LOWER WAIRAU RIVERS BOARD.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 166, 22 October 1880, Page 3

LOWER WAIRAU RIVERS BOARD.

Thursday, Oct. 21st. The Board met at half-past 7 o’clock. Present—Messrs C. Redwood (in the chair), Davies, and Parker.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESBONDENCE, &C. Mr W. Sinclair, solicitor, wrote, stating that he had not succeeded in obtaining payment from the Trustees in Eccles’ estate, but they do not dispute their liability, and are now making efforts to obtain a realisation of the assets of the estate, and hope to be able to make a settlement with the Board in About a month. Mr C. H. Bushcll wrote to the Board expressing regret that the Board is not in a position to have the piles drawn on the East bank of the Opawa river, through the loss of the pile driver. Mr Bushcll respectfully suggested the advisability of cutting the channel througn, which lie thought would relieve the ratepayers resident in High Street of a great amount of water and be the means of keeping it in the proper channel. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Parker, seconded by Mr Davies, that the channel on the bed of the Omaka, at the top of High Street, be cut half a chain wide to the bottom level of the river-bed, and that tenders be called for the work. RAISING MAXWELL ROAD. The Town Clerk wrote to the Board, informing them that the Council had granted them permission to raise the Maxwell Boad from Fearon Street to the Taylor Bridge, and along Halifax Street and Bedwood Street to the Omaka Hivcr, providing the works arc carried out to the satisfaction of the Inspector of Works for the Borough. The Chairman said the matter had been before the Board at the last meeting, when it was opposed by Dr Horne, who, he regretted was not present to-night. He had consulted Mr Dobson who said no injury would result from the work. He (the chairman) had brought this matter forward at the solicitation of many of his neighbors, who agree with him in thinking that it would Lie of very great benefit. The Borough Council, when the matter was brought before them, granted them permission, which they would not have done if they had not felt satisfied that the work was a desirable one.

Mr Davies said he thought the work was one that was much required, and would be of great benefit to the Town, He thought the ratepayers in the locality were entitled to have some money expended lor them in this direction. Mr Barker said this was such an important work that ho should like t« see it discussed at a fuller meeting, and would suggest that it be postponed. He did not think ft was correct to say that no money had been spent ior the benefit of this part of the town. He moved that the further discussion of the question be postponed until there was a fuller meeting. No one seconded this proposition, and it was then agreed, on the motion of Mr Davies, seconded by the Chairman, that the work he done, and tenders invited. Mr Parker said he thought the Chajnuan and Mr Davies had arrived at the decision very prematurely. The Chairman said the members ought to lie there. They know the subject was coming on for discussion to-night, and a shower ofraiu ought not to prevent them coming. In reply to Mr Parker, the Chairman said if any one was injured by th e work he would, of course, be entitled to compensation, but it would iujiU'e nobody. Mr Dobson reported as follows “In compliance with your instructions I proceed to report upon the results to be expected from raising Maxwell Road and Ilalifax-strcet. In the event of Hoods in the Opawa backing up the town : -these floods involve a very large body of water, but that portion of it finding its way up Hhdi-street and the neighborhood stands at a dead level which is not practically affected by a portion of water crossing Maxwell Road and Halifax-street to fill the large basin below. In floods from the Taylor and Omaka rivers In the western parts of the town these floods rise to a greater height than those from the Opawa, not because of the larger quantity of water concerned, hut because of the water of the Taylor having no outlet -it is spread over the lands and has to run some distance before it can reach any available channel. As the Opawa is never at its highest during the Taylor Hoods, the Opawa being chiefly affected by North-west rain, and the L’aylor by South-east rain, there is always a comparatively good outfall into the Opawa sufficient to carry away the water when it reaches the channel. I here is, theiefoie, no reason for leaving open an inteiioi loute which merely allowed the water to spread over a large area without being really effectual in lowering the actual Hood level. In suggesting that the central pait of the road should be raised in prefeieuco to the footpath, one object which I had in view was to have a good breadth of bank consolidated by gravel and traffic. Another object of importance was to leave sufficient space on the flooded side of the road for proper water tables to carry off the water when the Hoods are going down. At present, through an oversight, the water lies in ponds on the allotments immediately ad joining Maxwell Road until the footpath is cut through after each flood, causing a good deal of unnecessary inconvenience. On the South-east side of the proposed bank the ditches which, at ordinary times, drain into the Lock-up creek are at present hacked up and flooded whenever the Opawa is much above its ordinary level, the land near the corner of Stafford-street and lled-wood-street being actually Hooded with a slight fresh. By closing the sluices at the culverts at the end of Waiter-street and at Mr Kuril's in Ilalifax-strcet all that neighborhood will be very greatly relieved, as it will take some considerable time for the streams from Walter and Redwoodstreets to fill up the low places and by putting a small culvert under Waiter-street and cleaning out and connecting the ditches along Stafford and Redwood-streets as far as Mr Houldsworth’s the accumulation of water from the streams would flow away by what is known as the Catch water drain without rising so high as to cover Waltcrstreft. It would not do, however, to close the culverts at Waiter-street and at the back of Mr Earll's in Halifax-street, as they will still be necessary for draining the land in ordinary times, unless a deep drain be opened through section 46, Opawa, which would involve acquiring property for the purpose. As both the culverts, however, are available and are centi ally situated it is not essential to go to much expense in hanging floodgates, which,, if hung, would require occasionally cleaning out,°as it would answer every purpose if sliding doors were put in by hand when requisite by the men in charge of the streets.— l have, &c., Alfred Dobson, C.K” . . , , , . The Chairman said the rivers looked in a more satisfactory condition than for some time past, and the works at the Breach had proved a great success. A GRIEVANCE. Mr A. Thomas, contractor, wrote to the Board stating that he and his partners had met with several accidents and heavy losses during tha progress of their work in pile driving,'and his partners had left him to pay everything. If the Board would consider his case, and allow him some compensation for his losses it would be very acceptable.

