DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1956, 1 June 1880, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, Mat 31. The usual meeting of the Board was held »t 2.30 p.m. Present —Mosars E. J. S. Uarman (chairman), Hobbs, Duncan, Hall, Ross, and Brown. Apologies were received from Messrs Blakiston and Tancred.

A deputation, comprising Messrs Grierson, Wilßon, Flesher, and other gentlemen, waited on the Board with reference to certain matters at Bingsland. Mr Grierson introduced the members of the deputation, and asked Mr Flesher to explain the object of their visit. Mr Flesher stated that the residents of Bingßland felt that the wants of the district had been ignored by tho Board in their reply. Since 1877 the rates in Bingsland for four years had produced over £BOO, whilst the expenditure, including a share of inspection and office expenses, had only been about £2OO for the four years, so that the Board had received over £SOO more than they had expended. The Bingsland people felt that it was unfair that a cottage population should be charged a heavier rate to carry out drainage works on swamp lands, and it was felt that the cost of draining this swamp land Bhould be put on the owners of it. Bingsland was now thickly populated, and it was neoessary that drainage should be furnished. Again, he desired to pointout that the sewage pipes laid down were of [little use to them, as they were not allowed to oonnoct therewith. The consequence was that the land waß waterlogged and flooded. As the Board had told them that they could not give them any relief by reducing their rates, they asked the Board to execute such works as would give them relief from the evils which now existed, owing to there being no means of getting rid of the storm or surface water. What they suggested waß that pipes should be laid along the North A.von road to the river, enabling connections to be made therewith by properties in th 9 locality. Mr Grierson had received quite a number of letters on this subject, all of which spoke of tho evils under which the residents labored, and he trusted the Board would consider what could be done to carry out their request. The other members of the deputation alao spoke on the subject, alleging that,_ though paying high rates, they had had nothing done for them. In reply to a question from Mr Hobbs, Mr Flesher Baid that Mr Brown, the member for the distriot, had been shown over the distriot, and had explained to him what the residents required. Mr Grierson suggested that it would be as well for tho members of the Board to go over the proposed line. The Chairman Baid he'thought this would be the best way, bo as to enable the members to become acquainted with the line proposed for the pipes, as suggested by Mr Flesher. Mr Hobbs said he desired to point out that Mr Clark's system was a duplicate one. One part of the system waß by making use of creeks, &c, for the storm and flood water; the other by means of pipe sewers to ' ake the sewage water. Where connections hadbeenrefused, it; was simply because to put flood and storm water into the sewers would choke them up. Besides the deputation must remember that the Board had only been at work two years, and had already done a large amount of work in the time. Mr Flesher contended that a great amount of improvement had been effeoted on many swamp lands, whilst the spots where the population had settled had not had any attention. They therefore contended that it was unfair to make the cottage population pay for draining swamp land. Mr Grierson supported tho statements of Mr Flesher.

Mr Ross said that what he understood the position of the question to be was this—that Bingsland,had not in tho past roooivod that attention which it should have had, but that it was the intention of the Board to do justice to it in the future. Mr Grierson thanked the Board on behalf of tho deputation for the courtesy with which they had been received. The deputation then withdrew. Mr Hobbs moved—" That the engineer be requested to report upon the best system of providing for the drainage of storm and surfaoe water from the district known as tho Bingsland district, extending from tho East belt to the Avon east of the Stanmore road, and from Shirley road north of the populous part of this distriot, south to the River Avon; and further to report at an early date on the works which will bo neoessary to extend Mr Clark's system for sewerage drainage to the same district. That a deputation of thus Board, consisting of the chairman, Messrs Brown, Ross, and the mover, be requested to inspect the distriot with the engineer."

