DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2389, 29 November 1881, Page 4

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board was held at the Board’s offices yesterday at 2 o’clock. Present—Messrs H. J. Tanored (chairman), R. J. S. Harman, W. White, jun., O. Cuff, 0. K. Blakiston, F. Hobbs, and J. E. Brown. The engineer's report was read as folJews:— 1. The drain which Mr Rhodes asks the Board to deepen is on tho canal reserve, and is in continuation of a part deepened by tho Board about eighteen months ago. The extent now asked for is 43 chains long, and would cost £ls to £2O per chain. The land, and the roads for some distance round, would derive benefit from the deeper drainage thus afforded. Tho Rond Board and several farmers of the neighborhood have joined in the request to make this drain. 2. I would request the instructions of the Board to open and keep in order a drain in Bingsland, eastward o£ Perth street, which is much wanted to keep the section dry. This, although not made over to tho Board by tho Road Board or other authority, is a drain reserve, made by the original proprietors, and, I believe, was formerly attended to by tho Road Board, It is very necessary for the comfort and health of several properties that persons should not be allowed to obstruct this drain as is done at present. 3. The contract for clearing drains in tho Avon district will terminate next month. It is very necessary that nil contracts of this kind should terminate in winter, and, wherever possible I have so arranged them. In tho case of tho Avon district, the contractor is willing to extend his contract until winter, and T wonld recommend that this be dona, otherwise it must be re-let for five months, which is not so convenient as it would be to continue the present contract. 4. In arranging the levels for all aewers in Sydenham district I have placed the sewer in Lincoln road to that it is available to drain the a-ylum at Sunnysiclo. In consequence of this tho drain will bo very deep near Addington, and ifce drainage of part of Addington will •flow towards it. It was necessary to decide the point first, and I wonld recommend this arrangement rather than that of placing two pipes in Lincoln road —ono at considerable depth, to serve the Asylnm ; and one mnch shallower, to servo tho neighboring parts of Addington. 5. In a short time it will be necessary for the B.ard to work the engines at the pumping station, and I would recommend that an engine driver experienced in that class of engines should _be employed, as the effectual werking of the engines and pumps is a matter of groat importance. 6. A part of the old sower in the South belt having "broken by sinking in tho quicksand, I have had it repaired in the usual manner by placing concrete underneath the broken part, and rebuilding the arch with brickwork.

