DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1920, 20 April 1880, Page 4

DRAINAGE BOARD.

* Mon-dat, Aphid 19. Tho Board met at 2.30 p.m. Present— Messrs 11. J. S. tlarman (chairman), Hall, Duncan, Blukiston, Hobbs, Ross and Tancred. Tbe engineer’s report was read, as follows : 1. To complete the pipe-laying near the North belt, and to enable the streets already laid to be flushed from a tank, about 000 feet of pipes have been purchased and are being laid on the North belt from Victoria to Montreal streets. Two flashing tanks, supplied from artesian wells, will bo provided for this part of tbe town. 2. The works of the Madras street sewer are making very fab- progress and the connections on tbe S-rath bolt arc being made. 3. Nothing has 1-ren done in laying a pipe sower in tho Carlton paddocks, as the title deeds for the land are not yet prepared. 5. The preliminary work at lL - pumping station is sc- far advanced that a consmone n-’enV. vriil ho made shortly in the work of it dr..: a wooden cylinder for the pumping tank (!. A ennanction has been made with the Stanrncro road pipe sower from a gully near Chur -h lane. T Filling in the south city drain has b on stopped until the water from various artesia-.s ha» been div-rte i. 8 In answer to tho ootur.l tint r.f the Sydenham Borough Conn- il about the condition cf a sump at the S.AV. u-.a-n-.it ->-.7.°1 tenaud Windmill roads. The sump i~ properly placed, but tho footpaths being unformed it i- exposed to bo driven over by carts pussit.g round tho corner, A wooden cover is ordered to bo placed over it. but it will not bo secure until tho footpaths arc properly formed and channelling made. 9. The lowering of the outlet of tho 71',- I drain, as ordered by the Board is nearly completed._ 10. I have written to Mr Roundtree, sen., saying that the Beard will lay a drain-pipe up to his boundary, provided he vill make the connection required through his ground. 11. In regard to the petition to the Board to cut a drain through rural sections 1171 and 1131 into the old Dudley creek, I find the levels are nn-uitable, unless the creek were hot orued up from a long way below. There would, however, bo a good fall if the drain were cut into the new Dudley Creek, lately deepened by the Board, and if this were done the drain could be entirely diverted from Philpot’s road, where it is objectionable on account of its width and depth. This would be a costly drain, and it wai objected to by owners of property long ago when proposed by me to the Board. Tt e clauses of the report were considered seriatim. Clauses 1,2, 3,4, 5, G, and 7 were passed as satisfactory. On clause 8, the engineer explained that such works as this were very difficult to carry out where no footpaths existed. On clause 11, the engineer produced a plan showing what he proposed to do some time back. Some discussion ensued on the question. Me Hobbs pointed out that with tho outcry as to rates in the Avon district, and the absence of the member for that district on the Board, he should oppose any expenditure in the district. Mr Duncan pointed out that a deputation of the residents of the district had waited on the Board, so that the Board knew what they required. He should suggest that a letter should be forwarded to tho deputation, explaining the whole matter and asking them to see the works committee of the Board, in whoso hands they might leave tho question. After some further discussion it was resolved that tbe engineer forward a letter to cna of the deputation containing tho descrip, tion of vrbat was proposed, also forwarding a tracing, and requesting the residents who had waif cc I on the Board to see the works committee with reference to the subject ; the result to bo reported to tho Board. The report as a whole was approved. Mr Hinge waited on the Board with reference to the filling up of the drain op tho canal reserve, permission to do which had been granted to the Avon Road Board. If this were done hie land would bo under water for six months out cf the year.

