DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2118, 7 December 1880, Page 4

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual meeting of the Board was held at 2.30 p.zn. Present: Messrs B. J. S. Harman (chairman), H. J. Hall, W. White, jun., H. J. Tanored, J. B. Brown, O. B. Blakiston. An apology was received for the absence of Mr Boss.

Mr Brown brought under the notice of the Board the fact that Mr Bell had been engaged by the Wuimatariri Board of Conservators, and asked whether the Board was aware of the fact. Mr Hall said the agreement of Mr Bell was auoh as to enable him to take work outside the Board, provided it did not interfere with the discharge of bis dnty as engineer. The Chairman said that ho did not think (his was the proper time to bring this matter on. He thought it was out of order on the present occasion. Mr Brawn was unaware that it was out of order. They had commenced the matter, and it might as well be settled at once, Mr Bell asked Mr Brown if he had seen the agreement with the Board. Mr Brown replied in the negative. Mr Hall said that by that agreement Mr Bell was permitted to toko any other work that did not interfere with the discharge of hia duties as engineer to the Drainage Board. Mr Brown said he had been asked by several ratepayers to bring this matter forward, and he had done so. All he wanted to know was whether Mr Bell was acting for the Boardof Conservators with the consent of the Drainage Board. The Chairman said that the agreement distinctly stated that Mr Bell could do work for other people, provided that it did not interfere with the work of the Board. He could not put his hand on the exact provisions, but he would see that it was brought up next Board meeting. The engineer’s report was read as follows: — 1. I would request instructions as to the disposal of abont 2d tons of broken iron pipes, and would recommend that they be stacked at the yard and sold. 2. Being in immediate want of oement, I have extended Mr Turner’s contract to fifty barrels more; abont 100 barrels are yet reqtdred to finish the pipelaying ordered by the Board, and I require instructions from the Board to prsenre the amount. This may be done either by extending the existing contract with Mr Turner, or by calling for tenders for the supply of 100 barrels. 3. I submit details of the expenditure on loan up to 30th October, 1880, a comparison of the cost of pipes already laid with Mr Clark’s estimate for the same, the estimated amount required to complete _ the drainage works, and other items of expenditure in the different districts. 4. The centractor for clearing the river Avon has two gangs of four men each at work, and this number will be kept on the work until the {river is in proper condition. 5.1 would suggest that thelSin pipes taken out of the drain at B.S. 2208 and 1801 be laid down under the New Brighton road, at the next drain, abont 7 chains westward, and the 12in pipes at present in that drain to be placed under the road at the middle of B.S, 1801. These drains are very necessary for the drainage of about 100 acres of very wet land belonging to two owners. 6. The attention of the Board is directed to the necessity of again filing- for tenders to clear the Avon district drains for next year. This subject was reported on at last meeting, but the Board did not decide about it. It was resolved to have a number of broken iron pipes disposed of by public auction. The contract for supply ef cement with Mr O. W. Turner was extended by one hundred barrels, as requested by the engineer. On the motion of Mr Hall it was resolved —“That tenders be invited for clearing drains in the Avon district for the ensuing year.” Mr Torrens waited on the Board with reference to the overflow of the Upper Heath - oote by reason of the block of the weeds in tho river—the weeds had not been cleared for nearly eight months. There was a large quantity of water on the land of hia neighbours and himself. He thought that the Boad Board would take the river in hand if the Drainage Board would bear tho cost. The river was higher now than it had been for fourteen years. Mr Bell said that the river was in a very bad state. They had had a great deal of trouble with the contractor, who was also the contractor for clearing the Avon, and the beat method of giving relief would be to break the contract. Tho Chairman said they were bound to give tho applicants relief. It was certainly a most 'unsatisfactory atate of things. It waa resolved—“ That the Board would call upon the contractor to do the work, and if ho did not do it they would put thair own men on.” Mr Hall thought this was a very unsatisfactory state of things. If inspectors were paid to report upon the state of the rivers they should do their duty. Mr Brown bronght under the notice of the Board the fact that on open drain in Clare road had been left unprotected and unlighted, and that an accident bad occurred by which a woman had been seriously injured. The Engineer said that the drain, so for aa he was informed, was lighted and protected. The Chairman said that to some extent the Board was responsible for accident in this case, as it was not fenced and protected as it ought to hare been. He had given special instructions wherever such a trench waa opened that care should be exercised that every precaution was taken to prevent such a thing as this. The engineer in charge of the works was called in and examined. He stated that there was a gangway of seven feet wide, with bandrail, but no fence along the trench beyond this. Thera was no wing outside the gangway, and the watchman was on duty. The watchman on dnty at the time of the sooident was colled in and questioned as to the affair. He bad called out. to the woman to stop, as she was going the wrong way. It was resolved—“ That tho engineer bo requested to inquire into the matter and report next meeting.” Several accounts were passed for payment. On the motion of Mr Brown it was resolved to take copies of the engineer’s estimates of tho expenditure of tho money at the disposal of the Board. The Board then adjourned.