DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1709, 12 August 1879, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The regular fortnightly meeting of tho Board was held yesterday afternoon at halfpast two o'clock. Present—Mr Tancred (Chairman), Messrs Duncan, Harman, Blakiston, Ross. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, An apology was tendered by Mr Duncan for the absence of Mr Hall, who was attending a meeting of the Riccartou Road Board. The Engineer's report wan read as follows : I have prepared plana for a storm outlet to discharge storm water from Sydenham down Jackson's Creek. By this way the water would he taken alongside the railway between side walls of concrete, which would be arched over •where sidings occur, and at other crossings. The side walls would he necessary to keep up the railway, and the land on the south, the bottom being quicksand. Concrete and brick culverts are shown under tho railway, and timber culverts under the roads. If the drain reserve were to be used, the cutting would be lift, deep, and the bottom must be timbered to keep the Bides up. The dra'n would be sft wide at the bottom, and 3ft. 6in. below the Gasworks road south of the railway. Of course being at a higher level than the Ferry road sewor, it must tike all the water of Sydenham, and nothing would pas 3 under tho railway. The cost would he about ,£4300, to which must be added the compensation which would be demanded for interfering with property, etc. 2. This drain is open to the same objections as were urged when the Perry road sewor was chosen to be built by the Board, with the exception that this one is about 5f fc less deep than would have been necessary had the Ferry road sewer not been built. An overflow sewer down Madras street to tho Avon would serve the purpose better than the open drain above described, as it would intercept all the storm water flowing to the eastward from the Pound road_ to tho Avon. It would prevent the flooding which is so annoying at Tuam street east and the gas works, and would leave the Ferry road sewer to take away all the water to the eastward of Madras street, which it could well do. By this plan the storm water from the north and south of the Avon would m»et at Madras street bridge, while the Ferry road sower would take all the water to the east as far as the Heathcote. Of course, the old bed of Jackson's creek would need to be preserved from rural section 48 to its outlet to the Heathcote, as it would be difficult to drain the low parts of thi3 section in any other direction. 3. I would recommend an overflow sewer for floods down Madras street to the Avon, as bsing more suitable and convenient for the drainage of Sydenham and the city. The cost, however, would be about J 69500, which the Board would have to take into consideration as against the inconveniences of tho open drain down Jackson's Creek. I do not think the sewer by way of the Gasworks road ought to be considered at all, as tho depth is so great that the cost would be uncertain.

4. The deepening of St. Albans Creek is being rapidly carried on, and will bo flnishod in a r ew weeks. 5. I have prepared a schedule of the pipes required for the whole scheme of drainago, deducting those already purchased.

6. Pipes have been laid at the rate of about 1500 ft. per week, and our supply could be all laid in about nine months, or atout four months if the 9in. pipes only were laid. 7. I submit a plan for the drainage of the low ground between Glonc:eter street and Armagh street, near East bolt. Thiß is the bod of an old gully, which extends nearly to the Stanmore road. It formerly extended westward through the town, but has been filled up. and when this part now complained of is filled up the cause of complaint will disappear. The

line of pipes here shown will, however, take the water away which is causing annoyance at present, and when the ground is filled up would ! keep the subsoil dry. If the Board choose to lay pipes I think it should be done under clause 38 of the Act. 8. In the case of Mr Wyatt's complaint, a pipe has been laid to the North belt sewer at his cost. 9. I submit tenders received for clearing all the drains in the Avon district for one year. C. Napier Bell, Engineer. The Board decided to consider clauses 1 and 2 of the report together, and the engineer submitted plans showing the course proposed in the report for drainage of the particular localities referred to. After discussing the matters carefully, the Board resolved to approve of the Madras street sewer, providing the borings to be taken gave satisfactory results, a report the same to be brought up at next meeting. Mr Duncan _ suggested the Sydenham Borough Council should be informed that the Board would be prepared to carry the drain up the Gasworks road after next meeting. It was resolved to embody the suggestion of Mr Duncan in tho resolution previously arrived at.

At this stage Mr Delamain (who was in attendance re the culvert through his property) was admitted to the Board-room. He stated his views on the subject, previously expressed by letter, namely, that the Board were the responsible parties, and ought to leave his property as it was before being disturbed by operations undertaken by the Drainage Board. Mr Delamain explained tho difficulty ho was placed in, his property being entirely destroyed in one respect. Mr Harman suggested that the matter was one for a compromise. Mr Delamain said he should like to see his solicitor first, as he was advised that the Board were liable for the work. Mr Boss pointed out, in answer to the last remark, that the Board might (in that case) put in a bridgo, or simply a wooden culvert, whereas if they could come to some compromise between Mr Delamain and the Board on the subject, a permanent work satisfactory to both might be arrived at. Mr Harman thought it was an exceptional caso, and, as such, ought to b 9 dealt with.

