DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2070, 12 October 1880, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Messrs Hobbs (elected to the chair), O. Cuff, W. White, O. R, Blakiston, and Boss. The Engineer's report was as follows : 1. In regard to the request of Mr Hooper to have a drain in the road bounding his land at E.S. widened and cleared out, I have given instructions to have this done, as directed by the Board. I find however that the drain on the west side of the road is a large and deep drain, and is more used for the drainage of the locality. Neither of the drains were taken over by the Board, and I will require authority to include both in the contract for clearing if the Board wish to take them over as public drains. The cost to clear cut these drains would be about £ 14, and about £9 per annum to maintain them.

2. I have examined the piece of land belong, ing to Mr Stephenson which is cut through by the new drain. K.S. 1118; the amount of land taken is one-fifth of nu acre. A triangular piece is, however, severed by the drain from the rest of the field, os shown on the plan. The value of land in the neighborhood would ho about £SO per acre. A drain exists on the site of the present drain, so that the one cut by the Board is not entirely a new feature in the properties. 3. Messrs Preston, Low and Harris request the Board to clean out and deepen the old crock bed in B.S. 224 and 234, from the Styx railway station. This is the old course of the creek the bottom of which is from six to ten feet below the level of the fields, so that no drainage is affected by ths condition of it. There are thirteen culverts under roads all more or le?s choked by willow roots and buried in the sand, as the banka of the creek are much higher than the field, there in no drainage into it, except a short length of railway side drain at the Styx. The creek bed is full of roots, Maori heads, and willow trees. In winter the water rises two feet deep, and in summer it soaks away, leaving the creek dry. I think the Board should require the Road Board to maintain the culverts under the roads ; but it would cost about .£l7 to clear out the creek, and I don’t see that there is much necessity for this expense being incurred. 4. I examined St. Albaus creek, through the property of Mr Matson, but I could not ascertain the subject of his complaint, unless it be that the water is muddy, which is canned by the ducks and swans swimming in it. The inspector should be instructed to see that the filth is not drained into the creek from houses along its course.

5. la regard to the drain at Carew’s road, near the Government workshops, which the Board authorised to he cut, the chairman of the Riccarton Eoad Board represents that the only position in whi-h the drain will be of service to drain the sections is close to the boundaries. I hesitated to cut it in this position, feeling that the residents would claim from the Board a bridge over the drain opposite every property. Mr Hall assured me that this will not be required, and if so, I would recommend that the drain ho cut, as the land is very wet, and the properties are almost uninhabitable in winter. 6. The stormwater sewer at Carlton terrace will shortly be finished, when the old course of the creek will not be wanted any longer, and may be filled up. 7. I submit an estimate for stormwater sewers required in Bingaiand, also the estimated cost of sewage pipe on Mr W. Clark’s plan. 8. The ship Eemonstrant brought out 600 barrels of cement among its cargo of pipes, which I was authorised to take over at 14s. This has not yet been paid for, and the shippers have asked that the account be settled. 9. The work of the main sewer in Tnam street Fast is progressing favorably under considerabl» difficulties from the quicksand. 10. The pipe from the street gulley at the Garrick Hotel into the City Council sewer having sunk over the old excavation, I have had it diverted to solid ground and relaid. 11. Sewer pipes have been laid in High street, Knightstown. and in North street. 12. I submit a copy of an apology from the "Rangiora Standard” newspaper, as published in all the papers in New Zealand, for the insertion of a libel on me in respect to taking commission on the importation of pipes. The clauses of the report were considered seriatim and variously dealt with, the Bingsland question being postponed. The report, as a whole, was then approved. A letter from the Returning Officer of the Heathcote district was read, announcing the return of Mr 0. Cuff as a member of the Drainage Board for that district, vice Mr Duncan resigned. From the Avon Road Board, calling attention to the foul state of the River Avon in certain places. The engineer reported that tho matter was being attended to, and it was resolved to reply to that effect

The Avon Road Board also wrote requesting that tho ditch on Carlton terrace might bo filled in at once, it being no longer required for drainage purposes. It was resolved to reply that the Board would abandon the old creek for purposes of drainage. From Mr Norman, asking the Board’s permission to fill up a drain running through his land.

The Board decided to reply to the same effect as in the previous case. From Mr W. Taylor, who complained of insufficient drainage on Wilson’s road and a nuisance at Hollies’ paddock, arising from stagnant waters accumulated through said want of drainage. The consideration of this matter was deferred for a week.

At this stage Mr H. J. Hall took his seat. From Messrs Harper, Harper and Scott, who had been instructed by Mr E. Parkerson to take legal proceedings against the Board, unless the Board compensated him for injury to his property. It was agreed that the chairman and Mr White be requested to interview the Board’s solicitors on the subject. The following accounts were passed:— Loan account, £2252 6s 2d; rate account, £284 12s sd. This concluded the business.