, A. Duncan, Blakiston, Ross, and Hobbs. the engineee’s report. This report ran as follows : In addition to the plain pipes and junctions which Mr Turner has imported for the Board, he has on hand a small lot of special pipes, such as syphons, double branches, &c., which I would recommend the Board to purchase, as they would very likely be wanted from time to time. I would suggest that I be authorised to import from England all the castings required for sewer works. I think they can be delivered here for one-third of the cost of those made in New Zealand. The progress of the works continues to bo very satisfac'ory, after considerable delay for want of bricks. The arching of the Ferry road sewer is again being carried on rapidly, and tha great length of street which has unavoidably been left open will now be closed up. I have been obliged to purchase another engine to assist in keeping down the water in the sewer trench in Madras street, where two centrifugal pumps are at work. C. Napier. Bell, Engineer. With regard to the second clause, it was resolved to advertise for the castings in question. The remainder of the report was approved, ST. ALBANS. In reply to a question by Mr John Evans Brown, The Engineer said the whole of the materials for the drainage in this district had not yet arrived. THE HOSPITAL DEAIN, Mr J. S. Harman said the question of the hospital drain was under the consideration of the works committee. THE LINCOLN EOAI>. A letter was read from Messrs Harman and Stevens, on behalf of the Hon. Spencer Lyttelton, asking that the Board would provide pipes in order to drain a road lying some fourteen chains back from the Lincoln road. If the Board would do so the writers would see that they were properly laid. Referred to the chairman to report at the next meeting. OLLIVIEH’S LANS, A letter was read from Mir A. Henderson in reference to the bad drainage of this lane. Mr Harman said there was no need for the contractor to have acted as he had done and caused the present complaint. Mr Duncan moved that the engineer be instructed to give notice to the contractor to immediately abate the nuisance. SIEHIVALE. A letter was read from Mr Studholme, complaining of the state of a drain near his promises at Merivale. Mr Hall said he had visited the place with Mr Bell, and ho had come to the conclusion that it would bo very unwise to take the drain through Dr. Back’s land. There seemed to be very considerable feeling between the parties. All the necessary relief might be given to Mr Studholme without interfering with Dr. Back. The Engineer said it would be unnecessarily aggravating to Dr. Back to cut the line of drain through his land. Mr Hall moved—“ That the engineer be empowered to draw up an estimate of the cost of lowering the mill race with a view to carry off tho water without touching Dr. Back’s property.” Mr J. E. Brown agreed with Mr Hall that it would be a great hardship for the drain in question to have (o pass through Mr Back s garden. To do this his apple trees would have to be cut down, and the drain would become a public drain for ever. HOSPITAL CHEEK, Two letters from tho Hospital Board wore read on this subject, asking that it might be diverted. The matter was referred to the works committee to inspect the creek and report to a future meeting. HIOCAETON ROAD BOARD. A letter was read from this Board stating that when tho schedule of drains was considered by the Board a resolution was passed to the effect that, in consequence of the dissatisfaction of the Board at tho way tho drainage of tho district was being carried on by the Drainage Board, tho Riccarton Board was willing to undertake the supervision of the works. Mr Hall said tho Riccarton Board wished to work harmoniously with that, body, and would not do anything without first coming before tho Board, and even then under the supervision of tho engineer.

Mr Hobbs suggested that the Riccarton Road board should take the work in hand altogether. Mr Hall said the Board was not prepared to tender for the whole of the work, whatever they might do with regard to the schedule of prices. After some discussion, Mr Brown moved—“ That tenders for all the drains mentioned in the schedule bo invited, and that any contract made be carried out under the supervision of the Riccarton Hoad Board.” The motion was agreed to. BBPOET OE THE WORKS COMMITTEE. This report was read as follows ; The report was adopted, and the chairman, with regard to the last clause, was empowered to get a conveyance from the Church property trustees. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts were passed and ordered to be paid. BANKING ACCOUNT. Mr Hall moved the following resolution : That tenders be invited, returnable next Board day, for Drainage Board banking account for three years tenders, stating amount of interest allowed on deposits, charges for overdrafts, commission and rate of exchange on floating loan on London market.” Mr Hall said the only way to prevent the public thinking there was any partiality shown was to call for tenders. When the account was given to the Bank of New Zealand, it was understood that it was to be kept there for three years only. Remarks had been made as to the lowness of the rite of interest. For the last two years they had received lees interest than any other public body. There had been as much ns 7 per cenL riven to the Geraldine Road Board for deposits, while they received very much less 4£ and 5 V per cent. No doubt the Bank of New Zealand had carried on the matter of the loan very satisfactorily; but if they wished to keep the account they could do bo by tendering sufficiently high. They wore losing a large amount on their deposits, and the only fair way was, to let each bank tender, and let the matter come on for consideration at the next Board day, Mr R, J. 8. Harman seconded the motion pro forma , and suggested that Mr Hall would add a few words to his resolution, “to include other business.” The practice of inviting tenders was so common that the Board •could not depart from it. He quite concurred with Mr Hall’s remarks that the Bank of New Zealand had given them srtisfaction, and he hoped that that Bank would be the successful tenderer. Mr Ross contended that they had no right to grumble at the rates of interest. It was an honorable agreement for three years. Mr Hall said he was not grumbling. They must all admit that they had been well treated by the Bank of New Zealand. Mr A. Duncan drew the attention of the Board to the fact that they had only at present floated half their loan. They must remember that the rate of interest given by the Bank of New Zealand was a high rate at the time it was floated. It they changed their Bank, the presumption would be at Home either that they were a very fickle Board, or that there must he something very grave with regard to the Bank itself. He thought it would he very unwise to ask for tenders. It would he far preferable to go to the Bank and ask them to give the current rate of interest. He would move as an amendment —“ That the chairman, Mr Blakiston, and the mover be appointed a committee to wait on the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, with full power to make arrangements for the next three years.” Mr Hobbs seconded the amendment, and urged the same views as those advanced by the mover. The business could not better be done than it was done by the Bank of New Zealand. After some discussion, the amendment was put and carried by 5 to 3. WORKS COMMITTEE EE PORT. In reference to the question of laying the pipe sewers, and in consideration of the fact that no junctions are included in the shipment of pipes now to hand, the committee beg to recommend that if the engineer is satisfied both as to the quality and workmanship, with the junctions obtainable in the colony, he sbonld be authorised to procure a sufficient quantity to carry on the work during the next two months The committee beg again to urge the carrying on of the sewer from Madras to Colombo streets, along the li-e of Kilmore street, with as little delay as possible. In reference to the proposed extension of Salisbury street to Cambridge terrace east, the committee have to report that his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch, with a majority of the City Council, have expressed their approval of a proposal that they shall contribute the sum of .£SO towards the required purchase money, on condition that the land be vested in the Corporation for the purposes of a street, and, further, that the committee have agreed to the proposed condition, subject to the approval of the Board. R. J. S. Harman. February 14th, 1879. DAY OF MEETING. The discussion on Mr Hobbs’s motion—- “ That the days of meeting bo in future on Monday, at 2 30 p.m. The motion was carried, and the next meeting was fixed for Monday fortnight. The Board then adjourned.