DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2304, 23 August 1881, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Drainage Board was held yesterday at 1 30 p.m. Present—Messrs H. J Tancred (chairman) W. White, jun., E. J S. Harman, J. E. Brown, C. Ouff, F. Hobbs. The report of the engineer was read ac follows:

1. L.ve's are heirgtaken on the roads at Linwood to ascertain what remedy, if any, can be given for the complaint made by Mr Heard, and also for that of Mr Cameron and others at Wilson's road 2. Al2 inch pipe has been substituted for the 0 inch pipe which took the water from Pound road into the gaßworks sewer, the latter having- proved too small in time of heavy rain 3. In regard to the complaint of Mr Cartwright on the condition of a bridge over the drain through his land at Fendaltown, I am informed by Mr N. Ellis that on the occasion of the Board deepening this drain in 1877 an old existing bridge was taken up and re'.aid, and this is now rotten. In similar cases the Hoard has decided that it is not liable for the maintenance of bridges. 4 In consequence of alterations in the footpath of South belt the box culvert is exposed which leads from Coker's drain into the South belt tide channel. This should be replaced with a 12-inch pipe laid at a lower level, and instructions of the Board are required on the subject. 5. I submit some alterations which I would suggest should be inserted in licences for connections whenever they are renewed. These relate to providing for repairing the asphalte pavement, laying shingle under the connection where soft ground occurs and increase of price asked by the licensees. 6*. Mr C. Cinff havine requested that a fence te erected between E.S. 6381 and his land, I have agreed that it be put up at the joint cost of Mr Cuff and the Board, and that six chains of fence put up by Mr Cuff across B.d. 6881 be taken; over by the Board. 7. The broken pipes in William street are now all replaced. These pipes were made by Messrs Austin and Kirk, of Malvern fireclay. I attribute the defect in. them to there being some mixture of coal shale in the clay. The smaller pipes made by this firm are of very fair quality. 8. In the case of Mr Button, Salisbury Btreet, the solicitors Bay that they cannot prosecute him for interfering with the connection between his house and the sewer, aa the six months provided by the Act has expired. In clause 105 I find that twelve months is the time fixed. If this clause applies to such cases it should be altered to read—"within twelve months after the fact has been discovered." and not after the act has been committed. By proceeding under clause 43 I think the Board may recover the cost of altering tho connection in a summary way as therein specified, and without regard to the time elapsed.—C. Napier Bell. Apologies were read from Mr Blakiston and Mr Ross for non-attendanoe at the meeting.

Mr E. Mitchell waited on the Board to request them to assist £im in getting rid of a quantity of water which had been brought down by the drain of the Board overflowing, leaving some 2ft of water on a paddock belonging to him. He would suggest that pipes should be put in under the road into the Horseshoe Lake. The matter was referred to the engineer to report upon.—Mr Maher waited on the Board with reference to a drain passing through his property at St. Albans ,in which his cattle were being bogged, owing to the sides of the drain caving in. The matter was referred to the engineer.—Mr Kruse and two other gentlemen from the Avon district waited on the Board with reference to the resolution of the last meeting respecting the disposal of the water lying on their land, caused by the main drain bringing down a large quantity of water which proved too much for the drain to carry, hence the overflow. It was resolved that Mr Bell meet Mr Kruse and the other gentlemen composing the deputation on the sections referred to.—The engineer's report was considered clause by clause. With reference to clauses 1 and Z they were deemed satisfactory. On clause 3 it was decided that the Board decline to renew the bridge as asked. It was resolved to replace the box culvert en the South belt with a 12-inoh pipe, as suggested by the engineer. The alterations of conditions in licenses for connections as suggested by the engineer were agreed to by the Board, except the increase off the prioe to be charged by the licensees by Id per foot run. The prioes to be charged for repairing the asphalte and for the shingle were fixed at 5s per cutting in the former and 6s 6d per cubic yard for the latter.—The action of the engineer as regarded the fence between the land belonging to Mr Ouff and that of the Board was approved.—With respect to the breakage of the pipes in William street, it was resolved " That the contractors, Messrs Austin and Kirk, be informed of the fact of the report of the engineer on the subject."—ln connection with the matter of Mr Button's interference with the sewer connection, it was decided to refer it to the chairman to consult with the solicitors.

The correspondence was read as follows : From the Oity Council, accepting the offer of 5 per cent, commission for collecting the rate. —From the Sydenham Borough Council, 'with reference to damage done to the roadway on the east side of the East Town belt, through the carelessness of the contractor laying a sewer along the game.—From the Avon Boad Board, requesting that a member of the Board and the engineer should meet a member of the Avou Boad Board and surveyor to settle the matter of the Sawyers'* Arms road. —From the Heathcote Boad Board, asking that the decision of the Board with reference to the onlvert on the Lower Avon road should be reconsidered.—From the same, calling attention to a quantity of stagnant water in Worcester street, on the east side of Stanmore road.—From Mr Attwood, Btating his willingness to relinquish any drainage rights he might have over rural section 1146, on condition that the Board carry the drainage as marked on the map.—From Mr Stubbs, calling attention to the bad state of a drain fronting Selwyn street. From Mr W. Moore, with reference to a drain on Matheson's road.—From Mr Swann, respecting the cutting of an open ditch in Vogel street, and asking again that pipes should be used. From Mr W. Q-. Buller, pointing out that the quantity of land taken he valued at £2OO, and if that sum was awarded as compensation he would sign the deeds.—From Mr F. Kelly, asking for compensation for loss sustained by him through the Board cutting a drain in his section 1118. The compensation asked for was £3s.—From Messrs Ford and Ogdon, asking the Board to test the colonially-made pipes as against the imported ones by the machinery used in testing cement. They also enclosed report from Professor Bickerton, respecting the fire-clays'and gannister from which the pipes supplied by them were made.—From Messrs Schultz and others, respecting the bad state of a ditch in Madras street North.—From Mr Hein, calling attention to the very bad state of the drain in Tuam street. —From Mr Stringer, stating that the drain put down in St. James* Terrace had not relieved him of the water.

