THE DRAINAGE AMENDMENT BILL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1934, 6 May 1880, Page 2

THE DRAINAGE AMENDMENT BILL.

To the Editor of the Globe.

Sir, —Pending the preparation of the formal statement ordered by the Drainage Board for the information of the ratepayers upon a great variety of subjects, it seems necessary that some notice of, at least, one or two statements which are being circulated through the District should be taken without delay. In a requisition, to be addressed to the Members of the Board, it is stated : “ bince that Meeting you have expressed adetermination to proceed with that Bill.”

The Board have done nothing of the kind. What they have done with respect to the Bill from the first is as follows :

Being prohibited by their compact with the ratepayers from allowing excreta to be put into the sewers, they have persistently refused permission for so doing. But believing that it would be to the interest of the ratepayers that the sewers should bo used for the above purpose, and being strongly supported in this opinion by the late Mr Clark, they have included in the new Draft Bill clauses empowering them to grant the necessary permission, and in some cases to make such use of the sowers compulsory. In order, however, that the ratepayers should have full notice of their intention, and full opportunity of objecting to the proposals contained in the Bill, copies of the Bill have been sent by the Board to all the road Boards and municipalities comprised within the drainage district. Replies have been received from only two of these bodies, viz., the Council of the Borough of Sydenham, and tho Avon Road Board ; these have been placed in the hands of a sub-committee, and their representations will receive the careful and attentive consideration of the Board.

Haying thus briefly explained the course which the Hoard have so far adopted, I will only add further—and in doing so I know that I express the opinion of the majority of the Board—tnat if it is made clear to them that a majority of the ratepayers object to night soil being allowed to be put into the sewers, the Board will abandon their application to be allowed either to compel or to permit connections for this purpose. It must, however, be remembered that many of the ratepayers are most anxious to be permitted to avail themselves of the late Mr Clark’s suggestions on the subject of water closets. I have the honor to, Sir, Your obedient servant, E. J. S. HAEMAN, Chairman, Christchurch District Drainage Board. May 61 h, 1880.