Tho report was considered clause by clause. The matter referred to in clause 1 waa deferred till next mooting. 2. The recommendation of the engineer aa to the cutting of the drain at Bingsland was adopted, and he was authorised to act. In reference to clause-3, the engineer explained that in summer, owing to rapid growth, the drains wore rarely free from weeds, so that on the termination of a contract they could not bo handed over clean to a new contractor. Ho was authorised to act as suggested.—The engineer stated that with regard to clause 4, this was a modification of Mr Clark's scheme, inasmuch ae by it the drains wore extended so as to take in the •owage of the lunatic asylum. Ho believed the Government had got an idea that the Hoard would object to the connection of the asylum drains with their scheme. Several members said that there must be some mistake on the part of the Government, for though tho Bjord would rather not have to include tho asylum, yet they had no wish to place difficulties in tho way of its proper drainage. Finally, the engineer was instructed to propiro an estimate of the difference in the cost of his and Mr Clark’s scheme, with tho view of endeavoring to obtain a grant of tho ■balance from tho Government. 5. The or,, gineer stated that he wished tho matter of tha appointment of an engine driver held over, so as to allow him lime to collect information about salaries attached to similar appointments elsewhere Postponed accordingly. 6. Tho action of the engineer in repairing tha old drain between Madras and So!wyn-afreets was approved. The report as a wholo was then adopted. In answer to o question from Mr S. B. Brown, tho chairman said a report had not yet been received from a committee eppoiu-ed to investigate tha claim for compensation of a mvn named Maher, and it eppearing that the committee hud lapsed, Messrs Hobbs and White were appointed to look into the matter and report at next Board meeting. The clerks to the Head Boards within tho drainage district and tho town clerk -of Sydenham were appointed -returning officers to act at tho next election of members to the Board, remuneration being fixed at £3 2s for an uncontested election, and if otherwise £& 3s. The chairman was requested to communicate with Mr G. L. Lee about the appointment of q returning officer for the city. Walters were read from tho Town Clerk of Sydenfiam requesting the Board to cause to ha removed the rubbish cleared out of drain lumps immediately after its discharge, instead of allowing it to remain, oe has been the custom, for soma time afterward?, to become a great nuisance. The engineer was instructed to have the offensive matter removed as promptly as possible on all occasions, and to procure.by hire or purchase- a cart fitted to perform the cervice.—From tho Heathoote Bead-Board, celling attention to tho state of Buckley's road, ns left by the contractor, who laid down drain pipes ; also to dangerous bolee on the Canal Reserve j als® to fcho state of Ferry road, caused by repairing sewers. Tho letter asked for tho spreading of -broken metal-instead of shingle, a* at present. The matter.was referred to the engineer.—From the same, stating that part of the-ir number proposed to visit and inspect the read about to be reverted at the sandhills on November 29th, and asked that some of tho members of the Drainage Board chould, together with the engineer, meet them there. Tho Board regretted the short nctioo given, but the engineer stated that he had already promised to attend at tho inspection, and Mr Hobbs undertook -to, if possible, be present.—From Messrs Duncan, Ooltorill, and Martin, claiming £2O, damages done to the property of Mr O. ( Henson, at the Sandhills, by tho breaking I of fences, .cutting of grc.is, and by gates being left opon, as alleged, ty employes of tbe Board. Tho engineer was instructed to inquire into it and report.—From Mr A.Osborcc, asking leave to turn the oocrae of a small stream on his property at Fendaltown. Referred to tha engineer.—From Mr E. O. J. Stevens, other residents of Avousido, and officers of tho Canterbury and C nion Rowing Clubs, drawing tho attention of the Board to the neglected state of tho Avon from East town belt to Wright’s corner. -Che letter stated farther that tho masses of woods drawn to and ollowed to remain at tho banks of the river had become an intolerable auisanoo. Referred to tha engineer.—From Messrs Coker and Barker, asking the Board to close in or divert an open drain running through their properties from Euzslden road to the South town belt, as it had become very filthy. The engineer made a recamrasndati&n or. the ■abject, which the Boord.egrecd to, and .instructed him to havo the alteration mado.

Mr J. E. Brown moved, as per notice it last meeting—“ That the engineer’s recom - mendation respecting the deepening of a drain through E. 3. 133, &c., and diversion of. water running from Eiccarton road district into the Avon district be carried out, and that any resolution conflicting with tide resolution be rescinded.” The moveraaid that the Board’s operations of lute years, following those of the bodies who, earlier wore in charge of the drainage, had resulted in bringing bodies of water through the Avon district, whioh, in flood times, ware much too large to bo accommodated by the sewers in oiistor.ee, and as a consequence there wore, oomotimeo, hundreds of acres of fine land laid under water, rauch to the damage of the occupants. Tho scheme proposed by the engineer seemed to him a ready way out of tho difficulty, and ho hoped the Board would at onco take tho steps his, motion indicated. Mr Harman caid ho thought the Board should m ve in tha matter with caution. Ho was afraid they perhaps, otherwise, might only transfer injury from ono set of persons to another. Ho thought it should be ascertained whether tho proposed plan, if carried out, would do injury to others not at present affected. Several other members having spoken, c, motion was Anally agreed to, instructing tho engineer to examine the locality and to report ag,early as possible, whether propsrlies on tho Weirarapc. would be injured by tho proposed diversion. A member, alluding to tho report that the tha Borough Council intended to dispute the legality of tho rate levied by tho Board, osked who would bo appointed to collect the rate in Sydenham, as ho supposed tho town clerk would not do it. Xho Chairman said ho thought the question need not bo raised 4bo borough had already collected part of tha rate. Tho matter then dropped. Accounts to tho amount pf £1675 3» 91 wore passed fof payment, Epd the Hoard adjourned.