DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1944, 18 May 1880, Page 4

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of tho Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Mr B. J. 8. Harman (chairman), and Messrs Brown, Ross, Hall, Dunca", Hobbs, and Tanored. The Chairman said he had been requested to apologise for the absence of Mr Blakiston. The engineer's report was read as follows : May 17th, 1880. 1. I submit an estimate of tho cost of planting a quick hedge along thq outfall drain to the Ifistuary to supply the place of the present wooden fence, which requires constant repairs. A pirt of the Hoe of drain has a good gorse hedge, which will be rres'rve"*. 2. Ihavewritten to Mr Forest, of Manchester street, to say that the Board would allow him to build over the course of the creek which passes through his his section of land on the consideration that he provides a permanent culvert o£ briok or concrete, of a Bize to b 9 approved by the engineer. 3. I have instructed thet'oreman to t?.ko over the (brain through i&.i. 304, sou h of P.ipanui, and to include it in the echedule of drains to be cleared by contract. 4. In regard to the request made to the Board to cut a drain through R S. 1118 and 1192, tlie object of this is to drain more effectually the country at R.S 1134, 1153, 1157, 1171, 378. The drain called the main drain through these sections has a very slight fall to the southward, in consequence of which in heavy storms there is considerable flording of the country, and the water takes Beany days to drain off. By bringing up the fall from Dudley creek, as shown on the eection herewith, a fall of about 4.6 feet per mile could be obtained, the fall at present being only i.bout one foot per mile. This improved fall can be obtained either by deepening the old bed of the creek along the roadside bordering sectioas 1107. 1166, 1158. 2L53, 21G1, 5168, 2392, 1140, 1135, 1118, 1192, or by the creek turning through sections 1070, 1133, 2256, 1118, 1192. An estimate of the coat of each line is attached. The first would be principally through soft peat, the bottom of the old creek would require to be deepened and the sides sloped. This draia would pass through rural aeetioas 1118 and 1192, which is privateland, and is also in sandy soil, requiring protection to keep the sides up. The second line of drain is that which was deepened by the Board some time ago, and I contemplated at the time this was being done that it would require to be lowered, but did not do so at the time as the quicksand was very troublesome. I had willows planted to keep the sand from falling in, but these would not grow on account of the cattle cropping the young growth. A good main line of deep drain is essential for the effective drainage of the country north of Preston's road, and I think the line through raral sections 1070. 1138, 1118, 1192 is the best course, but if the drain is to be deepened it would be necessary to slope the sides still more and have it fenced on both Bide 3 to preserve it from damage by eittla. The sand at the bottom must be protected temporarily by manuka fascines and permanently by willows. By making flatter slopes, the width on topwill be greatly increased, and this would necessitate the purchase of land. The sand taken out of the drain must be spread on the neighboring fields, the soil being first removed, and the sand must then be covered over with Roil and earth so as not to injure tho laud. It will thus be seen that the drain will be very costly. The drain as it exists at present, drains the land pretty well, except on the occurrence of very wet weather; and farmers north of Winter's road complain that after heavy storms it takes a long time to get the water away from the fields 5. The pumping machinery is now beinar lauded and stored at Matheson's road. 6. Tho contractor for the pumping station is sinking a wooden cylinder as a sort of caisson in which to build the concrete tank, and he has mado good progress with the sinking of it in the sand. 7. The work of the Madras street storm water sewer is finished up to the South belt, and a considerable portion is finished along First street. The Railway Department is constructing tha part under the railway. 8. I have received several letters from Mr A. R. Preston, asking for compensation for the drain cut through his property at Merivale lane. Nothing has been done yet in the work of laying a pipe sewer in the drain, as the deeds securing the right-of-way are not yet prepared by th 9 solicitor. The different clauses were considered seriatim. With regard to the first it was resolved to let a contract for planting the fence with 200 two-year old plants to the chain, at per chain. Clause 2 was considered satisfactory, and No. 3 was also approved. Considerable discussion took place on clause 4, the Board deciding to oonstruct the drain from "point a to point g, oc the plan, so as to drain Winter's road. CI auses 5,6, 7, were passed as read, and in reference to olause 8, the matter referred to was left with Mr Brown to expedite, and the report as a whole was then approved. A recommendation from Mr Blakiston was received on behalf of Mr Rountree, to the effect that 20 feet of pipes should be laid on that gentleman's property, suojeet to the engineer's approval. It was decided to do the work proposed provided Mr Rountree gave his written request. A letter was read from the Town Olerk of Sydenham, enclosing resolutions passed at a public meeting in Sydenham, on Thursday last, in relation to drainage operations in that district. Tho resolutions (which have already been published) were read, and the Board resolved to postpone their consideration till later on. A letter was read from Mr Flesher and others, appointed a committee at the Bingsland meeting last week, asking the Board to appoint a time to meet a deputation from the Avon district re drainage. The Board decided to reply, appointing Monday, the 31st inst., to receive the deputation.

