DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1697, 29 July 1879, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Beard was hold yesterday. Present The Chairman (Mr Tailored), Messrs Hobbs, Duncan, Harman, and Robs. The Chairman reported that the committee had gone over the land in respect of which compenaalion had been claimed, and had determined upon the amount to bo allowed. Replies from three of the claimants had bea received accepting the terms offered. It was resolved not to make public the terms of compensation until replies wert received from the other claimants. Tho Chairman said ho had boon by the manager of the Bank to sfcaj .°C™,f debentures for the drainage >>'*{ thatLne sold at 1C«. <"**» had beea The Engineer 1 have made enqu>~ , ,V / t etl „„.,„*,.,, .t;r,r, n f ii.iies as to the facta of tho construction or ' , , ~ 0 r . it. creek it V" u 8 cu ' ver ' ; ovec the St. Albans Road Be ■ jr Delamnin's. Neither the Avon I f ~ jurd nor IVfr Maling (the former owner .ie property; have any information to give respecting it. I learn, however, from Mr Haskins that it was construetel by him a 3 surveyor for the Avon Road Board, and the timber was supplied by Mr Maling. At that time the water from tho Riccarton district was not admitted to it through tho channel made by Mr Duncan, and the culvert in question was thought to be large enough. Subsequently, on Mr Duncan admitting the water from the larger drain, through rural section 2382, into £t. Alban's creek, it became liable to such floods as gf.ve rise to the late complaints about the size of the culvert. Any culvert at this place should not be less than 2ft. Gin. Equaro. The present one is 16in. square. I find that what is called Horner's drain, near the River Styx, would require to be deepened about 2ft. to 3ft. to give the drainage required to the petitioners, and, in addition, the whole of it mußt ba heavily timbered at a considerable cost. Also, whether the drain is deepened or left as it is, the timber now must be thoroughly repaired, as it is falling in, and bringing down the road, the drain being 16ft. deep, with quicksands at the bottom. Nothing should be done to it during the winter months, and I shall report further before making any repairs. The question of directing the drainaae Bonth of the Harewood road, rural sections 330 and 323, &c. t into the Wairarapa at Mr Duncan's corner, formed part of the same petition, which i requested the deepening of Horner's .drain. I have not yet had time to take levels to show how this is to be done, and I will report on it when I have the necessary data. As directed by tho Board, Free's creek has been diverted into the Avon through the Carlton paddocks, thus catting off the drainage of rural sections 52,105, 133, 142, 299, from the North belt sewer. I have informed Mr C. TV. Turner that the Board will purchase the extra pipes offered by him when he can supply tho junction required. 1 think it would be advisable to tak« steps to procure more pipes, as it appearß they can be laid much faster than they can be supplied, judging by the time taken to deliver the last contract, the time for which expired in April, and the total contract is not yet supplied.

The pipe-laying on the north side of the river is being carried on very satisfactorily. After much trouble and difficulty the foundation of the broken sewer in Kilmore street has been repaired, the concrete is sunk under water for Eecurity in setting ; after which I hope to get it finished without much difficulty. At Matheson's road a pumping well is being sunk for the construction of the sewer tank, and considerable expense and difficulty i 3 incurred by reason of the quicksand and the quantity of water that rises from springs below the sand. I have not yet completed a'.l the drawings and plans which would be necessary before aeon tract could be let to construct a flood outlet down Jackson's Creek, and I would ask the Board to defer taking action on the subject until these are ready, and a fair comparison can be made with other directions for a flood outlet.

In regard to the request of Mr W. Boag and the Riecarton Road Board to give them a drainago outlet through land belonging to Mr Maskew 1 find that Mr Boag'a land drains at present to the side ditch on the Fendaltown road, so that both Mr Boag and the Biccarton Eoad Board are interested to have. the drain cut straight through the land of Mr Maskew. Such a drain would divide a large field into two parts, and MrMaskiw's agents object to this being done. A sketch of the position is attached.

C. Napier Bell, C.E. In reference to clause 1 a letter was read from Mr Delamain, complaining of a ditch cut through his land, and requesting that his culvert would be left in tho same position as it was formerly. After some discussion, Mr Duncan proposed "That the Board's solicitor be consulted in referenco to the whola matter, and that the engineer be instructed to give him all necessary information in the matter." Mr Duncan sjaid he could quite sympithise with Mr Delamain under the peculiar circumstance. It was not, however, this case alone they had to conaider, but many others, in respect to which this would form a precedent. The motion was carried.

With reforence to clause 2, it was resolved " That the consideration of tha question of Horner's drain be deferred, and that in tho moantime the enginoer should report as to the possiblo diversion of the water into the Horseshoo lagoon." The consideration of " deepening Horner's drain" in another direction was also deferred. With reference to the supply of pipes, the engineer stated the position at present occupied by the Board. Mr Duncan said he should like to see the drainago extended as much as possible, in Sydenham, for instance, and other directions ; and he would prefer to see the pipes supplied by contract. He proposed, therefore, that a full schedule of the pipes required for tho next two years be prepared, with a view to calling for tenders. Tho Engineer pointed out that the pipes on the south side of tho river could not bo laid till the large sewers were in, and the question was whether they should obtain the pipes in small quantities and pay for them as they went.

