DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1838, 13 January 1880, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The District Drainage Board met yesterday afternoon. There was a full attendance of the members.

The Chairman, Mr H. J. Tancred, stated that before proceeding to any other business they would have to elect the Chairman for the ensuing year. He had much pleasure in proposing Mr Harman, whose experience in every respect qualified him eminently for the post. Mr Duncan, in seconding the resolution, paid both the retiring and proposed Chairman a high compliment for their zeal in the interests of the public in all matters where the Board was concerned.

On the motion being put it was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring Chairman.

Mr J. Lao waited on the Board and made an application to have pipes laid in Free’s Creek, and offered to fill it in himself. The matter was discussed hy the Board, and eventually the following resolution, moved by Mr Duncan and seconded by Mr Boss, was caaried :—“ That the Engineer communicate to the Avon Road Board the intention of the Drainage Board to abandon the line of Free’s Creek from the Papanui road to the Springfield road, with a view to its being filled up by the residents altering the course, and suggests that the road drainage should be taken southward to the North belt.” The Engineer’s report was read as follows : January 12th, 1880. 1. I have received a letter from Mr W. Clark, in answer to one from me, in which I represented to him the difficulty of sinking the sewer tank through the quicksand. Mr Clark suggests that the tank be built on a curb and lowered from the surface in the same manner as I proposed in my report of the 22nd September. Mr Clark does not anticipate great difficulty in building the tank in this manner. 2. The drawings being nearly completed I propose to advertise for tenders to construct all the brick sewers, including the sewer tank, together with the engine house and erection of machinery and laying the syphon under the river. 3. The ship Remonstrant has arrived with the iron sewer pipes, part of the machinery, and a quantity of cement and drain pipes. 4. Tenders will he submitted for laying a storm water sewer in the Windmill road, to substitute the deepest part of the present ditch, as ordered by the Board. 5. The solicitors have recommended that proper deeds be prepared to be attached to documents carrying the right to lay and maintain a storm water sewer from Merivale lane to the Avon. I have, therefore, engaged Mr John Webster to get the necessary deed plans made, and when this is done I shall be able to proceed with the construction of the sewer, as ordered by the Board. 6. The lowering of A ddington drain through the Park and re-building the culverts at the west belt is nearly completed. 7. The storm water sewer in tho Gasworks road is finished satisfactorily. 8. The contractor for the supply of the 9in. pipes having damaged his machinery, has delivered very few pipes, but, by the arrival of 1000 nests, by the Kemonstrant, purchased by the Board, pipe-laying can still bo carried on, and I would propose to lay these within the belts, north of the river, after the present contract for laying is finished. 9. I have directed a pips to he laid from tho river to the sewer at the junction of Colombo and Kilmoro streets, to draw off the pressure of underground water which forces through the bricks and concrete into the sewer. 10. Pipe-laying is completed up the Crescent road to rt. Alban’s lane, and is nearly completed in the Springfield road. The Board considered the clauses seriatim 1,3, 4, 5. 6 and 7 were regarded as satisfactory, and in 2, 8 and 9 the action of the engineer was approved. With reference to clause 10 it was resolved to authorise the surveyor to purchase the pipes required for the Springfield road, so as to allow the contract to be carried on, and tho opinion of the Board's solicitors be taken on the contract.

Mr Green waited on the Board re the removal of the storm water from the land in the locality of the Crescent road. Some time ago the Drainage Board had made provision for the sewage at that part, but the Avon Road Board were now filling up the ditches, which had the effect of 11 coding all the adjoining properties, of which he was one of the chief owners. He wished the Board to communicate with the Avon Road Board on the matter, and also take steps to counteract the evils he complained of. The Chairman said that some members of the Board were acquainted with the locality in question, and would deal with the matter at a later hour in the day. A letter was received from the town clerk of Sydenham, enclosing a resolution declining to accept any alteration in the rate of commission for the collection of Drainage Board rates.

The Board decided that payment should he made.