The Lower Heathcote School Committee wrote, complaining of a nuisance caused by defective drainage. It was resolved to reply that the Board regret the cause of complaint, and are hurrying on the drainage works to the outfall drain as fast at possible, and that the letter be referred to Mr Bell to report to next meeting as to whether any temporary relief can be afforded.

Messrs Izard and Loughnan wrote, as soli•cttors|f or Mr Qreengoe, claiming £SOO damages from the Board for breach of contract made between the Board and him on tho 18th day of July, 1879, for supply of shingle required in the construction of the pumping tank and main sewer in Tuam street. Referred to the works committee to report to next meeting. Several other letters of no general public interest were considered and attended to. A letter from the Heathcote Road Board was read, asking for certain connections to be effected with the Stanmore road drain, and the Board after consideration agreed to grant the request made, provided the Road Board would guarantee to look after the sumps ; and with regard to laying a pipe drain in Ollivier's road, the matter was referred to the engineer to report. This concluded the correspondence. The Chairman said the next matter for consideration was the report of the committee appointed to draw up a reply to the Mayor of Chriatohurch. The report was read and considered in committee. On resuming the report was adopted by the Board as follows : Christchurch District Drainage Board. May, 1880. To his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch. Sir,—The Board has under its consideration yaur letter dated April 30th, enclosing certain resolutions passed at a publio meeting held on the29th ultimo. The general effect of those resolutions was that the persons composing that meeting had no confidence in this Board as at present constituted. The terms in which' 'tbi3 resolution is expressed are of bo general a character as to make it very difficult to give a precise reply, «r to deal satisfactorily with the complaints against the intended action of the Board. Under these circumstances, thejßoard has been compelled to seek for specific causes of complaint in the speeches delivered at tho meeting, and in other expressions of opinion to be found in the newspapers. So far as the Board can gather from these sources, it appears that the amended Act, which the Board is seeking to promote, is the particular subject which has caused disapproval. Objections appear to .be raised against the following provisions of the amending isill:—

1. That in cases where house drains cannot be made to communicate with sewers they shall communicate with and be emptied into such covered cesspool or other place as tho Board shall direct. 2. That no house shall bo hereafter built without proper appliances for drainage 3. That it bhall be in the power of the Board to define what shall be main drains and what shall be sewers.

4. Those clauses of the proposed Bill which give to the Board tho power of introducing tho use of water closets connected with the sewers.

As to the first of these objections, the provision is introduced for the purpose of allowing the Boardto deal with exceptional cases of premises so situated as to possess no means of disposing of houseslops. At present thepe are emptied into the side channels, and so find their way into the rivers, or else they are left to Sutrefy on the premises. All that the Board eaires in seeking this_ power is to be ablo to put a stop to a state of things which may grow into a great evil. The second objection, that no house should in future be built unless proper drainage is provided, appears to the Board difficult to understand. It appears to the Board to bo a provision at a most salutary character wherever it can be

carried out. It is possible that some of the details might be modified without disadvantage. But the main principle, that in building houses proper appliances for drainage shou'd be provided, appears to the Board to be indisputable. Thirdly, as to the question of conferring upon the Board the power of defining what drains shall be main drains and what shall bp sswors. The Board understands that this objection arises from the fear that the drains dosiened_ for the carriage of storm water, and flowing into the rivera, may be declared sewers for carrying excreta. The Board does not intend ttvs and will be quite willing that the Bill should be so amended as to prohibit any such use being made of storm water drains. The fourth point is probably the one which forms the main objection to the Board's action. It refers to the power sought for by the Board to introduce the watercloset system. Tt is qnite trne that the Ttoard on a former occasion undertook not to allow excreta to go into the sewers But then it must be remembered tlmt the Board, and those who represented the objectors, cam" to an Agreement to consult some eminent engineer from England, who could speak authoritatively on the whole question. Mr Clark a name was mentioned, and it was t at be should decide upon the points upon which a difference of opinion existed. His dictum is distinctly in favor of introducing the watercloset system, if that system can be carried out without pol'uting the rivers or causiner any other nuisance. He has eiven in detail his plan, and the Board was under the impression that the inhabitants were content that h's advic should be followed. The Board is confident that sooner or later his system will bo adopted, but if the Board has mistaken the present feelings of tv>e ratepayers it is qui*e content to ex.iiso that part of the Bill which gives it this power fully persuaded as it is that this part also of Mr Clark's scheme will eventually commend itselt to those most nearly concerned. It may be worth while here to quote in full what Mr Clark says upon the subject, in clause 48 of his report. " The cost of the system of sewers is entirely unaffected by the admission or exclusion of excreta. Having therefore "constrncted the sewers, to omit this use of them is to foreero one of their most valuable advantages. Undoubtedly, for a considerable time to come, the pan system must be continued, and more or less till the sewer system is completed ; but deny the use of the sewers for this purpose to those ratepayors who desire it, would be to deprive them of an advantage for which they pay their share of the cost, and have a right to the full measure of benefit so purchased." While, therefore, the Board is strongly in favour or introducing this system it is quite willing so to modify the provisions of the Bill as to leave it to the inhabitants themselves to connect the water-closets with the sewers at their option. The whole question will then resolve itself into the question whether having sot the sewers the ratepayers should still be compelled to pay for the pan Bystem. The Board thinks it worth while to stito that Mr Clark's scheme is being strictly adhered to in all its details, and as special reference has bean made to the Ferry road drain as an instance of a departure from the scheme, it is right that the ratepayers shou'd be informed that Mr Clark fully approv»d of this work in substitution for the use of Jackson's creek.

