DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2223, 12 April 1881, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs Tancred (in the chair), Hobbs, Blakiston, White, Hall, Cuff, Ross, and Brown.

The engineer’s report was as follows : I submit an estimate to lay a line of pipes from Bingsland Creek up London street, and through the low sections ending in Mr J. Cuff’s property, as reported on at the last meeting. The first length of 3Goft of 9in pipes would cost with one gully £4l. This is chiefly for the benefit of the road, as it would take storm water from the side channels. The Cin pipe partly up the road and then through the sections would cost with three sumps £37, and is for the benefit of the properties through which it would be laid.

2. I hove examined the present condition of the drainage on the Deans’ estate at Eicoarton. Of the three houses erected there one drains into the old creek bed near the mill, and from this to the river; one drains directly by a pipe into the river; and one to the side channels. But this has also a connection with the pipe laid to the river. At present, until there are many more houses erected on this township, I do not thick anything can be done to improve the existing arrangements, and if the streets were formed to the levels which I showed in a former report, and side channels made to them by simply cutting out the clay, I do not think any nuisance would arise for some time to come. 9 here are three ways of permanently draining the place. First, by making concrete side channels, and through them collecting the drainage at the Hiccarton Hotel, to bo carried by the drain through the park to the river. Second, by making a storm water sewer to discharge into the Avon, to take drainage of the houses as well as storm water: this would permit of very good deep drainage, with complete fall for pipes in every street, but it would have the disadvantage of discharging the house slops into the river just as at present the Antigua street stormwater sewer does. Third, by following up _ the system of drainage at present being carried out, pipes might be laid

from the deep sewer which is to be laid in Tuam street. A main pipe would be laid up the Park road with the very flat gradient of I in 750, and this would allow pipes to be laid in the streets at a shallow depth below the surface, and with flat gradients. This system of drainage would, of course, exclude all rain water, and would require to be frequently flushed to assist the slight fall of the pipes and prevent stagnation and effluvia from them. The cost of them would be about £2900, so that until the place is more thickly settled, I think the gutter or side channel system of drainage is the only one applicable. Any houses which can be drained directly into the river as a temporary expedient would create less nuisance than draining through the side gutters and the park drain to the river, but few houses will be built near enough to the river to allow of this being done.

3. In regard to the complaints of Mr Pillow, read at the last meeting, I require to make a complete inspection of the old brick outfall sewer in order to be able to recommend some method of dealing with storm water drainage for Drain road or Tuam street east, which collects the rainfall of a large district lying to the north of the road, and the ditch complained of leads at present into the old sewer, 4. The plans being nearly completed, I would request instructions on tne subject of calling for tenders to lay the iron pipes to the Sandhills. Should the Board required to curtail expenditure during this year, I would recommend that the funds available be spent in laying the iron pipes to the Sandhills, in preparing and draining sufficient laud to dispose of the sewage. When the iron pipes are ready to receive the sewage to proceed with laying sewage pipes from the main sower through su';h parts of Sydenham and the south of the city as the funds will permit of. Connections cannot be made with the houses until the pumps are ready to discharge the drainage, as there is no outlet except through them. 5. I have received a request from the the surveyor to the Avon Hoad Board to deepen part of the canal reserve drain for a distance of about 57 chains, on the grounds that it will then improve the drainage of the road and the properties. This deepening was not done before because it did not appear so urgently necessary as other parts of the same drain, which were deepened nearly two years ago. 6. I think that the nuisance complained of by Mr B. H. Willis arises from a cesspit, which collects the drainage from the premises of Mr Cunningham. This may be remedied either by draining the cesspit into the Merivale lane storm water sewer, and so into the river, and the filth would be greatly diluted by the large quantity of spring water which enters this sewer, or the premises of Mr Cunningham might be connected to the sewage pipe in the Papanni road, although tho connection would be very long. 7. I request instructions from the Board to advertise for tenders for clearing drains for one year, the last contract having expired. C. Napiib Bell.

The first clause of the report was allowed to stand over. With regard to clause 2, it was resolved that permission be given Mr Fletcher to connect a ram with the drain already in existence, and in reference to the general suggestions in the same clause, no action was taken. Olanse 3 was adjourned till next Board day, to give Mr Bell an opportunity of obtaining further information on the subject therein referred to. The subject dealt with in the first section of clause 4 was referred to Mr Cuff to consult the Heatboote Road Board, and the remainder of the clause was postponed. Clause 5. —The Board resolved that the Avon Road Board be given permission to deepen the drain. Clause 6 was referred to the Local Board of Health. The engineer was instructed to invite tenders in reference to his request in clause 7. The report as a whole was then approved. A letter was received from the Avon Road Board, stating that a deputation had been appointed to wait on the Drainage Board re the drainage of Papanui. The deputation, consisting of Messrs T. Cooper and Munro, ware introduced, and represented, on behalf of the Road Board, that it was necessary to lay down pipe drainage before they could, in reason, undertake the formation of the roads, which would, in fact, be a sheer waste of the ratepayers’ money. With regard to the complaints about the unbealthiness of the particular locality in question, a great cry had been got up, and he thought it was to some extent nothing more than a cry, but it was necessary to do something in the matter, and the first step in this direction should, in his opinion, be undertaken by the Drainage Board. Mr Cuff explained that the Drainage Board had already expended more than tho vote for Papanni lash year. A discussion ensued, in which different members of the Board expressed their opinion on the matter under consideration, and the deputation, having laid their views clearly before the Board, retired. The Board then considered the request, and it was resolved—“ That the Board has no funds avai’able for pipe laying in the Avon district, and cannot undertake side channelling or other drainage works necessary for the formation of the roads.”

The following letters were read : From the Government, in reply to a letter from the Board, enclosing a copy of the clause in the agreement between the Government and the Engineer-in Chief, Mr Oarruthers, to the effect that Mr Oarruthers was to enter the service of the Government, and employ the whole of his time in such survey, and was not to act professionally for anyone else without the written consent of the Minister for Public Works. The letter also stated that Mr Carruthers bad applied for permission to act as consulting engineer to the Drainage Board, and to enter on private practice ; and the required permission was given, conditionally on such practice not interfering with his Government duties. From Mr D. Craig, re construction of a drain leading to the river at Riocarton, and stating that the work was now complete, and as ho did not intend to let anything but rain water pass through it, he trusted the Board would not longer object to his using it, especially as serious damage would be caused to his foundations it a rainy season set in, and he had no outfall for the water.

This matter was disposed of in connection with the engineer’s report. From Mr IS. Beece, asking that the drain along the Canal Beserve, from Mr Savenay’e road to Preston’s road, might be deepened. The Board decided to inform Mr Beece of the reply sent to the Avon Boad Board on the same subject. From Mr W. Higham, stating that a culvert on his land, B.S. No. 82, was broken down.

Beferred to the engineer for action, on the recommendation of Mr Hall that the work be done.

From the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, a letter was read, stating the action taken in reference to the Board’s deposits. From Mr W. G. Buller, claiming compensation for land taken by the Board in B.S. Nos. 1118 and 1192. The land taken comprised one and a half acres, valued at £l5O. The Board, after consideration, decided to allow the claim.

From the secretary of the Cemetery Board, calling attention to the fact that a road leading to the cemetery at New Brighton was rendered impassable by a drain having been cut across it.

Referred to the engineer to report. The following accounts wore passed for payment:—Bate account, £497 4s 9d ; loan account, £4145 Os Id.

Applications for the post of assistant engineer were considered in committee, and Mr Edwin Outhbert was appointed. Mr White’s motion re the engineer’s agreement was postponed.