CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1998, 20 July 1880, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Monday, Judy 19. The usual weekly meeting of the Council was held at 7 p.m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Ayers, Lambert, England, Hulbert, Cuff, Yinoent, King, Bishop, Gapes, and Thomson. The debtor balance at the Bank was stated as being £931 7s Id. The receipts for the week were stated as being £1054 8s sd. Accounts to the amount of £5Bl 17s were passed for payment, Cr. King asked whether anything had been done regarding the removal of the urinal in front of the City Hotel. Cr. Lambert said that immediate steps would be taken for its removal. With regard to the vote for supply of shingle, Or. Cuff said that there was only £l5O left of the whole vote to carry them over the year. . Or, King said that the votes for special works Yoted by the Council had come out of the fund. The following letter was read from Mr W. White:— Christchurch, 17th July, 1880. His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch. Sir, I beg to direct your attention to the present condition of the surface drainage of the land adjoining the Lincoln road between the Scotch Church and the South town belt, especially at a block of sections including my property at the junction of the Lincoln road and the South town belt. The chief point to which I desire your consideration is that the footpath and street channel are formed at so high a level that it is impossible to run off the surface water into them, and the result is that during rain the water is impounded until it is lost by evaporation and soakage. To render this property available for healthy habitation it is imperative that the land should be properly drained, and this can be easily and cheaply effected by lowering the side channels and footpaths. The only other alternative is by underground drainage, the expense and inconvenience of which will be obvious when the subject is considered, for it would necessitate a complete system of pipe or other drains, connecting with arterial drains, with an efficient supply of water for flushing purposes at each habitation. Unless the pipes were of large size they would not carry off the storm water, and owing to the difficulty of access they canid not compare as to cleanliness and general healthiness to the open channel from which the scavenger can readily clear all obstructions by a few minutes’ work with the broom. The expense of lowering the road, with its side channels, would be infinitely less than the cost of an efficient system of underground drainage, and in general efficiency and economy (especially in case of repairs, or the clearing of obstructions) would be by far the cheaper. And it must be borne in mind that in this part of the town suitable outfalls already exist—viz , that portion of the Hagley Park drainage that leaves the Lincoln road near the junction of the Lincoln and Eiccarton roads, and the Windmill road stormwater channel. Therefore it is only necessary to remove the caused by the Lincoln road in this vicinity having been formed at too high a level, and then the surface water will run readily away by the above-mentioned outfalls. Belief can be afforded by lowering the side channels and footpath opposite the land between Selwyn street and the South town belt to the same level below the crown of the road, as they are near the High School boundary. The channel would then bo in both cases 2ft 10m below the crown of the road, and would not be more dangerous in one place than the other. I would not recommend that the concrete channelling he laid down until t‘-;o level of the crown of the°road is permanently settled, as I feel con. fident that when the level of the road is duly considered it will be found advisable to lower the side channel a few inches more. Bat for the present I would recommend that the crown ot tha road should not be anywhere higher above 1 the side channel than it is opposite the High School boundary—viz., 2ft 10m. I have also taken the levels of the side channel, footpath, and land below the crown of the road at two other places, where, I am sorry to say, tha channels have been concreted. At these points there is no reason why the channels should not have been laid, at such a level as would drain the adjoining land without making an unnecessarily high crown to the road, and I consider these channels will have to be altered to render the land suitable for healthy habitation. , . „ , I would beg to submit that the surface drainage should always bo conducted in open ° channels connecting with the natural outfalls ot

the country, and this view is also held by the engineer to the Drainage Board, as will be seen by a letter from Mr N. Bell to myself, copy of which X enclose herewith, together with a copy of my letter, to which it was an answer. I have, &c., _ w. White. To the Engineer, Christchurch District Drainage Board, Sir,—At the wish of several of the City Councillors I have taken the liberty of writing to you on the subject of the permanent leve.a of the Lincoln road. lam aware that the permanent level must soon be decided upon, and a level has already been proposed by the city surveyor, which level I am sure is too high, because it would cause the footpath to form an embankment along the block of sections before mentioned. I believe it is a decided fact that the Lincoln road must be lowered when the tramway is extended to Addington, and when the road is being broken up, it is of little consequence whether it is lowered a foot more or less. And I think there are hut few persons who would not agree that it would be very false economy to form the road so that the footpatn would make an embankment round the highest block of sections in the city. I would esteem it a great favour if yon would give mo your views upon the subject. I