After Bomj diECussion, it was resolved that tho engineer be instructed to take stepa to affoid relief as desired by Mr Hinge. Mr Palmer -waited upon the Board with reference to a bridge;being put over the drain at Hew Brighten, so ae to enable him to get on to his land. The drain was a wide one, running right across the road in front of the section belonging to Mr Career. It was resolved that the application for the bridge as made bo acceded to, provided the drr.in wa? out by the Board, the bridge to be 182 t. wide with wings. Mr Palmer also referred to tho question of tho clearing of the branch drain, leading from Brittan’s drain, and asked the Board to clear ic out. Mr Palmer was refer; cl to tho Heathcote Bead Board, the drain in question never having beta taken over by tho Drainage Board. Mr Wray wailed on tho Board with reference to the clearing out of a drain running through Mr Horner’s land at Papanui, on section 304. He pointed cut that several cases of dysentery had occurred from tho offensive state of Inis drain. It was resolved that-Mr Wray bo requested to ask Me Horner to hand over tho care of the drain to the Board, and if this be done the Board would [undertake to keep the drain clear in future. If a reply were received from Mr Horner, expressing hio willingness to dedicate the drain, the engineer to take steps to have it cleaned out. The engineer was directed to have the sumps on the Ferry road cleaned out. A letter was rend from the City Council, declining to collect the rate for tho Board, as desired, for less than 5 per cent. Mr Bose moved—“ That the matter be referred to tho finance committee.” Aftor a little discussion, it was decided to pay tho 5 per cent, asked for collection; at the same time the Board had been of opinion that tho payment of a smaller amount would cover tho full share of the Board of the office expenses incurred in collecting the rates. A letter wag read from the city surveyor, calling attention to tho defective drainage of Horatio street, and suggesting that the Board should put down a gully in Horatio street, and connect it by pipes with the Antigua street sewer. It was decided to refer the work to the engineer. A letter was read from the Avon Hoad Board asking that the Beard would postpone the striking of the rate of lid in the £ ns contemplated until after the public meeting. A letter was read from tho same Board, stating that they were about to lower the Papanui road and form a footpath, asking whether the Board would pipe or otherwise cover in the drain enthe side of the road now open for storm water. The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Treasury, informing the Board that debentures amounting in nominal value to £IBOO had been forwarded, and would bo handed over to tho Board on payment of £1760. A letter was read from Mr Dickenson, asking the Board to put pipes across the road cn section 3X4 at St. Albans, ns a good fall would thus be procured. Tho letter was referred to the engineer to report upon at next meeting. A letter was read from Mr John Grierson, forwarding a report of the proceedings of a meeting held at Bingslandjto pretest against the lid rate, of which meeting ho was chairman. The chairman read the resolutions as appearing in the report ae follows:—“ 1. That this meeting desires to exproes its disapprobation of the action of the Drainage Board in discourteously refusing to Mr J. E. Brown, the member for the district, tho opportunity desired by him for considering the important financial statement which had been brought forward. 2. That this meeting is of opinion that all contracts let by the Drainage Board ought to be given to the lowest tenderer, when proper security i? given that the work will bo properly performed. 3 That this meeting is of opinion that as no refutation cf tho statements ir.ado by Mr Wadey in the public Press with respect to the non-acceptance of his tender has been made, tho Board bo requested to publicly state the rea-on for their action in this matter. 4, That tho attention of the Drainage Board be called to tho state of the river Avon, it being in a very foul condition.” The resolutions were then discussed ser'wtim. On the first resolution, Mr Duncan said he did not think the Board had acted at all dhcourteously. Mr Hobbs said that the reason for his vote was plain enough. The various local bodies were wailing for the appotoinment of the rate, so that be could not agree to any postponement. Last year Mr Brown had been appointed on the committee to allocate the rates, and had cot attended. The whole of the members at the late meeting had offered to remain until ten o’clock at night if Mr Brown wished to have information. Tho fact was Mr Brown wished to have the meeting postponed to suit his convenience, after the members offering to afford every possible opportunity. Mr Boss the ught the answer to the resolution should be that every facility was afforded Mr Brown to become acquainted with the

