DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2534, 23 May 1882, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

! An ordinary meeting was held yesterday, iPresent —Mr L. Harper (chairman), and i Messrs E. Jones, W. H. Hubbard, A. Ash- | worth, S. Manning, and W. "Vincent. !_ The Chairman stated that since last meet|ipg a copy of the Christchurch Drainage Act, ! 1875, with amendments, and power of attorney I —Board to Bank of New Zealand—had been I forwarded to the bank with authority to purchase inscribed stock in England on behalf of .the Board, to the amount of £4762. A ; declaration had also been sent by the secretary, to the effect that the seal attached to the power of attorney is the true seal of the Board, and that he is the custodian of it. IK would bs necessary to make new arrangements with the bank, as the present term of: ' agreement expired on 9th iust. The acting-engineer's report was read : 1. Ba application from Heathoote Boad. Board, to have a sump put in at the junction of east side of Stanmoro road with Gloucester street, such would bo of no service, the inclination of Gloucester street falling rapidly .eastward. Hence no water would enter the sump; and, if taken back into Linwood, there would not be sufficient fall in the sewer. —Action postponed. 2. Be water-way for bridges to.be erected over the ontfall drain in Tuam street east, had arranged with thcohairman of the Heathoote Boad Board that the under side of the bearers should not be lower than the adjoining bank on the roadside, 3. A copy of Mr T. Davenport’s claim for damage, through his cab sinking into the sewer trench on the east belt, bad been forwarded to the contractor. 4. Ba Mr Jackson’s letter, on the stagnant water in side channel ■ of Gloucester street in Linwood, it would be ' impracticable to afford him relief, the level iof the water being too low to admit of its i being taken into Htanmore road sower. 5. jße streets repaired by the pipe-laying contractor, instructions had been issued that broken metal must be used on macadamised streets, and where shingle is used it must be of a proper kind. 6. It was agreed that the City Council’s permission should be obtained to fill the flushing water cart from their various tanks. 7. It was recommended that licenses to connect be issued to Messrs H. Buokett, P. Sickens, and H. Barrett, licenses to be terminable on last day of March each year.

The Town Clerk, Sydenham, wrote, drawing attention to damage to streets through pipe laying. In Colombo street the clay from the drain having been put on the top of the footpath, the surface in wet weather was very slippery, needing a coating of screenings. On other streets the shingle had been nearly buried. Several holes along the top of the pipes required filling up, Colombo street being coated with broken metal, should be repaired with similar stone; but the other streets with screened shingle. Much inconvenience was caused during the present unsettled weather. Referred to the engineer. The town clerk, Sydenham, wrote respecting a dangerous ditch on the north side of Hozeldean road.—This road was stated to be not under the Board’s control.

i The town clerk, St. Albans, wrote enclosing copy of specification from Mr Q-. Dickenson, and stating that inconvenience would result to the surrounding inhabitants from a stoppage of the drain ; also requesting extension of the line of pipes on Crescent road. Mr Dickenson wrote intimating his intention of stopping up the drain running through bis property from Crescent road to St, Albans creek. The clerk to Heathcote Road Board wrote that in acme streets danger arose to traffic, the soil subsiding several inches below proper level. The foreman estimated it would cost 10a a chain to pat the streets right again. This the Heathcote Board were willing to accept.—Referred to the engineer. The town clerk, Heathcote Road Board, wrote asking if the Drainage Board would give notice prior to opening any of the roads or streets in that district.—Referred to the engineer.

Mr J. P. Jameson, for the committee of Refnge, wrote that the water channel running within the fence on the west side of the grounds of the Female Refuge, Cashel street east, required clearing. Referred to the engineer. Mr F. Smith, Orescent road, Sr. Albans, wrote that the drain Mr Diokouson contemplated stopping was the only outlet for storm water in the vicinity, and that in wet weather all storm water would back up into the writer’s property. Ha suggested, in the event of the drain being stopped, that the storm water sower now on the Orescent road should be continued to his corner.