In addition to the questions above referred to, two contracts recently let by the Board have formed tho subjects of public comment. We refer to what is known a 3 Wadoy'a contract, and the pipe contract. In the latter of these two cases the Board accepted what is admittedly the lowest tender : in the former they did not accent the lowest. It is manifest that in accepting the tender for the pipes the Board followed the rule which is admitted on all hands to be the right one in ordinary cases, it will, therefore, probably not be necessary to say anything upon this subject. As regards the contract for which the Board did not accept the lowest tender, the Board cannot do better than quote the words of the engineer upon this question :—" It is customary in public works to refer the tenders to the engineer, and to accept the one which ho recommends ; it is also usual for the engineer to recommend the lowest if there are no reasons for acting otherwise; but if the engineer thirks that a tender is too low, if he thinks the work cannot be done for the money, is he bound to recommend that the tender be accepted and chance the result ? I think not. In the general scramble for contracts in New Zealand under the Public Works, those contractors who failed becauee they had taken th« work too low are very numerous, and I think in every case the Government lost time and money by the failures. The contract for buildingthe sewer tank and deep sewers in quicksand is probably the most difficult piece of work that has yet been undertaken in New Zealand, and it would take many thousands to repair a failure in these works."

The Board knowing that this was an exceptionally difficult and critical undertaking felt bound to exercise exceptional care in accenting a contract, and accordingly felt bound in this case to take every reasonable precaution asrainst entailing the serious loss on the ratepayers which would have resulted from a failure of the contracter to carry out the work. Another question has been asked to which a very few words will it is tb-ught supply a satisfactory answer. The question may be stated in the following form. What is the meaning and intention of the amendment proposed in the Bill relating to the mode of ascertaining the amount of compensation? The answer to thi3 is that the process to be followed under the present Act is of so cumbersome and expensive acbaracter as to make it desirable that a more simple and economical mode of procedure should be adopted. The Board proposes to accomplish this object by means of the system provided under the Public Works Act in substitution for that prescribed by the Land Clauses Consolidation Acts. T he Board has already had experience of the great cost both to the Board and to those with whom a question has arisen, of the present system. Tho alteration will allow of all ordinary cases being disposed of by the Resident Magistrate. The last point to which it seems necessary to refer is the question of the apportionment of the cost of the Madras street stormwater sewer now in course of construction, and the purpose for which this sewer is to be used. It appears to be apprehended that the effect of this work will be seriously to pollute the River Avon, and to create a nuisance along the whole line of its course. The Board is at a loss to understand on what basis such a supposition restß ; the sewer is intended for the carriage of stormwater, not for the carriage of or excreta, but if the ratepayers are of opinion that its use should be specially 'guarded, the same course can be adopted as that suggested in the case of the definition of main drains and sewers referred to in the earlier parts of this reply. On the subject of the apportionment of the cost of the work, the Board begs to offer the following remarks :—the construction of the sewer has been undertaken in consequence of a strong representation from the ratepayers of Sydenham. The question received very careful consideration from the Board, and the direction which has been followed was decided on as being that which would best meet all the requirements of the case. When it was found that the best line for the sewer would be through the city, along the line of Madras street, the engineer at once decided to take advantage of it, and recommended that instead of the whole cost of the work being debited to Sydenham, the city should make use of it and bear half the cost. The Board can see no reasonable ground for the charge of injustice so strongly urged against it by some of the Sydenham ratepayers. The Board believes that it has now adverted to the main points upon which dissatisfaction has been expressed in regard to the general conduct of its business. It is quite impossible to point out and reply to all the inaccuracies of statement, not to say misstatements, which have from time to time been made in reference ta the Board's action, and the Board will, therefore, content itself with saying that the imptrfect information upon which those statements were made might have been corrected by application at tbe office of the Beard. With regard ', to the communication from Sydenham, read at an earlier period of the meeting, It was resolved to send a copy of the above report to the Mayor of Sydenham, with some additional information as to details bearing specially on matters dealt with at tho Sydenham meeting. Accounts were passed as follows : —Rate account, £239 12s lid ; loan account, £2783 Is 4d. Mr Duncan and Mr Ross were appointed a sub-committee to report as to laying out of the Sandhill Reserve, Mr Brown moved—" That the clerk be instructed to prepare and lay before the Board at its next meeting a statement showing the expenditure from the commencement of the Board's operations, under the several heads of engineering, salaries, commissions, offica, survey, and incidental."

The resolution was carried. After the transaction of some routine business, the Board adjourned.