financial statement; that the Board offered to sit till ten o’clock that evening to give Mr Brown any explanation ho desired. It was resolved to reply that the Board had afforded Mr Brown every facility to acquire any information he required, but that he declined to avail himself of it. That public bodies wore waiting for the information contained in the statement to enable them to get out their printing, notices, &c, and the Board therefore could not delay any longer. On the second resolution, Mr Duncan said ho thought the reply should bo that the rates was struck in accordance with the amended Act of 1877, known as Brown’s Act. Mr Hall deprecated this lino of policy being adopted. After some further discussion it was resolved to reply that tho rating was levied in accordance with the provisions of tho Act of 1877, which provided that it should be in proportion to the expenditure in each district, and that full information as to tho details of expenditure in tho district could bp obtained on application at the office of the Board. The Board also desired to point out that whenever requests for works of a reasonable character were brought before tho Board they were carried out. On No. 3 resolution, It was resolved to reply that tho Board ns a general rule affirmed tho principle laid down in the resolution. On resolution No. 4, Mr Duncan pointed out that the City Surveyor had stated that morning that the work at Antigua otroet had not been carried out properly, Mr Hobbs said that they had that day agreed to pay £3 per chain to fill up holes and repair the roads, which would have been obviated if the work had been properly rammed. Mr Hall said he should desire to state that the Board were not unanimous in setting aside Mr Wadey’s contract. He himself was of opinion that it ought to bo considered. The Engineer said he should always advise the Board in connection with contracts that it would not bo right in accepting the lowest tender when it was very far below tbe estimate. This ho should always consider to bo his duty. Mr Hall contended that this was not a sufficient reason for setting aside Wadey and Oo.’s tender. If this wore tho reason ho should consider it as a disgrace to the Board. Mr Duncan said he desired to read the following memorandum sent to their engineer. The memorandum was as follows :—“ Memorandum from W. Brooks, inspector to Mr C. N. Bell, re Antigua street connections from main sower to street gullies. Dear sir, — Respecting the above I beg to inform you that twelve of the above connections have been reopened, and I find three connections packed with grass, as per sample herewith, in tho top parts of tho joints, the water soaking through the joints and grottnd and in the sewer. Tho other nine connections had nothing whatever around the joints, and the pipes vary badly laid, with broken pipes and very ununiform, and the whole of thowater from the street channels soaking through joints and ground into the sower. In one place a broken pipe was covered over with a piece of tin.” He should like to ask who was the contractor who put the connections down.

The Engineer said Wadey and Co. Mr Ross said that any man who had done such work as this was unfit to hold a contract. Tho Chairman said he had seen the work, and ho would most decidedly oppose any contract being given to any man who would do such work. Mr Bell said that he would never recommend the lowest tender when it was very low, and much below his estimate. Ho might say that the contractor who required least inspection was by far tho best. The reason why the connections were uncovered was that the soil had sunk, and the earth was washing into the sewers and silting up. They took up tho pipes, and found the wort done moat defective, the whole of the pipes having to be re-laid. Mr Ross trusted that with the experience before them the Board would ho most careful in the supervision of their work. After some further discussion, it was decided to reply—“ That the Board, in accepting the tender of Mr Parsons, have, in their opinion, studied tho best interests of tho ratepayers.” On resolution No. 5, Mr Duncan expressed a hope that tho Board would enforce the contract. Mr Ross said that ho hoped the temporising which had taken place would not be allowed to continue. Mr Hall wished to know how it was that, whilst tho Board had so large a staff at its disposal, tho public had to come time after time to bring such matters as this before the Board. It was resolved that tho reply to tho resolution be that tho engineer will be instructed to see that the terms of the contract for clearing tho river be strictly carried out. It was decided that the secretary communicate with Mr Grierson, as chairman of the Bingeland meeting, forwarding tho above answers to the resolutions, scnt.by him to the Board. A letter was read from Messrs Vincent and Co., calling attention to the fact that through the filling up of the open drain running parallel to tho North Belt, the surface drainage was thrown on the properties in the neighbourhood. The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was road from Mr Coleman, making an offer to share the expense of straightening the drain on his property at Enightatown, It was resolved to reply that the Board does not see its way clear to accede to the request made by Mr Coleman. Tho report cf the works committee was read, stating that at a joint meeting of the City Council works committee and themselves it had been resolved that the Board should pay £3 per chain for repairs necessary to Madras street, tho North Belt, and Antigua street, and £1 per chain over all other streets in the city, Tho report was approved. Several accounts having been passed, the meeting adjourned.