Mr Hall seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Tho report of the engineer was read as follows:

Before advertising for the construction of a I drain through R.S. 1118,1192,1 submit estimate for the same, under the condtion authorised at tho last meeting. I think it would be necessary to t*ke a strip of land for this portion as wide as will admit of the drain being subsequently deepened according to the design first submitted. This would obviate disputes with the owners of property both at present aud in future. I must also recommend that a strip be taken along the drain though RS 1070. 1138, 1071, as this part will require to be deepened and properly re-'doped, which cannot be done without acquiring some land. in reg rd to complaints from tho Heathcote school committee of a nuisance from the mouth of tho Bswer on Ferry road, I have given direc tion to h ivo it flushed out, as tho tide causes doposits to bo formed near the moufh of the sowor, and this is probably the reason of the annoyance co oplaiued of. The requoHt of the Heathcote Road Board for additional gullies in Stanmore road, I think should be complied with; the gullies should be of timber until tho road assumes more of the rha-acter c-f a street, when concrete gullies may be put in. I have agriin written to the solicitors asking for deeds for the right-of-way wanted to lay a pipe from Merivale lane to tho swamp in tho Jarltou paddocks, but thoy aro not yet ready for signature, owing to differences in surveyß.

Tho works of the Madras street sewer are making fair The railway department is pushing forward the construction of the part nn er tho railway, and the contractor has laid the cmcreto invert to within a chain or ao of Colombo road South, and has part of the same already arched, and the double bell-mouth junction on the Son'h belt is finished.

'i'h.! contractor for the pumping station has sunk tho wooden cylinder about 20ft, and i 3 making good progress with scooping out tho sand under water.

JVearly all the machinery has been landed, and I have men employed in cleaning and painting it, Tho Board went into committee to consider the report. On resuming, the Chairman reported that tho first clauue of the engineer's report had been agreed to, and that the Board approved of his suggestions contained therein being carried out, so far as regarded tho drain through R.S. 1118 and 1192, leaving the other portion of land to bo acquired hereafter. Oa clause 2, the engineer was directed to have the work carried out.

On okuae 3, it was resolved that the pipes bo at once put down in Morivale lane, Mr 801 l to get a letter of coniient from the property holders. The remainder of the report was approved. The Chairman said ho wished to ask the diroction of the Board with regard to the Amendment Bill. He saw from the reported speech of Mr Andrews that he intended to oppose the Bill. Messrs Stevens and Richardson advised that the Bill should not be procpeded with during the present session because there would be opposition to it. Personally he did not think that the majority of the ratepayers were opposed to this Bill. He was, however, of opinion that the advice of the hon. members should be accepted, and the B.il withdrawn.

Mr Duncan said that before the Board arrived at the conclusion to withdraw the Bill he wished to see preserved those sections of the Bill which provided for additional representation being given to Sydenham. He therefore thought that the Board should retain that part of the Bill granting that additional re presentation to Sydenham to which it was justly entitled.^ Mr Hobbs said it was very satisfactory to find that the City Council endorsed those clauses of the Bill which the outside public had so strongly oppoeed. He thought, howover that the advice of the two membore should be adopted. Mr Roes said he could not sufficiently express his astonishment and surprise at the conduct of the ratepayers in allowing a system of pipos and sewers to be carried out, and then refusing" to allow them to send anything into them. The Chairman said he had received a letter from tho Avon Road Board, forwarding additional reasons why more representation should be granted to the district. He thought therefore that it would be as well to read it. The letter was read from the chairman of the Avon Road Board, urging again the desirability of the Board being represented at the Drainage Board, and giving a number of statistics showing why the district was entitled to further representation. The Chairman said, with regard to the Bill, they would have to instruct the member who migh't have charge of the Bill that the Board consented to the abandonment of all the clauses, except those giving additional representation to Sydenham. They could not give increased representation to the Avon, but it could be done in Parliament. It was resolved that the Board withdraw the Bill altogether from the present session of Parliament.

A letter was read from the City Council, informing the Board that the Church Property Trustees had refused payment of the Drainage rate for 1879. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman. A letter was road from the Avon Road Board requesting the Drainage Board to repair the roads in the Avon district alleged to have been damaged by drainage works. The matter wag referred to the engineer to take action. A letter was read from Mr Barker with respect to the state of the outfall drain at New Brighton, on the land of Mr E. N. Coreer.

The engineer reported that the matter was boing attended to. A letter was read from residents in Strickland street calling attention to a dangerous part of Jackson's creek, near the street in question. The writers were referred to the proprietor of the land, pointing out that he should be requested to dedicate the street to the Road Board, when the latter could do the work. A letter was read from Mr Green, at St. Albans, calling attention to the pestilential state of the drain near Orescent road.