have, &c.. m (Signed) William White. Christchurch District Drainage Board, Hereford street east, 9th July, 1880. W. White, Esq. Dear bir, —In reply to your letter of this date. I quite agree with you that all streets should, if possible, be lower than the sections, and to such an extent that the properties can bo drained into the side-channels. In streets where there is no deep sewer, this lowering of the streets becomes a necessity, and if not carried out the greatest inconvenience is suffered by the residents. I have always understood that the dnty of the Drainage Board was to provide sewers or main drains to receive and convey away the water brought down by the side channels, and that the latter must be so placed as to allow the properties to drain into them. This arrangement has been very well carried out in the city, and the city surveyor has always kept the roads as low as practicable; it this had not been done, the inhabitants would have had to spend immense sums of money in raising their sections. I cannot give yon any opinion on the particular case of the Lincoln road, as I have not taken the levels of it. There is no doubt room to lower it if the city surveyor finds that necessary. I am, &c., (Signed) C. Napiee Bell. Cr. Gapes said the subject had been before the works committee some time, and it seemed to them strange that the highest sections in the city should be deficient in drainage. The surveyor hod been given to understand that if the channel were lowered still further it would be lower than the outfall at the junction of St. Asaph street. It was for the Council to say what should bo done. The committee, after hearing the surveyor’s opinion, could not do more than had been done. The surveyor said that when St. Asaph street was formed and channelled the Lincoln road was in the hands of the Selwyn County Council, and the City Council had no authority over it. Ho had worked to the level of the road, hence the streets now formed were too high to allow of what Mr White suggested being done. Cr. Thomson moved—“ That the letter be referred to the works committee.” He had visited the locality spoken of and saw the difficulty complained of by Mr While. _ The streets spoken of by the surveyor bad, it was true, been formed first, but to take off some nine or ten inches of these streets would not be so great an undertaking. The work of lowering the Lincoln road was the worst as far as regarded expense. There was no part of the Lincoln road which could not be drained into the side channels if the road were lowered say ten inches or a foot. He thought if the surveyor was authorised to have the surface of the Lincoln road reduced to its permanent level, the drainage of the surface water would be carried away. Now the footpath was above the sections and formed an embankment. If the Selwyn County Council and the Tramway Company were called upon to aid in the work, the City Council would not have a very largo expenditure to meet. The Tramway Co. could have their formation done and the sleepers laid, which would prevent the cost of the company taking up their metal. He thought the works committee should obtain an estimate for lowering the Lincoln road to its permanent level. Or. Ayers seconded the motion. Or. Bishop said that unless there was something beyond the boundaries defined in the Municipal Act the Lincoln road was outside the city. The Mayor said the position was this : That the City Council took over the management of the road and charged the cost of maintaining it to the Selwyn County Council. Cr. Bishop thought that this being so, it would be as well if the works committee ascertained the legal position of the Council as regarded the right to expend money on this road. The resolution was then put and earned. The surveyor’s report was read as follows : 1. The work on Latimer square has been retarded in consequence of the wet weather, but to-morrow *some men will start at it again. 2. Five cases of breaking the building bylaw were decided in favor of the Council this morning in the Resident Magistrate a Court, a £5 fine being inflicted in each case. 3. The channelling of Chapel street, Wilson street, and William street will be commenced at once. 4. The contractor has commenced delivering shingle on the North belt, the other streets which were more urgent bung finished. , , Or. Cuff moved—“ That the works committee be requested to use the utmost economy ■with regard to the purchase of shingle for the remainder of the year, consequent on the vote being almost expended, and that only works of urgent necessity bo taken in hand.” Cr. Vincent seconded the motion. Me noticed that several other items were a little overdrawn, notably contingencies. Cr, Thomson said the item of contingencies did appear to be a little overdrawn, as £SOO had been voted, and £lO4l expended. Or, King pointed out that the money placed at their disposal had been expended on boulders and small shingle for crossings and public streets. The boulders were to be provided by the Council for the employment of the old men. Cr. England would move as an amendment of the city surveyor, be requested to prepare a statement of the works upon which the metal has been need.” The Mayor stated that the motion ot Or. England was not in order as an amendment. The motion of Cr. Cuff was then put and carried. , ~ , Or. England then moved his proposed amendment as a resolution, which was seconded by Or. Gapes and carried. Cr. Hulbert drew attention to the disgraceful state of the right of way leading past the Scotch Stores from High to Lichfield street. Or. Gapes pointed out that this street was a private one. , , , The Surveyor said the street had been measured and the notices served on the owners. _ An application from Mr Tatton for reinstatement as a licensed cabman was considered at some length and declined. The Council then adjourned.