DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2034, 31 August 1880, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Tho regular fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch District, Drainage Board was held yesterday afternoon at half-past two o'clock. There wero present—Mr Harman (chairman), Mr H. J. Hall, Mr F. Hobbs.Mr H. J. Tancred, Mr J. V. Ross, and Mr J. E. Brown.

The Chairman submitted a report on certain streets, and asked for authority to have pipes laid, &c, in urgent cases. The Board gave the Chairman authority to purohase necessary pipos and call for tenders. The engineer's report was read as follows :

1. I have not yet procured the consent of all the owners of properties situated en the drain at Knightstown west of Crescent road, which the Bourd directed to be cut when such consent was obtained. As it is generally very difficult to get all parties to agree in tuch cases, and the improvements urgently needed are thereby delayed or altogether obstructed, the Board will probably see the advisability of proceeding with Buch work, provided the majority of those concerned desire that the work should proceed. The above also applies to the drain required to be cat on U.S. 367. The trustees of the late Mrßing will not consent to its being cut in the direction found to be most advantageous, except under conditions which I should not recommend the Board to agree to. 2. In regard to the drain through Mr Atkinson's section, between Fourth and Fifth streets, Colombo road South. This drain was opened in 1877 through Mr Atkinson's section to drain a number of small properties whose owno-s petitioned the Board for better drainage. The only efficient drainage for these properties is through the said section, and if Mr Atkinson objects to_ an open drain, a pipe should be laid and the ditch filled in over it. (Jn the first occasion, the drain was opened and partly piped at the Board's expanse, and the qnestion of the cost of piping the whole dista ce of about two chains again arises. (3)1 have examined Mr Joneß' section in Papanui road, 'i he cause of complaint is the damming up of artesian water in the old bed of Free's Creek. Mr Rutland has filled np his portion, and he says he considered he was aUowc-d to do so in compensation for giving the site for the new drain. The only remedy is to lay a 1 ne of 6in. pipes from the old bed of the creek in Mr Jones' section to the new pipe sewer from Merivale lane; by this means all the stagnant water will be drawn away and the artesian wells still allowed free play to flow. (4.) Regarding Mr Little's application to be allowed to widen the cree't running through his property, U.S. 213, Papanui road, I understand from an inspection that Mr Little's object is to get earth to fill np low places in his section, and I would recommend that the Board do not consent to his interfering with the bank of the creek for such purposes. (5.) Arrangements are being made to rent a piece of lind from Mr C. Kiver, on which to Btore pipes and material. The position is very conveniently situated. (6.) ! Mr Collier haß again applied to have the drain through his land covered in or removed, and no anßwer has been received from the authorities of the Female Refuge. (7.) I would call the attention of the Board to the Avon Road Board having altered the level of the side channel in Chapel stratt, St. Albans, which_ renders the grating of the gully recently put in too high. Their workn; en have cnt a hole in the gully, and so left it without any grating or other protection to keep obstructions out of the sewer. If this practice be repeated, great damage may be occasioned to the sewers, especially the pipes; and when the Koad Board alters the levels, they shonld be called on to relay the gullies and pipes to new lvveln, and in a proper manner, or request this Board to do it at their cost. The same thing has been done before by the Road Board in Crescent road, near Mr Roadie's corner. A crack has occurred in the Feny road sewer at the place where the contractors had great difficulty with springs in the quicksand, I have given instructions to divert the water and reoair the crack. 9. Tenders will be submitted for the construction of a storm-water sewer in Carlton terrace, from the river as far as the swamp. I propose, when this is finished, to lay the pipe across the swamp by day-work, as the foundations are very deep, and the work to be done in crossing it cannot be accurately defined. 10. The pumping tank has the concrete floor laid with brickwork, and the result appears satisfactory. A few biudll leaks in the joints of the brickwork can, no doubt, be stopped when the mortar has thoroughly sot. The report was considered clause by clause. In reference to the first a report from the inspector was read as to a nuisance in Keatley road, off Edgeware road. It was resolved to carry out the recommendation of the engineer. Olauße 2. The Board resolvod_ to lay pipes for the remainder of the distance. With regard to clause 3, it wag decided to let the matter stand over for the present, the parties concerned to be communicated with in the meantime. Clauses 4 and 5 were approved. Clause 6. The Board resolved to grant Mr Oollior's request. On clauße 7 it was determined to writo the Avon Road Board, enclosing copy of this clause. The report was then adopted as a whole.

Embodied in the above, a report was read and adopted as follows : The committee. appointed at last meeting of the Board On August 16tU beg to report that having carefully considered the several tenders submitted to them, they came to the conclusion that Mr Kiver's section in Colombo street south was the most suitable, and have accepted his tender, possession to be taken on the Ist of October next.

The correspondence received sinco last meeting was then considered. Among the letters received were the following:— From Mr J. Barrett, contractor, Baking the Board to remit certain fines (£137 10 ) for non-performance of contract within specified time.

The engineer appended a memo, to the effect that the Board might inflict a nominal fioe without prejudice to the case as a precedent.

The Board agreed to reduce the fine to £37 10s.

From Mr A. Parkerson, containing an explanation as to his claim for damage done to his property in deepening Jaokaon's Creek in Windmill road. The Chairman informed the Board that he had since received a letter from Mr Parkerson suggesting that the Board should join him in the expense of putting down two brick walls in the direction indicated by the letter.

It was resolved to let the matter stand over for the present. F.-om Mr Holmes, solicitor, claiming, on behalf of Mr Ephraim Toomer, the sum of £SOO, compensation for damage done to his dwelling-house by reason of the machinery erected by authority of the Board in Malhoson's road. Resolved that Mr Holmes bo informed that the chain pump which hid caused the nuisance had been taken out.

From Mr H. C lianauzs, calling attention to want of drainage in New street, Madras street North.

The Chairman explained that this ma'.ter had already been referred to in the report submitted by him at an earlier stage. From Mr C. Fife, requesting the Board to fill up the south drain at the back of his property. It was decided to write Mr Fife informing him that the matter was not being lost eight of.

From Mr J. Johnston, requesting the Board to close the drain running from New etreat to Salisbury street. The Board deoided to nil in a portion of the drain.

From the Church Property Trustees, stating that they could not drain off the water lying on part of the Church Reserve, at the junction of Selwyn street and South town belt, because the road and footpath had been raised, and requesting the Board to provide some outlet for the drainage of that part of the town.

A memorandum from the engineer was to the effect that permission could be btained to connect with the public sower on the South town belt; and it wbb resolved that a reply be written to the trustees, embodying this information.

A letter from Mr Haskins, requesting the Board to continue sewer pipes along Colombo street to the North belt, was referred to the Engineer to report. Tenders were opened for the Merivale storm water sewer, and that of Mr Mortimer was accepted. Accounts having been passed for paymeßt, The Board adjourned.