Mr J, Williamson, Ollivier’s road, wrote, in reply to Mr Jones, member of, the Board for the district, offering to sell his freehold section, B 8. 4635, at the Sandhills, adjoining the Board’s reserves, and containing twenty acres, for £4OO. Offer accepted. Messrs Holmes and Lougbrey wrote that they had been consulted by Mr Ephraim Toomer touching injury from the engine at the pumping station causing constant vibration, and so making his building uninhabitable. £SOO was asked as compensation. In default of payment, a writ of injunction would be issued. The assistant engineer reported that be had made an accurate test close to the house, but could detect no vibration. Beferred to the engineer. The surveyor to the Kiocarton Boad Board wrote, forwarding letter from Mr Deans re state of drainage of his property, and that that Board had resolved : “ That the Drainage Board be respectfully requeatsd to enlarge the drain crossing the Biccarton road from Mr Deans’ property to the main drain." Mr John Deans’ letter stated that when pipes wore laid across the Biccarton road, opposite Mr Hall’s residence, it was understood that if they were not large enough the Board would put in larger ones. During the heavy rains last winter the two fields affected by the drains wore flooded. Beferred to the engineer for report. Mr A. O. Burt wrote, claiming £35 compensation for the cutting of a drain through 160 ft feet of his section in High street, Knights town. Mr H. Butler submitted a claim for some £220, alleged to be due on contract for clearing rivers, which contract had been re-let, Butler having resigned. Mr Hubbard stated that the case was a hard one. There bad been three partners in the concern, of whom one had died through the effects of constantly working in water. The deceased had happened to be the partner who was possessed of capital, and his death had inconvenienced the others,-On Mr Hubbard’s motion, seconded by Mr Jones, it was agreed to pay Butler half the amount due to him.

Mr B. N. Corsor wrote from New Brighton re the culvert crossing the road next section 1800, being in winter too small, Mr Travers wrote on the same subject. It was agreed that the work, whioh the engineer said would cost £SO, should be done. A petition was read from inhabitants of Linwood re better drainage in Gloucester street. Beferred to works committee and the engineer to report. I)r. Doyle took his seat at the Board. The works committee reported—(l) That they had inspected the drain through rural section 161, which Messrs Eerr and Palmer wished taken over and cleared out. The committee could not recommend this, the drain being but twelve chains long and benefiting the only. Committee’s opinion adopted. (2) Be work alluded to in the letter from St. Albans Borough Council through raral section 324, it was agreed that the woik be done as provided for in Mr Bell's plans, as it will give relief to a large area of land. (3) Be Mr F. Moore’s claim for compensation for land taken for Spooner's drain, the amount to be paid Moore, on his signing a grant of easement over 6ft. of land along the western boundary of his section at Henley street, St. Albans, was deferred for the present. (4) A similar decision was arrived at re claim for land for Spooner’s drain received from Mr Burt, the grant of easement to concern his section in High street, St. Albans. (5) It was agreed to consent to Mr Peacock’s application to connect a vault under St. Albans Wesleyan chapel with fct. Albans lane stormwater sewer. (6) Re letter from St. Albans Borough Council touching Mr Dickenson’s intention to fill up drain, it was agreed that the Council should lay a side channel to connect with the stormwater sewer at corner of Henley street. A motion of Mr F. Jones was carried — "That the two sumps in William street, off Ferry road, be lowered a foot each to relieve the surface drainage of Barbour street east and adjacent locality.” The following accounts were passed for payment Loan account, £3505 14s 2d ; rate account, £209 4s. Mr Hubbard moved—"That£633 standing npon the estimates of expenditure for the year 1882 for the drainage of Bingsland be allocated for that purpose." Seconded by Dr. Doyle. Mr Jones mcredi as an amendment—-

; “ That half the £633 be derated to draining ,the rnral Heathoote district.” This was ; seconded by Mr Manning, and was carried, the resolution falling throngh. Notice of motion was given—" That theBoard notify their intention to make the following rates in the undermentioned districts under the Board, namely :—Christchurch area, Is in the £ ; suburban area, ditto ; rural Sydenham, 2Jd in the £; rural St. Albans, B£d ; Aron, 9d ; Heathoote, 6i j Biccarton, 3Jd ; Spreydon, 3Jd, Also, that the said rate shall be for the period ecmmencing on Ist January, 1883, and ending 31et December, 1382, and that the said rateshall be payable in one sum on 7th June, 1882, end that the rate book is open for inspection at the office of the Board.”—£i£r Vinoent.J Mr P. Jones wrote to the chairman of the Board as follows :

In consequence of the comment made at the conference on Tuesday last by Mr John Ollivier reflecting on my action as member for the* Heathcote district, I deemed it my duty to convene a meeting of my constituents at the earliest opportunity. At this meeting held on Friday last, 19th inst., I represented the present position of the affairs of the Board, and tendered my advice as to the bast course to parent in the interests of the ratepayers. This advice was not endorsed by the meeting, but on the contrary, on tha motion of Mr Ollivier, a resolution was carried to a contrary effect. Consequently I consider I do not represent the opinion of tha district on a matter of vital importanca to its interests, and therefore respectfully beg to hand yon in my resignation as member for the Heathcote district on the Drainage Board, —I have, Ac.

On the letter being read the resignation was accepted. Before withdrawing Mr Jane* spoke in high terms of the public spirit by which he believed the several members of tha Board te be actuated, and the chairman took occasion to express his opinion that the Heathcote district was losing a valuable member.