DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1968, 15 June 1880, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Hr Harman (chairman) and Messrs H. J. Hall, J, V. Bobs, 0. B. Blakiston, A. Duncan, J. E. Brown and F. Hobbs. The Chairman reported that the sanction of the Board to the assignment of the contract from Mr Parsons to Messrs Wood, Stand and Co. had been endorsed as authorised by the Board. An apology was made for the absence of Mr Tancred, at present in the Nelson provincial district. Mr Brown drew attention to the fact that a sewer was being cut through Mr Abbott’s old nursery at Merivale, and the trees were being ruthlessly cut about by men who did not understand the value of such planting. Mr Abbot had stated that he would resist further progress in the work, and he (Mr Brown) had taken the responsibility of stopping proceedings till the Board could consider the matter. The Chairman said he was aware of what Mr Brown had done, and so far approved. The matter was allowed to stand over till a later stage. Mr Coleman, at this stage, waited on the Board to ask that the water course running through his land should be altered, and put into the bed of St. Albans Creek, which was its proper channel. In the course of a discussion which ensued the engineer explained that, according to the deed under which the properties were de scribed, the creek was stated to run between that of Mr Coleman and his ne’ghbor, but the latter in the course of years had gradually diverted the creek till it now ran entirely through Mr Coleman’s property. In reply to the Chairman, Mr Coleman said he wanted a mw channel cut, and would bear half the expense. On the motion of Mr Duncan, it was re solved to refer the matter to the member for the district and the engineer, to report to next meeting. , At this stage Mr Preston waited on the Board in reference to a 'claim for compensation he had previously advanced, and of which he said the Board had not taken any notice.

The Chairman informed Mr Preston that the Board would consider the matter, which they proceeded to do on his retiring.

It was pointed out that the question involved was connected with that to which Mr Brown had drawn attention at .the beginning of the meeting. After some discussion, during which Mr Brown expressed the opinion that the work being undertaken at Morivale involved a wasteful expenditure of money, it was resolved that the Chairman, Mr Boss, and Mr Brown be appointed a committee to inspect the work and report. With regard to Mr Preston’s claim for compensation, the consideration of it was postponed till after the report of the above committee. The report of the engineer was read as follows: June 14th, 1880. 1. I have examined the creek on the Bicoarton estate which Mr J. Haling wrote about, asking to be allowed to fill up part of it in his section, being Section 37 of the sale plan. At present tho drainage of the road, called the railway approach, drains into the creek, bnt this can be divot ted into that part of the creek which falls into the Avon at Wood’s mill, and the filling of the creek in Mr Maling’s land would require the creek north of the road to be kept open. At present it is obstructed by cross roads without pipes under them. If this is done I cannot see much objection to allowing Mr Haling to fill up the creek on his section (No. 37). No doubt similar requests will ultimately be made for all of the creek downto the Eiccarton road, which, if fdlowed, would cut off a very convenient channel for draining the roads of this township, and pipes would require to be laid to take the place of it. 2. I would call the attention of the Board to the necessity of doing something for the surface drainage of part of the Crescent road—the drainage of properties having been rendered impossible by the ditches being filled up. 3. With regard to tho laying of pipes in Ollivier’s road and filling up the side ditches which are very deep, I find that this road is very low and the inclination for a pipe would be so flat that it could not be kept clear of deposits. The inclination would bo about lin 800. If, however, pipes were laid for five chains only, a fall of 1 in 500 could bo obtained for them, which would do to keep them clean. This would not allow of the ditches being filled up altogether, but they might be made shallower and tho deepest part filled np. This is a half measure which would probably not give entire satisfaction, and in cases of this kind the best plan is to lower the road so that the side drains may not be so deep, and ultimately to make concrete aide channels. 4. With regard to the sewer in Ferry road, Ollivior’s lane is the lowest of any of tho cross roads; the bottom of tho ditch 15 chains np from the Ferry road being only I.sft. above the springing of the arch of the sewer. If five or six chains of pipes were laid, the road i might be cut down and sloped, inclining both ways to the end of the pipe, and this would make the work to be done in lowering the road : much loss than if it were uniformly cut down with a slope towards the Ferry road. With regard to the first clause, it was, after a conversation, agreed that the matter re- ■ ferred to therein should stand over till next meeting, Mr Hall in the meantime to inspect * and report. In reference to clause 2of the I report, it was resolved to lay pipes from the 1 sump at Rountree’s to Ogden’s corner, Mr ' Bell being authorised to have the work proceeded with at once. Clause 3, referred to I Mr Duncan and the engineer, the former 1 having authority to sanction the laying of pipes to the extent of eight chains, on con- i dition of the Boad Board lowering the road i to suit this arrangement. Clause 4 was 1 approved without discussion, and the report i as a whole was passed. The Engineer reported that progress hod been made with the pumping station, the result being considered highly satisfactory. The Board then proceeded to consider the correspondence. i A letter was road from tho City Council, i forwarding resolutions arrived at in conaidera- - tion of the proposed Bill to amend the Christchurch District Drainage Act. The resolutions were :—lst. “ That an amendment i be drafted that the Mayor of Christchurch i and the Mayor of Sydenham should be ea; ! officio members of the Drainage Boardi 2nd. '• That a clause be drafted that one-third i of the Board should retire annually.” It i was resolved to reply that it was rot in- ) tended to uroeeed with the Bill this seat ion. i

