DRAINAGE BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6490, 15 December 1881, Page 6

DRAINAGE BOARD.

A special meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held at 10.80 a,ra. yesterday t present—Messrs Tanored (Chairman), Cuff, Kom, Hobbs, Harman, Brown, White and BUkUton.

TEHUEttS you rtl'H IATIMGMr Harmon, on behalf of the Committee appointed to consider the lender* for pipe* laving, said that five of them were for the whole of the work, and one for (wo portions of the work. The tender of Mr Stinson was very muoh the lowest, whether lor the whole work or for any part of it. It was lower than that of Mr Stocks. Mr Bell had worked out the details. The total of the lowest tender was 2838$ 16* Id, in addition bo which pipes and cement were provided by (be Board. Mr Stinson bad lately carried out a contract for the Harbour Board. The amounts of the various tenders wtre as followsJ, and A. Anderson, 218,114 4» 0d > Brightling, 2988717 s Od j Carr, 211,806 Us 7dj Wadsy, 211,824 18* 6di Stinson, 2889518 s Id > Blocks (for two sections only), £7262 8s 6d. Mr Harman then moved”" " That the tender of Mr Stinson, being the lowestbe accepted." Mr Hobbs seconded the motion. The Chairman said that certain remark*

had been made al ths previous meeting as to tempering with tha figures of the teoden. Ha might say that ha had gone through lha» very carefully, and could not discover anv attempt to alter the figures. It was only to Hte Hoard that this should he stated. Mr White said that a most unusual course had been punned. All ha wanted was to hare tea figure* read out. Ha had Barer before •aan such a thing as a public body opening tenders and not reading the amounts. It left it open al least for people to mala re* marks, which was not dssireMa. Ths Chairman said the matter could nol he discussed now. A report had hsao mala, and there was an end of the natter* ll was only right, after what had beso said, that tha Hoard should ha assured by Ha own axami* nation that there had been no tempering. Mr Brown said that there woe an impression abroad that this work would not connect with ths pumping station, and would therefore be practically uselees for some consider* able lime. Ho asked tha Engineer if that Imprewhm woe correct. It was also rumoured that the Board would require to apply to tbs ratepayers for power to raise another loan before the prreeot works could be finished, so that the ratepayers would have to pay extra rates lor unless works.

Mr Bell replied that the proposed aewen would connect with Ihe main, intercepting the sowers constructed by Mr fareont. All that would require to be done wm to carry the contents of the pipes to the sandhillc,a work for which plant were now being prepared. The sewer* for which teoden were now being considered mutt have some outlet, lest they should burst. The opening of the pumps would of coarse decrease the pressure of the sewage. Mr White asked the Engineer if provision had been made to prevent willow roots getting into the Armagh street and other sewers, as a portion of the pipes in Armagh street had had to be taken up on that account. The Engineer said that the portion of rower taken up to Armagh street on account of being damaged by willow roots was only some four ohaint. Every precaution had been taken to prevent tha occurrence happening again. Mr Harman said that a friend of bis had asked him the same question that Ur Brown had referred to j whether the work would be left incomplete. He had replied that he wee certain it would be complete as far aa it went.

Mr Hobbe said that on account of all these rumours which were flying about, it wae necessary for an official report of the amount of work which would be finished by the end ot the year to be drams up. Bach a course I would be only justice to the Board, especially as the present members were sow going oat of office. The report might also show what remained to be done, and its cost. Other members of the Board concurred in Mr Hobbs* suggestion, and it was agreed to give notice of motion on the subject tot next meeting. The motion for the acceptance of Ur Stinson's tender waa then earned. This concluded the business, and the Board adjourned to 8 p.m. on Tuesday next, noxicif or motion. The following notice of motion wae given by Mr Harman at the previous meeting “That the pipe rowan along ihe line of Oxford terrace from Madras street to Antigua street, and along Antigua street to Tuam street, and along the line of Tuam street from the East belt to the Lincoln road, be added to the liet of pipe rowers ‘ ordered by the Board to be carried out, and that the successful tenderer be offend the option of including this work in his contract." Mr Hobbs gave the following notice of motion for next meeting" That the Engineer be requested to furnish a report of the amount of work which will bo finished of Mr Olark'e drainage scheme at the end of the current year, and also showing the balance of work to be done, and the cost of asms.”