DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1637, 20 May 1879, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

SPECIAL MEETING. Monday, Mat 19. The Drainage Board met at 2 p.m., in the first place with the special object of dealing with the proposition to issue debentures for a now loan of £IOO,COO on the London market. There were present —Messrs H. J. Tancred (in the chair), F. Hobbs, H. J. Hall, A. Duncan, 0. R. Blakiston, R. J. S. Harman, and J. E. Brown. The Chairman said he had been in communication with the manager of the Bank of Now Zealand on the subject, the opinion of that gentleman being that everything should be done as nearly as possible in the manner in which it was carried out on the last occasion. Ho also advised that the debentures should have a shorter currency—that was, they should become payable at the same time as the other portion, although issued at a later date. He (the chairman) had been anxious to forward the matter, it being desirable that no time should be lost, and ho had therefore had the debentures printed, and he had every reason to suppose they would be ready to send homo by next mail. Mr A. Duncan moved—“ That the action of the chairman in re the debentures bo approved of.” Carried. Mr Harman understood that the first coupon would begin at No. 7, and be marked “ second issue.” The Chairman —Yes, that is the proposal. Mr Duncan then formally moved the following resolution : —“ That the Christchurch District Drainage Board do borrow and take up at interest on the security or credit of the rates authorised to bo made and levied by the Board under the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Act, 1876, and Amendment Act, 1877, the sum of one hundred thousand pounds (£100,000), being the balance of the £200,000 authorised by the above recited Acts, for defraying the costs, charges, and expenses of the system of drainage for the district to bo executed by the Board, for paying'for any land which may be injuriously affected, and for defraying the expenses of and incidental to the purchasing, building, constructing, and maintaining buildings, drains, sewers, floodgates, and all operations necessary for snch drainage. That for the purpose of securing the repayment of the said sum, together with interest thereon, the Board do issue one thousand debentures for the sum of one hundred pounds each, in the form in the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Act, 1876, or to the effect thereof, to the person or persons by or on behalf of whom such sum or portion thereof be advanced. That the principal sum of one hundred thousand pounds be borrowed for a period of forty-seven years from the making of the said debentures, and that the rate of interest to be named therein, or made payable by such debentures, be at the rate of six pounds per centum per annum, and payable half-yearly, and that coupons be attached to such debentures for payment of such Interest. That such debentures bo forthwith offered for sale by the Bank of Now Zealand, in London. That the debentures be signed by the chairman and any two members of the Board, and that Mr Brown and Mr Duncan bo the members deputed to sign the debentures.”

Mr Hobbs seconded the resolution, winch was carried. The minimum for the debentures was left to a committee of the whole to determine. Mr Hobbs moved, and it was carried, “That the chairman and treasurer bo authorised to attach the seal of the Christchurch Distiict Drainage Board to the one thousand debentures now being issued by this Board.”

Mr Hobbs also moved —“That the chairman be authorised to attach the seal of the Board to the necessary instrument appointing the directors of the Bank of New Zealand, London, agents for this Board for the raising of the £IOO,OOO loan nowj authorised to bo borrowed and taken up, in accordance with

clause 11, Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1575, Amendment Act, 1876.” Mr Harman seconded the motion, wliio i was o irried.