The Chairman stated that a letter from Mr Delamain's solicitors on the subject was among the correspondence. Tho letter in question was read, stating that Messrs Harper and Hatper had been instructed to request immediate attention to the complaint already made by Mr F. W. Delamain, with reference to the interference by the Board with the water running through his property. On the motion of Mr Boss, it was resolved that Mr Harman, Mr Duncan, and the engineer, be appointed to confer with Mr Delamain with a view to arranging for a permanent scheme.

The Board then proceeded to consider the remaining clauses of the engineer's report. With reference to the supply of pipes, Mr Duncan suggested that tend«rs should be invited for the amount required, the invitation to be go worded that one person need not tender for the entire quantity, and if they could get them cheaper in the colony it would be of greater advantage than importing them.

Mr Harman supported the view that colonial manufacturers should be given an opportunity of competing. They must remember that although the Board had to send Home on a former occasion, yet colonial industry was not always at a standstill, and it would be advisable to let colonial producers have an opportunity of competing. At the same time he should (in the interests of the public) stipulate for the best quality. Besolved—" That tenders be invited for a supply of pipes, or any less quantity, tenders to be accompanied by samples, and tenderers to state in what quantities, at what intervals, and in what instalments they would be prepared to supply the pipes." With regard to clause 7, as to a plan for draining the low ground between Gloucester and Armagh street, the information bad been asked for by Mr Hobbs, and the matter was accordingly referred to that gentleman. With regard to the connection of house drains with the main sewers, and the coat thereof, Mr Harman remarked that it was a very important matter, as it was highly desirable to adopt some plan by which persons would sot have to run into heavy expenditure. It might be well to have the connections effected before the sewers were closed in.

A letter was read from Mr F. Turvey, on behalf of Ferry road ratepayers, complaining of excessive rate imposed upon them for the small amount of benefit received from the Board; also dealing with the closing of the drains, and the excessive cost. Mr Tully waited on the Board with a request that the Board would make a deduction in hiß account, £6 17s 2d, for connection with the drain.

The Board intimated that an answer would be sent to him.

The tenders submitted for clearing the drains in the Avon district for one year were then opened and considered, and one was accepted. Correspondence received since last meeting was then laid before the Board. The following letters were read : From Mr E. Mitchell, drawing attention to the state of the drain known as No. 2, running through his property at the Horse-Shoo Lake, his paddocks having been completely flooded since the heavy rains by water overflowing from the land of Messrs Rhodes and Reeves.

Mr Mitchell also waited on the Board in reference to the subject matter of his letter. Resolved —" That the engineer inspect the locality in question, and in case of necessity take such steps as may be required." From the Heathcote Road Board—A letter was received calling attention to the dangerous condition of the Stanmore road.

The engineer stated that the matter spoken of was being attended to. From Mr G. Withers, drawing attention to the slate of sections of land lying between Conference and Aldred streets, Durham street north. The section behind the house inhabited by the writer was, every winter, covered with water. Two winters since the City Council endeavored to effect an improvement by cutting a drain through it, but in consequence of some objection a lawsuit followed, and the Council lost their cobo. The writer proceeded to express an opinion as to how the nuisance might be abated, and stated what he had already done himself in the matter.

Tho Engineer s.id, at present, the land would not drain into the Bide channels, being too low. He suggested that the ground should be underdrained at the cost of the proprietors. A resolution was passed in accordance with tho engineer's suggestion, it being understood that the work should be commenced when the sewer reached that locality. • From Mr F. Jones, of Tuam street, calling attention to damage done to his garden by the late rainfall, in consequence of no provision having been made by the Board for enabling him to carry off surface drainage. It wes ;reaolved to communicate with Mr Jones on the subject, saying the Board would connect with the sewer at the writer's expense. From Mr C. Cuff, as follows.—" Some time last year, I sent in my account for £l6, being the half cost of fencing the boundary between the Board's reserve and my section. The drainage works in connection with the same have now fairly commenced, and you have spent large sums of money which I am sure you would not havo done if you had been in doubt about procuring the land, so that the further risk of £l6 would be a very small item, and it is getting on for two years since I paid for the work, and, in addition, have planted a live fence. I would also give the Board an undertaking to repay the money in case of your never having the land; but, on my application to purchase at the Land Office, to protect myself, the commissioner told me that it belonged to the Drainage Board.

The Engineer reminded the Board that an application of the kind was mode twelve monthß ago, when the Board said they would pay as soon as the title was ascertained.

Eesolved to write to Mr Cuff, informing him that the Board had no title at present. From F. Innes, calling attention to the bad state of the creek leading from tre Gasworks road to Wilson's bridge, Sydenham. From T. W. Jones, entering a protest against deepening of the creek running through his land at St. Albans. It was considered that the letter did not call for immediate action. With referenoo to a letter of complaint from Opawa as to the condition of Jackson's ereek, the engineer stated that he had stopped the work which had been commenced on the ground that a question was pending which would decide whether it would be neceesary to materially increase the depth of the creek.

It was resolved that the work be proceeded with on the assumption that the drain would be carried along Madras street. The usual financial statement showed —Doan account, £1556 4s 8d; rate account, £B6 17s 9d. Several matters of minor importance were dealt with, and the Board adjourned at 5.30 p.m.