DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2246, 10 May 1881, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

A meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held at 2 p.m. yesterday. Present—Messrs B. J. 8. Harman (chairman), H. J. Tancred, F. Hobbs, J. V. Ross, W. White, jun., J. E. Brown, H. J. Hall, and Cuff. The report of the engineer was road os follows : In regard to the request of Mr T. Dnrey, asking the Board to clear out the creek on 8.8. 12, at Bnah Inn road, Mr Daroy’a land, the drainage of which ho complains of is not in the drainage district, but he depends on the drain for an outlet. The clearing of the drain will not give the relief he a -eka. The creek must be deepened for about fifteen chains. Ho has deepened the part of the same crook on hia land, which necessitates the same thing being done to that part of the creek below him, as the water stands blocked up at the boundary of the drainage district on the Bush Inn road. I have examined the subject of complaint on the Carlton terrace. There are about fifteen houses, the sewage from which has no other outlet than the surface of the land or yet unformed side channels of the road. If regular side channels were formed and house drains let into them, the sewage could be conveyed by these into the river. The side channels, however, must be laid with proper inclination towards the river, but the road on the east side is not yet sufficiently consolidated to allow of side channels being formed. The only other method of removing th;i sewage would be by depositing it in the gardens, which cannot be done for very long without causing a nuisance, bnt with the present small number of houses, and where the gardens are cultivated, it would not be attended with inconvenience. A request has been made to made me, which I beg to refer to the Board, to lay a pips in the crook at St. Luke’s Church for about one and a half chains from mouth of old sewer, in order that the creek bed may be filled in over it. The pipes would cost about .£2O, and filling in 18in over the pipe say .£5. The part of the croak which is thought to be dangerous is at nresent covered over with a frame of boards, through which there is a trap door to give admittance to the grating at the month of the sewer. I think all risks to persons getting into the creek would be removed if the trap door wore locked. Mr Strange is, however, willing to pay £lO towards the coat of the improvement asked for leaving the cost to the Board about £ls. I submit a letter from the steward of the Church Property Trustees to the effect that the trustees agree to convey to the Crown twentyfive links along Buckley’s road, making the road seventy-five links wide, and I have written to Mr G. Brittain to say that the Board intend to lay the iron pipe through R.S. 347, and would require to have the right of access to the pipe for repairs and alterations whenever necessary. The boundaries of Buckley’s road are being surveyed, and when that is done the contract may be let to lay pipes. The work in the main sewers is progressing favorably, with the exception of that part in the East belt southward from Tuam street, where frequent breaks have to be taken up and repaired. C. Napier Bell, Engineer. The report was considered clause by clause. On clause 1, it was decided to defer the matter till next meeting, Mr Hall to inspect the place and report. Some discussion ensued on clause 2, and it was resolved that the Board were at present unable to suggest any remedy for relief. It was resolved, with respect to the St. Luke's creek, that the Board could net carry out the works as required. The engineer was authorised to invite tenders for laying pipes along the road mentioned in the report. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, with reference to the handing over of the Drain road, as it required something to be done to it before winter set in, and the Board were unable to got on to it until the contractor had done his work. The letter was referred to the engineer. A letter was read from Mr O’Neil, of Woolston, complaining of the way in which the pipes across Dyer’s road were laid, in consequence of which his paddocks were flooded. Mr Cuff moved that the letter be referred to the engineer, to see whether the drain referred to was under the Drainage Board’s jurisdiction or not. Mr Hobbs reported that the committee hid met, and were unable to say what the rate should be. The matter would, therefore, have to be decided by the Board itself. Mr (Julf called attention to the excessive cost of collecting rates. Now, over the drainage district, the cost for collecting was £854 9s Id. This, he thought, was excessive, I and they could well get their rates collected by their own collector for about £4OO. He wished to call attention to the fact that they paid the city over £3OO, which was more than the salary paid to their two collectors. Ho was in favor of the Board doing their own collection.

Accounts to the amount of £2148 6s lid were passed for payment. The Chairman brought under the notice of the Board the fact that the amount of the rate to be struck had not been yet decided. Mr Hall thought that the finance committee should bo discharged. He should feel inclined to move that. The Chairman said he should rule that this motion could not be put, as the finance committee was a standing committee, Mr Hall would then move “ That the resolution fixing the cost of main drains, &c., on the whole district should be rescinded.” That resolution was as follows :—“ That the Hoard is of opinion that the construction of the main outfall drain from the East belt to the pumping station, and all other main drains, pumping stations, &0., is for the benefit of each and every portion of the drainage district, and that one rate should bo.struck over the whole district to pay interest and sinking fund on the cost of these particular drains, pumping station, &s. ” Ho contended that the resolution was opposed to the law, and quoted sec. 2 of the amended Act in support of this contention. Ho might inform the Board that if this resolution were not rescinded, the Biocarton Road Board were prepared to vote a certain sum of money to resist th i collection of the rate, as they were advised that it was against the law. Mr Cuff seconded the resolution. Mr Boss wanted to ask if Mr Clark’s scheme contemplated the extension of the scheme to Biccarton ? He desired to point out that as paddocks were cut up they would be called upon to supply facilities for removing the sewage. Some discussion ensued as to the motion being in order without notice of motion being given for the rescinding of the resolution. Mr Hall then gave notice of motion to rescind the resolution. Mr Cuff gave notice of his intention to move the rescinding of tho following resolution :—“That the Board adopts the principle that the cost of tho storm-water sewers bo apportioned to the several sub-districts within the Christchurch Drainage District, in a ratio of the area drained within such subdistricts. Also, that the Board in future employ their own rate collector.” It was resolved on the motion of Mr Hobbs, that tho Board bo adjourned till next Monday, at 1.30 p.m.