The Board dealt with the correspondence as follows i —The offer of the City Council was deemed satisfactory.—Re road on the east side of South belt, the Sydenham Council to be informed that the matter has been attended to.—Messrs White and Brown were appointed to attend with the engineer, to confer with the Avon Boad Board as to the Sawyer's Arms road.—The request of the Heathcote Boad Board for reconsideration of the decision of the Drainage Board re culvert on Lower Avon road, was considered, and 15in. pipes granted, on the understanding that the Boad Board put them in, and give the Drainage Board the Bin. pipes now in.—With regard to the stagnant water in Worcester street east, it was resolved that the matter be deferred until the levels now in course of being taken were completed.—The question ot Mr Attwood's letter ■was referred to the engineer and secretary, to obtain the necessary consents and conveyances, the work then to be commenced.—The matter referred to in the letter of Mr Stubbs was left in the hands of tho engineer to report upon. —A similar course was adopted with regard to Mr Moore's letter.—No action was ttiken with regard to the letter from Mr dwann. —The offer made in Mr Buller's letter to take £2OO, as compensation for the land taken, was declined, and it was agreed to .lffer to pay at the rate of £IOO per acre.— Mr Kelly's claim for compensation was referred to the engineer and secretary to report upon.—With regard to the letter of Messrs Ford an•: Ogdon, it was resolved to inform them that the pipes complained of were not supplied by them.—The letter of Mr Scbulii ■win ethers wt.s referred to the contractor for keeping the drain clean. —Mr Hein's letter *tn also r.ferred to the contractor. —The letter from Mr Stringer was referred to the engineer. Accounts to the amount of £lO9 10s 3d were passed for payment.

Mr Hobbs, pursuant to notice of motion, moved the following : —"That, in accordance with section 2 of the Drainage Act Amendment Aot, 1877, before making the annual rule, the Board proceed to alter the boundaries of the rural portions of the district us follows : —All that portion of tVe Cbristohurob. drainage district cot included in the resolution passed on June 27th, 1831, and which.

is covered by Clark's sewage scheme, and known as Clark's area, be formed into one whole district, to bo known as tho rural district, and that one uniform rate bo levied on the same." —Mr Harman seconded tho motion pro forma, in order to allow of any member who might desire to do so moving an amendment—Mr White characterised tho resolution as an unfair one, and announced his intention of moving an amendment to the effeot that the district bo as at presont, except that portion which had been taken out to form a rural district, which would make each district pay for what it received.—Mr Brown seconded the amendment moved by Mr White, as it was only fair that tho separate districts should pay for the work carried out in them. —Mr White's amendment was drafted as follows : "That the several portions of the Boaa Board distriots and tho Borough of Sydenham, not included in tho drainage area, or tho area known as Mr Clarko's area, bo separate rural districts for tho purposes of tho Act."—A lengthy discussion ensued, and ultimately Mr Brown moved the following amendment: — "That the remaining portions of tho distriots of Sydenham, Heathcote, Avon, Bpreydon, eud Biccarton comprised within the drainage district area, after deduoting the suburban districts made by resolution of the Board on June 27tb, 1881, shall be formed into five separate rural districts for the purposes of rating." —Mr White withdrew his amendment in favor of the one proposed by Mr Brown.—Mr Hobbs having replied, the amendment of Mr Brown waa pnt and carried.—The following resolution was then proposed and discussed —viz, "That tho Board intimates its intention of making the following rate—viz., Christchurch, lOd in the £; suburban districts, lOd in the £ ; rural distriot of Sydenham, 2d in the £; Bpreydon, 4d in the £ ; Avon, 8d in tho £ ; Heathcote, 6£d; Biccarton, 2Ad." After •ome discussion it was agreed to havo a meeting on Wednesday next at noon, for the purpose of confirming the description of tho boundaries, and giving notice of striking of the rate.—Mr Hobbs then moved, pursuant to notioe—" That in oonsequenc9 of tho levels of many of the new roads formed by the various local bodies within the drainago district not fittiDg in with the means of drainage •applied by this Board, a circular letter be »ent to the varioHS bodies, asking them as an set of courtesy to communicate with the engineer to the Drainage Board with a view to obtaining levels, to prevent mistakes in future, more especially in respect to laying out of new townships, and before making any new roads or re-forming old ones."—Mr Harman seconded the motion, but was not ■anguine of any very great results arising from its being carried into effect. The motion was carried. The Board then adjourned.