THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1649, 3 June 1879, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, June 2, The usual fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held at the offices, Hereford street, at halfpast two o’clock. Present—Messrs H. J. Tancred (chairman), P. Hobbs, J. E. Brown, R. J. S. Harman, A. Duncan, H. J. Hall, J. Y. Ross, and C. R. Blakiaton. THE SEAL OF THE BOARD. It was resolved to affix the seal of the Board on Mr Lancaster’s contract. A SAFE. On the motion of Mr Harman it was resolved that a safe of brick and concrete should be built for the purpose of keeping the plans of the Board in. IHE CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT DRAINAGE ACT. The draft copy of a Bill entitled “ A Bill to amend the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875,” which had been drawn up by the committee, was laid upon the table. engineer’s report. This report was read as follow*: 1. In the matter of the proposed line of pipe from Merivale lane to the river Avon, as directed by the Board, I have applied to the owners of property on the east side of the boundaries for leave to lay the same without paying compensation, offering them in return the right to fill up the old creek bed through the sections in question. 2. I have obtained from the chairman of the Gas Company a guarantee that the Board can have storage for 1500 barrels in their coal shed for one year from date ; this with the store in Matheson’s road, will I think bo sufficient, and it is the most economical arrangement I can get. 3. I have deferred putting pipes down the Fendaltown road for a distance of seventeen chains, while I endeavored to make arrangements with Mr Colehan to take the drain straight through his lan d at a distance of six chains from the road, or to purchase a strip to widen the road to 50ft As he will not come to terms for cither proposal, I would suggest that the Board do not lay down this line of pipe, because I think it would be found unsuitable and inconvenient. The gradient is about iin 500, the area to be drained, 200 acres ; 15in. pipes would cost about £200; they would be liable to be choked with roots of trees; they must be provided with gullies, and require to be attended to to keep them from being silted up. I therefore think it will be preferable either to widen the road by taking land from Mr Colehan under the Act, or else to leave the drain as it is. When the drain on the other side is filled up, the condition of the Fendaltown road would be no worse than that of many others in the district similarly situated. 4. I have given directions to lower certain culverts under Jackson’s Creek near the railway, so as to give the relief asked for in a petition to the Board from Messrs. Ollivier, Harley, and others. 5 I submit a letter from the Resident Engineer for Railways, asking the Board to deepen the Addington drain. I also submit a section of the same, which shows that a great deal of work must be done, and three brick culverts lowered to give effect to the request, 6. The brick sowers north of the Avon are now finished as far as Mr Clarke’s original scheme went; the total cost has been £8344, but this sum includes £350 for extra works, which were indispensable. Mr Clarke’s estimate for the work was £9513; so that more work than he proposed has been done for considerably less money. 7. The contract for the Ferry road storm water sewer is finished. A branch to it is being built in the East belt as far as Tnam _ street. The storm water sewer in the South belt is being re-built at a lower level as far as Mr C. W. Turner’s store. For that distance the original sewer must be broken up because the top of it is above the level of the road. A branch is also being built into the gasworks’ road to take the rain water of Sydenham. All these works are included in Mr Clark’s original design. C. Napier Bell, Engineer.

With regard to the third clause, it was resolved that the drain on the South side of the road should be filled up, and that the work as previously recommended bo proceeded with.

In connection with the fifth clause, the following letter was read : New Zealand Railways, Resident En"inear’s Office, Christchurch, 30th May, 1879. Sir, —I have the honor in reference to a recent conversation with you to ask whether the Christchurch District Drainage Board will deepen the outfall of the drain which flows from the new railway workshops’ site, Addington, through Hagley Park, to the Avon, near the Hospital. I understood yon to say that there was sufficient fall in the creek to allow of its being deepened fully two feet at the Addington end. Should the Board consent to undertake this work I will on behalf of the railway department deepen the railway and the drains extending upwards thence to the upper boundary of the Government land, free of cost to the Board. An early reply will oblige. Yours, &c., J. Henry Lowe, Resident Engineer. C, Napier Bell, Esq., Drainage Board Engineer, Christchurch, The matter was referred to the engineer to report upon the whole question at a future mooting. Clause 6 was considered to be of a very satisfactory character. The report was then adopted. THE DEBENTURES. A letter was read from the Bank stating that debentures for £IOO,OOO had been duly forwarded to London by the last outgoing San Francisco mail, THE DATE LITIGATION. A letter was read from Messrs Garrick and Oowlishaw, stating that in the late case of Baiter v the Christchurch District Drainage Board, in the matter of an award, the plaintiff bad been nonsuited. Some discussion of a conversational character took place, the Board considering that Mr Baxter had no doubt a legal claim to a certain extent, and the matter was referred to the works committee without prejudice, with a view to an amicable settlement. BALPOUB STBEET. A letter was read from Mr Banks, asking for the sum of £25 as compensation for injury to his land in Balfour street, Ferry road. Matter deferred. bell’s creek. Mr R. J. Loughnan wrote, asking the Board to lay down certain pipes, to prevent his land being overflowed by the creek in the event of the Board taking certain steps. Mr Loughnan was referred to the Heathcote Road Board. Some other applications [wero}[referred to the engineer. THE BPEETDON BOAD DISTBIOT. A latter from the chairman of the Spreydoa Road Board in reference to certain drainage works in that district was referred to the works committee. JBEBV BOAD. A letter from Mr Bradley, claiming £lO as compensation for a drain having been made through his land on the Perry road was referred to the engineer to report upon.

WORKS COMMITTEE REPORT. The works committee beg to recommend that advantage be taken o? the approaching completion of the brick sowers on the north side of the river to give the ratepayers the full benefit to be derived from them, by laying the pipe sewers at as early a date as possible. The adoption of this course at the present time has the additional recommendation of taking advantage of the abundant supply of labor now offering, and thereby finding employment for a considerable number of hands. The committee are, however, of opinion that a reduction of the rate of wages should follow as a matter of course. A list of the streets and roads along which it is proposed that the pipe sewers should be laid is appended hereto. In connection with the above proposal the committee recommend that if it bo adopted by the Board the residents along the various lines of streets and roads should be informed that connections may be made as the works proceed ; and that the work will be done more cconomically if done at once. Colombo road north round Crescent road to St. Albans lane.

From Durham street along Kilmore street westward to Park terrace.

From Kilmore street along each side of Cranmer square to Armagh street. From Armagh street to Gloucester street along Durham street, and thence westward to Antigua street. From the intersection of Durham and Gloucester streets, along Cambridge terrace to Cashel street, and thence along Cashel street to Antigua street. From Cambridge terrace westward along Worcester street to Antigua street. From Cranmer square along line of Montreal street to Cashel street.

From Armagh street along Antigua street to Cashel street.

Some discussion took place on the subject of pipes. The report of the committee was adopted. Mr Hall said there were u few additional drains in Eiccarton that had been referred to the works committee, but they had not, reported on them. The Chairman of the committee said it was an oversight notjto have reported on tho drains in question. The matter would however be taken into consideration and reported on the next meeting. ACCOUNTS. On the motion of Mr Harman, the sum of £250 was advanced to the Local Board of Health. A number of accounts wore passed, after which the Board adjourned.