■ The Chairman sv.id this contract had been very carelessly carried out. I lie contractors had lost a monkey, worth L2O, and destroyed a punt, and now Mr 'I liomas had the face to ask for compensation. On the contrary, bethought the loss the Hoard had sustained ought to be refunded. Mr Bury, overseer, etc., in reply to tlie Chairman, said Mr Thomas’ mates had left him in the lurch. On the motion of Mr Davies, seconded by Mr Redwood, it was resolved that the contractors be requested to make furtlierscarch for the monkey, and that Mr Bury he authorised to assist them. RATE. On tlie motion of the Chairman, a race of Is in the Pound on first-class land, and fid on second-class land, was struck. PETITION. A petition from Mr J. R. V\. Cook, and 40 other ratepayers, drawing attention to the serious loss and inconvenience occasioned by the overflow of the water to the South at or near the Maxwell Road bridge, and asking tli Hoard to take tlie necessary means to prevent tlie lands in that neighborhood from inundation, was read. The petition was received, and may be taken as dealt with by the Board passing the resolution to raise the road as above stated. mr si‘lvor’s land. Mr Sinclair (solicitor) wrote to the Board stating that Mr Melvor is now in a position to give a conveyance of the land taken by the Board for the purpose of cutting a drain to divert the Omaka river. There was a balance of L 75 due to Mr Melvor. The Chairman suggested that the matter should stand over until next meeting, as the Board was rather short of funds just now. This was agreed to. roses’ bank. Messrs Davies and Parker were deputed to visit Rose's Bank, some time before next meeting, and report on the bank ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were ordered to be paid :—Sharp and Pickering (wire) L2 fid, Elbeok (stationery) 13s 10d, \V. Bary LI IDs, D. Bary L 1.3,.3, T. Neumann L 3 fis fid, R. Bascoc L 3 3s, Furness and Bouiuly L 7 7s, A. Dobson L2 13s fid, do. fis, P. Lawrence (punt) L 3, Marlborough Times L 4 11s Od, Tyler and Potter (cutting willows) LI Bs. The Board then adjourned.