A letter was read from the Heathcofe Road Board, calling the attention of the Board to the foul state of the Heathcoto river below Latter’s bridge. Also to the necessity of cleaning out the drain on the south side of the canal reserve to the estuary on the St. John’s road, and asking that the thistles on the outfall drain might bo cut. The matter was already attended to. Another letter from the Heathcote Road Board was read re connection with the Perry Road sewer, stating that the Board did not think they should be called on to pay for what they considered drainage works, to which they regarded the work referred to as belonging. The Board did not see any reason to alter its previous decision. The following letter was read from Mr Clark: — 9 Victoria Chamhe*s, Westminster, October 2tth, 1879. H. J. Tancred, Ksq., Chairman of the Christchurch District Drainage Board. Dear Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that 729 tons odd of 24in. turned and bored pues have been shipped per Remonstrant, as well as some thirteen tons odd of irregulars, and now beg to enclose herewith Messrs D. J. Stewart and Go's receipted invoice for same amounting - to .£3 04 Is t»d, as well as my memorandum of invoice and charges amounting tn .£4845 13s 2d. The freight,'as you have been informed, has.been made payable on delivery as

per bill of lading, which together with other documents has been handed to the Bank of N”ew Zealand for transmission to you, 'Xhey have paid to my credit on this shipment to enable m to discharge the various amounts specified, ,£3586 10s 7d. Seeing, however, that some seventy tons of pipes have been shut out from the Remonstrant, and are now being shipped from London there will he insufficient in Christchurch of .24000, opened at above Hank for this particular contract, to meet the whole of the payments to be made —-when the exchange is taken into account—which amounts to a considerable stun, viz., an amount for pipes as well as boilers and girders for pumping station, also shipped by above ship as per enclosed statement, to .£328 9s 4d. It would therefore greatly facilitate matters if the question of exchange could be settled on the spot. If not, however, I shall feel obliged by your placing further funds at ray disposal to meet balance of pipes now coming forward as well as the balance on pipes, freights per Remonstrant, payable here, amounting to, in excess of .£3OD named in oar statement, -21G7 0s »d. I am. Sir, your obedient servant. Pro W. Clark, J. W. H. James.

A letter was read from Mr Clark with reference to the exchange being payable in the colony, to which the Bank had agreed. The matter was referred to the^chairman,^ A letter was read from the Chief Commissioner of Lands with reference to giving the Drainage Board possession of the reserves on the sandhills. The survey had been made, and nothing was now wanting to enable a grant to be made but instructions from the General Crown Lands office to prepare it. The secretary said he had written to the Government through the Chairman of the Waste Lands Board in Christchurch, and the matter would be pushed on. A letter was read from Mr Travis, calling the Board’s attention to the floodgate and drain running through Mr Oorser’s land, fronting on the New Brighton road.

Referred to the engineer. A letter was read from Mr Roach, of Knightstown, asking the Board to fill up an open drain, cut through his property by order of the Board, and which, being open, prevented him improving his property. Referred to the engineer. In the matter of Mr Green’s application the Board resolved to refer the matter to Mr Blakiston, as being acquainted specially with the locality, to report upon it. A letter was read from Mr Coleman, asking for compensation for land taken by the Drainage Board for the purpose of widening St. Alban’s creek. The secretary was instructed to reply that the matter was under inquiry. A letter was read from Mr J. Pearson, applying for payment for his contract, re clearing drains in the Avon district, of which the Board had relieved him. It was resolved that the Board could not comply with the request. A letter was read from Mr Rhodes, accepting the sum of £lO for compensation, on condition that the Board filled up the cutting they had made to the writer’s satis faction. It was resolved that the engineer be instructed to comply with Mr Rhodes’ request. A letter was read from Mr Salter, on behalf of Mr Jones, intimating that unless his claim for compensation was settled without further delay, he should take legal steps for its settlement. Resolved — <c That Mr Salter bo informed that the work would soon bo completed, and the Board would be prepared to go to arbitration if necessary,” John Smith wrote asking permission to connect Dr. Wilkin’s drain with the main sewer. This application opened up a long discussion, which resulted in the matter being referred to a committee, to report at toe next meeting, the committee to consist of the chairman, and Messrs Duncan, Ross, and Hobbs. A number of tenders for the Windmill road sewer were opened and considered in committee. On resuming, the chairman reported that the tender of Mr Mills was accepted. It was reported that the contract for clearing the Avon drains was let to Mr Carr, and that the contract for supply of 250 barrels of cement was taken by Mr O. W. Turner. Accounts to the amount of £238 16s lid and £3835 13s lOd on the rate and loan accounts respectively were passed for payment. The Chairman in connection with this read a letter from the auditors drawing their attention to the arrears of rates, and also to the fact that vouchers for payment did not bear the signature of a member of the Board, The Chairman said that members were aware that all vouchers went through the hands of the finance committee, and that the Board wore satisfied with their ratification. The letter was referred to the finance committee. It was moved by Mr Duncan and agreed to “ That the accounts be allowed, and that the chairman certify to them.” Another account being passed for payment, terminated the business, and the Board adjourned.