A letter from the Sydenham Borough Council was read, requesting that the Board would take steps during the present session of Parliament to give Sydenham representation on the Board as promised. The Board decided to send a similar reply to that decided on in reference to the preceding letter. A letter was read from Frank Mulholland, of Phillinstewn, drawing attention to a letter he wrote'to the Council as to compensation for damage to his cab. A discussion arose as to which body was liable to entertain the claim, and the matter was left in the hands of the chairman to obtain a legal opinion. From Elisabeth Watson, a letter was received as to an [agreement sent by the Board for her signature, and stating that she would be willing to sign only on the understanding that the Board should fill up to the level the portion of Free’s creek which now runs through her property, free of any cost. The Engineer said the work proposed could bo done, but not without expense to the Board. The matter was referred to a committee formerly appointed on the subject. From Messrs Harper, Harper, and Scott as follows: — To the Chairman, &c.

Sir—Wo have the honor to inform yon that we have been instructed by Mr Charles Allison, jun., a ratepayer of tha Sydenham and Spreydon districts, to give yon notice that he intends, thinking himself aggrieved by the rate of 9d in the £,, which, by an advertisement bearing date the 4th day of May, 1880, it appears the Board intends to make, to appeal against such rate to the District Court of Christchurch, at the sitting of the Court which shall take place next after fourteen days from the date hereof. The Chairman said there said was nothing in the letter to go upon. Mr Hall said the letter appeared to be merely a threat, as the party could take action without that notice.

The letter was ordered to be acknowledged, A letter was read from Mr William MoAdam, stating that he would be to examine into the wants of this community, and recommend the best and most economical mode of dealing with the drainage of the city, the disposal of the excreta, &0., for the Board, and enclosing a testimonial from the engineer’s office, Clyde Navigation, Glasgow, salting forth his (Mr Mo Adam’s) experience as chairman of the Glasgow Waterworks and in other positions of trust. Mr Duncan suggested that a reply should be sent to the effect that the Board had no opening at present. In accordance with this suggestion the secretary was instructed to file the application, and reply that there was no opening. The Chairman stated that letters had been received from Mr J. W. Treadwell, who represented that he was deputed to act for the City Council, Sydenham Borough Council, and the Avon Boad Board, and obtain an interview with the Board on their behalf, to discuss the question of the Board’s account, the excessive rate, and other matters ; but ho (the chairman) found on enquiry that, neither of the two first-named bodies had expressed a wish for an interview with this Board, and had certainly not deputed Mr Treadwell on their behalf, and that gentleman had been made acquainted with the information thus obtained. The correspondence referred to was then read.

The action of the chairman in the matter was approved. Mr Summerhays wrote, asking the Board to fill in Free’s creek, next to Stewart’s nursery, Unless this were done he could not deal with his property, which was affected by the creek. It was resolved to send Mr Summerhays’ letter to the Avon Bead Board, with a copy of the resolution formerly passed by the Drainage Board, and a letter from Mr Bell. Accounts were passed as follows :—Loan account, £513 10s 3d; rate account, £lO4 17s 2d. Tenders were accepted as follows : —For Buller’s drain, Dodd and 00., £275 10s 5d ; for quicks, Moffatt and Jackson, 4s fid per chain.