DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1757, 7 October 1879, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was hold yesterday afternoon at half past two o’clock. Present: Messrs Tancred (in the chair), Hobbs, Hall, Duncan, Harman, J. E. Brown, Blakiston, and Boss. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The report of the engineer was read as follows : . The pipe sewer up Colombo road is being laid, and a number of men recommended by the unemployed committee are engaged on it. I propose to lay the remainder of our 9in. pipes north of the river, and within the city, which will complete the system north of the river with the exception of Hereford street and Cashel street, and a few of the cross streets. I would propose to get the connections made now as fast as they can be done. The secretary of the Gas Company has written to say that the shed in which oar cement is stored is required to store coals. I would therefore request authority to build an addition to our cement shed, if I cannot find a place to rent near the railway station. A shed must also be built to store the machinery, which will soon be on its way from England. I propose to call for tenders at once for the overflow stormwater down Madras street, as previously explained to the Board. To give effect to the petition of residents rural section 345, near Toom’a road, asking for better drainage for their fields, I find that it would be advisable to cut a drain into St.| Alban’s creek, passing under Shirley road. I understand those interested will make the drain provided the Board will lay the pipe culvert under the road and connect it with St. Alban’s creek. Finding that the drain from the Addington workshops is excessively crooked and winding, I have deferred deepening it in its present state, as I think it should be straightened if so much money is to be spent on it. I have written to ithe chairman of the Domain Board, asking him which would bo the best course to divert the drain, and I have written the chairman of the Riccarton Board, if he would pay the expense if the wooden culvert were lengthened, and built of stone or concrete, and whether he would contribute to the expense of lengthening the brick culvert near the sale yards. Before all these questions are arranged, it would be useless to commence deepening the drain. The Government would probably object to pay the extra cost that would bo incurred by all these improvements. I have deferred taking any action in regard to-diverting Free’s creek, as recommended by the committee of the Board, some of the residents having called upon me, suggesting that it should be put into pipes throughout its length. This I have not the instructions of the Board to do. They also represent that the creek in its present course was in a better position for draining the properties near the Papanui road, and that complaints would arise if it wo:e changed, I submit a form of license which I would ask the Board to agree to as that under which persons will be allowed to make connection between public sewers and private premises. I have had many bearings taken round about the site for a pumping station, some of these show that there are beds of shingle at the required depth; most of the borings are, however, unsatisfactory, from the facts that the shingle ends not far below the depth and the lower part of the shingle bed is composed of very fine shingle, ending in sand. Such a situation would offer scarcely any advantages over the site originally fixed on by Mr Clark. In two of the borings taken, the shingle beds are apparently of greater

foundation for the sewer tank. The immense quantity of water in these shingle beds at the required depth would, of course, bo a serious difficulty to be overcome in building a tank on them. One of these borings, being about thirtyfive chains nearer the belt than the original site, and the other twenty chains nearer the sand hills, the adoption of either of them would cause an important modification of Mr Clark’s designs ; and I do not think that it is my duty to incur the responsibility of making such an alteration without the sanction of Mr Clark, whose designs lam employed to carry out. In the first case, where the position for the pumping tank will be thirty-five chains nearer the town, although a large part of the expense of the deep outfall sewer might be saved, the drainage of all that part of the district to the eastward of the East Town belt would need to be reversed, and it would be necessary to ascertain from Mr Clark whether the efficiency of the engines would not be affected by haying to force sewage through half a mile more pipe. _ In the second case, the pumping station would be twenty chains nearer the sand hills. But the cost of this extra length ot deep outfall sewer to reach it would be more than .£4OOO, and the difficulty of building this sewer at 15ft. deep in quicksand should not be overlooked. Unless the Board think proper to refer the subject to Mr Clark, asking his opinion as to the advisability of changing the site, or his advice as to the material and method to be used in building the sewer tank in the quicksand of the present site, I would recommend that the tank on the present site, together with all the brick sewer remaining to be built, be offered to public tender, failing which the Board would build the sewer tank as proposed in my report at last meeting, and when finished to call for tenders for the brick sewers leading to it. C. Napier Bell,, Engineer. The Board then proceeded to consider the various clauses ot the report seriatim. In relation to the fifth clause of the report, it was resolved—“ That the chairman of the Drainage Board, with the engineer, make arrangements with the Domain Board as to the cost of the new drain, and the chairman and the engineer be empowered to call for tenders for the work.” In discussing the clause referring to Free’s creek, a letter was read from Mr H. B. Johnstone, who wrote stating that he found the Board had taken certain land belonging to him—part of E.S. 105 —and had made a drain along it and cut through twelve lots, rendering the same useless as building sites ; the price of the lots were £3O each —in all £360. He would be glad to receive the amount, and make a conveyance to the Board of the property. After a desultory discussion, of a conversational character, Mr J. E. Brown moved—" That the proposed drain be at once undertaken.” Mr Duncan moved, as an amendment “ That the matter be remitted to the committee, to report to the Board at its next meeting.” The amendment was carried, ',the substantive motion not being put forward. With regard to (granting (licenses for making connections between the premises and mains, Mr Bell said he had a man whom he proposed to give the situation to, who would be willing to take the appointment of fitter, if he could secure the monopoly for one year. It was resolved to approve, generally, of the form of license submitted, and to refer it to the Board’s solicitor for jins perusal and opinion. The next point discussed was that of a site for the pumping station, to which a large portion of the engineer’s report was devoted. Mr Duncan moved—" That tenders be called for the building of a sewage tank near Matheson’s road, and the construction of the brick sewers remaining, to complete the drainage system of the city and suburbs.” It was understood that Mr Clark, 0.E., should in the meantime be communicated with, to secure his advice on the subject generally. The report was then adopted. On the motion of Mr Hall, it was resolved to instruct the engineer to proceed with Oookson’s drain, Fendalton road, as formerly agreed upon by the Board, and that the expenses incidental to the work be charged to the rate account. A letter was received from Mr W. Clark, C.E, stating that he had paid to Messrs Hawkes and Cransbury, England, the second instalment of £1271 13s 4d, due to them under their contract for pumping machinery. He stated that the contract was well advanced, and the boilers were nearly ready for shipment. He had ordered, as per instruction, the 2<tin. cast-iron pipes for conveying sewage from pumping station to Sandhills. Wm. Summerhays applied for a license to make connections between premises and sewers, as the works proceed. If required he would relinquish his appointment as inspector of works. Resolved to appoint Mr Summerhays, subject to his agreeing to the conditions imposed by the Board. Mr H. Wright wrote again, drawing attentiou to his claim for compensation for land cut up by the Board. On the motion of Mr Duncan, the letter was referred to the committee, with power to act. Mr B. Taafe wrote accepting £ls as compensation for damage done to his premises, Ferry road. Mr J. Reading sent an account to the Board for £5 for damage done to his paddock by the Board, through work done in connection with the outfall tank. Referred to the engineer to report upon. The secretary stated the loan accounts to be £IOBB Os 3d, and rate account £l3O 11s lid. The accounts were passed. It was also resolved to advance the sum of £2OO to the Local Board of Health. Several communications were received and dealt with in relation to certain complaints of defective drainage, &c., and the Board adjourned at half-past six o’clock.