DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2406, 21 December 1881, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The usual meeting of the Board was held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Present —Messrs Tailored (chairman), B. J. 8. Harman, H. J. Hall, J. E. Brown, W. White, Jan., O. Cuff, F. Hc.bbs, J. Y. Boss and O. B. Blakiston. The following correspondence was road : From the Heathcote Road Board, consenting to the diversion of a road through the sandhills, on oondition that the Board level and clay the proposed diversion ; that the cutting be sloped off and the sides planted ; that the width of the road shall not be less than 33ft; that the road be kept olear of drift for twelve months. From the same Board with reference to the state of Buckley's road. From Mr Williamson, offering B.S. 4635, containing 20 acres, for £2OOO. From Mr G. Lookhart, complaining of the wateroress being left on the bank of the river, and the choking up of the river with weeds. From Mr Napper, asking for an inorease of salary. From Mr Attwood, with reference to the oooupancy of a section of bis by the Board, and asking for settlement of the question of compensation. The correspondence was dealt with as follows :—The letters of the Heathoote Boad Board were referred to the engineer. With regard to Mr Lookhart's letter, the matter was referred to the assistant engineer, with power to act. The consideration of Mr tapper's application was deferred for the present. Mr Attwood's letter was referred to the engineer, with request that he would see that the contractor reinstate the land according to the terms of the oontraot. Accounts to the amount of £256 9s were passed for payment. Mr Brown moved, pursuant to notioe—- " That the drainage of Bingsland, as recommended by Mr Bell in his report, dated June 28th, 1880, at an expense not exoeeding £3BOO, be proceeded with at once." Mr Hall seconded the motion.

Mr Cuff proposed as an amendment—- " That the matter be left to the new Boatd." Mr White would second the amendment pro forma, on the oondition that Mr Cuff included in his amendment that the present Board reoommend the new Board to oarry out the work.

Mr Cuff agreed to this being done. The amendment then read thus :—" That the matter be remitted to the new Board with a recommendation that the required relief be afforded."

Mr Harman desired to afford Bingsland relief, and thought that by supporting the amendment he would do more towards this end than the resolution. If he oould get the drainage to Bingsland at once he would like to do it. [Hear, hear.] Mr Harman raised the question whether the amendment was in order. The Ohairman said that it was.

The amendment was then put and negatived, and the resolution proposed by Mr Brown agreed to. Mr Hobbs, pursuant to notioe, moved—- " That the salaries of the assistant engineers be raised by £SO per annum." In moving the motion Mr Hobbs quoted the salaries paid in other colonies to show that their officers were much underpaid when compared with the salaries paid there. Mr Cuff seconded the motion.

Mr Hall moved as an amendment—" That the matter be relegated to the new Board." Mr Brown seconded the amendment.

Mr Bobs would like to see the matter referred to the new Board, with a recommendation of the oases of the offioers referred to moat strongly to the favorable consideration of the new Board. Mr Harman concurred in the remarks of Mr Boss, and suggested the insertion of the words, " and the Board recommends the cases of the offioers referred to most stroDgly to the favorable consideration of the new Board." Whilst wishing to see these gentlemen get an increase of salary, he thought that they would be only doing right by leaving the matter over to the consideration of the new Board.

Mr Hall agreed to the alteration of his amendment, but Mr Brown deolined, and it was ultimately agreed to as follows :—" That the matter be referred to the new Board." Mr Harman moved—" That the sum of £25 be granted to Mr Napper in lieu of the allowance usually made for use of instruments. Mr Boss seconded the motion.

Mr White spoke against the motion. The motion was put and carried. Mr White moved, pursuant to notioe—- " That the wages of the day laborers be increased by 6i per diem." Mr Brown seconded the motion.

Mr Cuff moved, as &n amendment —" That the matter be referred to the consideration of the new Board." The resolution was declared to be lost, and Mr White demanded a division, whioh took place aB follows . —Ayes—Messrs Guff, Hall, Blakiston, Robs, Harman, Hobbe. Noes — Messrs White and Brown. The amendment was therefore carried. Mr Harman, pursuant to notice, moved — " That the pipe sewers along the line_ of Oxford terrace from Madras to Antigua street, and along Antigua street to Tuam street, and along the line of Tuam street, and from the East belt to the Lincoln road be added to the rest of the pipe sewers ordered by the Board, and that the successful tenderer bo offered the option of inoluding thiß work in his contract."

On the suggestion of Mr Brown, Mr Harman agreed to amend his resolution by striking out the following words :—" And that the successful tenderer be offored the option of including this work in his contract." The amendment was further amended by the extension of the south pipe drain along Tuam street to the Lincoln road, instead of stopping at Antigua street.

Mr White opposed the motion. The work wbo to cost some £5500, and he objected _ to this largo sum of money being voted during tho last few (Ihjb of the existence of the Bo?.rd.

Mr Hobbs pointed out that some £15,000 or £16,000 had been spent in side channels, and the borough of Sydenham had had a very large amount expended upon it. The motion was agreed to, Mr White alone dissenting. Mr Hobbs moved the following notioe of motion given by him at last meeting:—" That the engineer be requested to furnish a report of the amount of work which will be finished of Mr Olark's drainage soheme at the end of tli e current year, and also showing the balance of work to be done and the cost of i»me, and that the same be printed." Mr Hall seconded the motion, which was agreed to.