ORDINARY EfEETWTjSt. The ordinary meeting of the Board was then opened. SINKING FUND, Mr Hobbs, in accordance with notice, moved —“ That application be made to the General Government for the purchase of debentures of the colony of liew Zealand, amounting to £1333 6i 81, as a sinking fund for the j ears 1878 and 1870, in accordance with section 9, Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Act, 187(5. The motion was carried. DEPOSIT ACCOUNT. The Chairman referred to (he £IO,OOO deposit, which fell fine on May Oth last, and stated that about £21,000 would he required for the next six months, and the balance of £IOOOO might safely be deposited lor the same period. A resolution was passed to the effect that the o' airman’s aciion in relation to the Bank deposits met with the approval of the Board. engineer's report. . The report of the engineer was read as follows : 1. As directed by the Board, T have had pipes laid from the low parts of Victoria street, Bingsland, to the cast bolt drain. Tins is to be regarded as a temporary measure of relief, the proper course for the drainage of Bingsland boieg eastward toward the river. 2. In regard to the request of Mr Hooper that the Board take charge of a drain between rural sections 2298 and 1801, this is a long drain, and takes the drainage from a large area of land, comprising many sections, as far as the foot of the Sandhills (.the drain, is placed on the road side, but thb load, I understand, fias not been taken over by the Avo ii Hoad Board. 3. I submit a memorandum from the owners of rural section 7G, disputing the claim of the Board to keep open the Wilderness road drain. The owners of one of the sub-sections recently sold has filled in this drain for seven chains of its length ; also the owners of rural section 7G have filled in the same drain under a now road laid out by them. On this subject I reported to the Board on the 3rd of March, 1879, but considcintion of the matter was deferred, and nothing has been done since. By the obstruction of .this drain a part of the Lincoln road and R.B. 159, 132, 128 aro deprived of all outlet for drain water, 4. I submit a letter from Hr A. E. Preston in reply to one sent by me, asking him on what terms he would consent to the Board laying a pipe through his land at Merivale, to take Free’s creek straight to the Avon through the section behind the Carlton Hotel. I also submit a reply from Mr J. Rutland on the same subject. I have received no other answer's. 5. Th 1 Gas Company have intimated that they will shortly require the whole of their shed in which the Board has hitherto stored cement. I think it would be necessary to authorise me to procure suitable storage elsewhere, or, failing that, to erect a shed at Matheson’s road, to score cement in any future contract All the sewers now are making very good progress, and the work is very satisfactory. Temporary and permanent gullies are being built in the South holt as directed by the Board. With reference to clause 2, it was resolved, after some discussion, that if the drain in question was on a public road it should bo cleaned. Resolved, regarding clause 3 —" That a committee, consisting of the chairman, Messrs Brown and Hall, bo appointed, with authority to take such measures as may bo considered beat.” The engineer was instructed to consult on the matter contained in clause 4, with th® owners of the sections on the other side of tue boundary. In connection with the report on the action taken by the gasworks authorities, the engineer was instructed to make inquiries as to the storage obtaincable. The report was then adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read as follows : From the town clerk of Sydenham, calling attention to the dangerous condition of Piper’s lane, owing to the very deep ditch which the Board made on it being unfenced, and recommending that a fence should be erected, Mr Harman said that the road was little need, and he could not see that the Board could bo reasonably asked to fence it in. After some further discussion of a desultory character, a resolution was passed to the effect that the Board could see no necessity for incurring such an expenditure, the ditch being generally no larger than for years past. From the clerk of the Riccarton Road Board, forwarding a resolution of the Board at a meeting held on the 12th inst, as follows :—“That, in the opinion of the Riccarton Road Board, the drain now being cut along the north side of the Fendaltown road is very dangerous, and that the Drainage Board bo respectfully requested to put in pipes and fill it in, as in the event of accidents the Drainage Board will bo liable.” Resolved—" That pipes bo placed in the drain, the Board undertaking the expense of keeping the sumps clean.” From the manager, Bank of New Zealand, acknowledging receipt of the Board’s letter re the deposit account, and stating that the instructions contained in it had received attention. From Mr W. Clark (in London) as follows: “ I have the honor to inform you that ©n the 18th inst. I signed the contract upon which Messrs. Howth and Crawley, of Gatoshead-upon-Tyno, aro constructing the engine, boilers, and pumping machinery for the Christchurch drainage works, and I at the same time paid to them the sum of £1271 13s 41, being the first instalment or one-third of the contract sum. I obtained the amount from (he Bank of New Zealand, and also a farther sura of £4 Os lid due to mo on account of the order for certain fittings, drawing on you for the amount, together with 6a- per cent. loss by exchange.” The Chairman stated that ho had accepted the bill on behalf of the Board. From Messrs Harman and Stevens, to the effect that they had received from Mr Benjamin Lancaster, the owner of rural section No. 62 (through which the Ferry road storm water sewer passes to the South belt) the grant of easement duly executed, and that they were prepared to hand the same over to the Board for execution on receipt of the consideration money agreed on, namely, £IOO. The Chairman was authorised to affix the seal of the Board. From Messrs Izard and Loughnan, in reference to Mr Taaffe’s claim for compensation, and urging the same upon the consideration of the Board, In reference to the above, it was resolved—- “ That the Board offer as compensation for the occupation of the land the sum of £ls, and will repair any damage done to the fence.” From J. fi. Hill and others in the Heathcote district, pointing out that the present state of the creek which is on the lower side of Wilson’s road, and immediately between the properties of Mrs Hornbrook and Mr Ollivier, is a source of danger to the health of the inhabitants of that neighborhood, and suggesting that a two or three feet drain cut through the centre of it, commencing from the creek lower down, would meet all the requirements of the case. Referred to the engineer, with power to act. From Mr Kruse, in reference to his claim re the land appropriated for drainage purposes. Referred to the engineer, with power to move the fence if necessary, and to point out to Mr Kruse the boundaries of the drain. From Mr T. Hackett, requesting the Board to reconsider his application for a bridge lending to his property at Papanui. The Board could see no reason for altering the decision previously arrived at. DEPUTATION. Mr Spensk-y interviewed the Board in reference to a piece of land opposite his promises, on the Ferry road, which was Hooded with water, and a very serious nuisance thus created. After some discussion on the merits of the case, Mr Harman moved—“ That the matter bo referred to Mr Duncan’s hands, with power to act, after consultation with the engineer.” The motion was carried. ACCOUNTS.

The secretary submitted a statement under this head, as follows:—Loan account, £BO3 7s 9d j rate account, £llO.

Mr Harman moved the following resolutions, which were carried “ That the Board notify their intention to levy rates agreed to by them as follows : On the rateable value of property in the city of Christchurch district, a rate of 7d in the £ ; Sydenham and Spreydon districts, a rate of 6d in the £. That the said rate shall be for the period ending December 31s f , 1870 ; that it shall be payable on the 3rd day of June, 1870 ; and that the rate books arc open for inspection at the offices of the Board in Hereford street, Christchurch.” The Board then adjourned.