The engineer said that the sewer pipe went right up paßt these sections of Mr Green's, but he would not connect with the sewer, which caused the nuisance he referred to. After some discussion, it was resolved that the matter be brought before the Local Board of Health, Mr Green being informed that the remedy would be for him to connect with the sewer pipe. Letters were read from other residents at Knightstown with reference to the filling up of tho drain by tho Road Board. After some discussion, it was resolved that Messrs Hall and Brown confer with the Road Board on the subject. A letter was read from the residents on Laine's land, at Avonside, pointing out that their lands were flooded through defective drainage, and requesting attention to the same.

The matter was referred to the engineer. A letter was read from the Sydenham town clerk, forwarding resolutions passed at a meeting of burgesses respecting tho reply of the Board to resolutions passed at a formei meeting. The Chairman said that the Board should take notice of the statement that the books of the Board had not been audited, which was not a fact. With regard to the requisition as to bringing into force the Regulation of Local Elections Act, tho Drainage Board could not take action on the request of one part of the district.

Mr Duncan said he thought Mr Bell should answer the charge made publicly against him of being interested in foreign drainage pipes because he receivod 5 per cent, commission.

Mr Bell said he need hardly assure the Board that there was not the slightest particle of truth in the statement. He desired publicly now to state that it was a deliberate falsehood.

Tho Chairman said he had forwarded the following answer to the resolutions passed at a meeting held on the 13fch inst.: — Christchurch District Drainage Board, Hereford street, May 25th, 1880.

To Hia Worship the Mayor of Sydenham, Sir, —The Board have had under their consideration tho town clerk's letter of the 14th inst., forwarding resolutions adopted at a public mcetiDg held on the previous evening. The subject matter of the resolutions generally, they think will bo beat answered by the reply which haß been addressed to His Worship the Mayor of Christcharch on tho same subject, I therefore enclose a copy of the same herewith. But, in reference to what 33 known as the Madras street sewer, now in course of construction, to which particular exception was taken by those present at I the meeting on the 13th inst., I am requested to add the following statements.

On the 30th June, 1879, a deputation, consisting of His Worship the Mayor of Sydenham and Cr. White, waited upon the Drainage Board and urged upon thorn the necessity of making provisions for carrying off the stormwater- from Colombo road, aad a considerable portion of the

most thickly populated portions of the Borough. The Board at once placed the matter in the hands of the engineer, and after giving _ the matter very careful consideration, ho submitted the follow ; ng plans for effecting tho object : Ist. A sewer along the Gasworks road to the Heathcrte, at a cost of say (£8500) eight thousand five hundred pounds. 2nd. A drain along the railway into Jackson's Creek, and thence alone the creek to the Heathcote, at a coat of (.8 BOO) four thousand three hundred pounds, e xelusive of compensation for deepening the creek. 3rd. A sewer from the intersection of Third street with Colombo street, Sydenham, and along First street and Madras street to the Avon, at a cost of £7820, to be tharcd equally between Sydenhan and Christchurch, thus making the cost to Sydenham £3910. On the 26th January, 1880, a deputation of ratepayers, represented by Mr Lockwood, again waiced upon the Board, and strongly urged the claims of thos'.< residing in the neighborhood to ths relief which had been already asked for. The Board had meanwhile les a contract for a sever alonar the line of Madras street, and this is row approaching completion. It will be observed that its cost is considerably h' low that of either of tho other works suggested by the Engineer. On the subject of storm-water drainage generally, the Board think it advisable to mention that Mr Clark considered this part of the question coald bo dealt with m .re satisfactorily by Mr Bell than by himself, and that both in his tstirmite for " outle.s for storm-water" (col. Ci) cf report), and in his subsequent approval of the Ferry road sever as now constructed, he cndoned tho opinion expressed by Mr Bell. It w«s resolved that the letter be acknowledged.

Accounts to the amount of £903 14s Id on loan account, and rate account £ll2 4s Bi, weie pas»ed and ordered to be paid. Tho sum of £2OO was advanced to the Local Board of Health. The Board then adjnu r ned.