Mr Duncan remarked that they were more likely to obtain a bargain now owing to the the depressed state of the market at home. Mr Harman seconded the motion, and remarked that they could decide hereafter on the mode of supply. The motion was then put and carried. Some discussion took place on that clause of the report dealing with Jackson's creek. Mr Duncan suggested that the Board's solicitor should be consulted as to the power of the Board.

Mr Harman said he should like to state, as one personally interested in this matter, that he had been compelled to tell Mr Bell that he should resist the deepening of the creek as proposed, as the creek passed through his property, and he disputed the right of the Board to cause any unnatural flow of water through that channel. He made this statement because he did not desire that his action in the matter should be secret. As to whether his view of the matter was legally correct was another thing. After some further discussion it was resolved thit the advice of tho solicitor should be obtained as to whether the Board had power under any clause of the Act to deepen a creek such as that referred to in the report without giving compensation.

The consideration of the last clause in the report was deforred, pending the solicitor's op'nion. A letter was received from the engineer, asking whether the Board hare any objection to his taking a pupil for instruction in engineering on the works of the Board under his charge.

Mr Harman Btatcd that in reference to a similar application by tho engineor of the Lyttelton Harbor, the Hon. Mr Biohardson had advised that there could bs no objection, provided tho Board were not responsible for the payment of salary or finding omplojmont fcr such pupils. He (Mr Harman) saw no objection to granting permission on such conditions, and ho thought no better opportunity than that afforded by tho works being prosecuted in Christchurch at present could be found for the instruction of youth in the profession.

It was resolved to grant Mr Bell the permission asked for, it being understood that the Board were not responsible for tho payment of salary or finding employment.

A petition was roceived from residents on tho East town belt and Armagh stroot, praying tho Board for relief from eurface water on that portion of tho district, caused by the low level of the ground, many of tho sections being flooded. Mr Hobbs explained the circumstances of the case, from which it appeared that the relief asked for was urgently required. Tho land in question was in the form of a basin, and many of tho residents could not get out of their back doora without stepping in water. Ho suggested that the water should be pumped away. Mr Duncan proposed that the engineor be requested to make an estimate of the cost of laying down pipes to the river, and he felt sure tho Board would be glad to undertako the work, provided tin inhabitants were propared to assist thorn. It was resolved that the cnginoer prepare 'J estimate, as suggested, also, as to the cost eamirnpfng; out the water, and furnish the Hobbs. Citv Cou° Town Clerk, by direction of tho ing'the Bot r . a lelter wa3 "questgood a stat< *° have * ao streets put in as bein» cut ui ] **pait as they were before Sevr.- ' streets -V''" drainaeo operations. vth'-'i e0mn1.!,•.,! -o enumerated, in respect of sir j 7(ii had been made. I .■ arr.xsiiggsi™ said it would be well to make ! .°' ,jijSK?smenfc with ths City Council to put certain amount of metal at the «STsard's expense Resolved that the enginoer cenfer with the city engineer in order to arrive at some arrangement in the matter. Tho Sydenham Borough Council wrote asking that tho permanent sewer proposed to bo laid under tho Windmill road, within that borough, be proceeded with and completed as soon as possible, in order that that road may bo lowered to the permanent level, and a footpath formed on it. It was resolved that the engineer bo roquosfed to confer with the engineer for Sydenham, and report at next meeting. Anothor letter from the Sydenham Council was read, enclosing a resolution passed by a public meeting in reference to alleged neglect of that borough in tho drainage scheme.

Tho Clerk of tho Sydenham Council wrote notifying the purchase of a Blip of land on the west side of tho Gasworks road, and that it would bo proclaimed a part of the Gasworks road.

In reference to the drain along'this road, the engiheeer, in reply to Mr Duncan, stated that it would depend on the direction in which it wbb proposed to carry away the storm water, by Jackson's Creek or otherwise

Resolved that Mr Bell make inquiries as to the direction of the drainage in that locality. The Heathcote Road Board wrote stating that they could not accept the amount of shingle offered by the engineer re the Stanmore road. The letter also referred to other matters requiring attention in the district. Resolved that the engineer be instructed to shingle the road at once. Re Smith's road, a similar instruction was given by the Board. As to the state of tho Ferry road sewer outfall, the engineer received instructions to attend to the matter. A letter was read from the Avon Road Board, as to the necessity of laying pipes on the north side of the North Avon road.

Referred to the engineer to report at next meeting. Tho Avon Road Board also called attention to the quantity of water coming from the Riccarton district, and requested that arrangements should be made for continuing the drainage .through the district from which it came.

The Chairman stated that this matter had been already dealt with. A supplementary claim for compensation was received from Messrs Harman and Stevens, on behalf of the Hon. John Hall, on account of the Board's action in taking the Ferry road sewer through his land, section 3.

This and two other claims laid before the Board came in subsequent to last meeting, and were handed over at once to the committee appointed to deal with all the claims. A letter was received from Mr Flesher, enclosing the resolutions (already published) which were passed at a public meeting held at Bingsland in re tho drainage question as affecting that locality. It was resolved—" That the Board, after duly considering the resolutions submitted to them, have come to [the conclusion that it is advisable to defer opening up a new outfall until the present works have been tested ; and if tho scheme should then prove insufficient, an cutfall could be made direct to the river." The remainder of the business was of a purely routine character, dealing with complaints of nuisances caused by storm water from tl>o recent heavy rains, and other matters.

In answer to a claim for compensation from Mr Horler, tho secretary was instructed to write to the effect that the Board did not appear to have gone on Mr Horler's land at all.