THE CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE WORKS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5255, 26 January 1878, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE WORKS.

(From the Press, 22nd inst.) It appears that the Drainage Board have not yet been able to find out exactly when Mr. Clark, the engineer who is to report on our drainage works, is to arrive in Christchurch. It is not impossible that on this very account Mr. Clark may make his appearance suddenly, without much warning. His movements seem to be very uncertain, and we may hear any dry that he has reached Hokitika or the Bluff, and will be here almost immediately. We think, there!-re, that the time has arrived when preparations should he made for deciding exactly what Mr. Clark is to do when he does come. It is extremely desirable, even absolutely necessary, that this should be done, if we want to avoid complications in future. There was some months ago a ratepayers’ committee, which took in hand to watch over the interests of the public in this matter ; Mr. Ollivier, Mr. Wynn Williams, and other gentlemen composed, we believe, the committee. We beg to suggest to them that they should attempt to come to an understanding with the Drainage Board, and to put down definitely and specifically what is the work that Mr. Clark is to do when .be arrives. We make this suggestion because w« are aware that some members of the Board are possessed of the idea that Mr. Clark is to report, amongst other things, upon the scheme proposed by Mr. Carruthers. In : fact, it has been stated more than once at meetings of the Board that the plans of Mr. Carruthers are to be submitted to him. Now, if this is the ease, we can only say that it is directly contrary to the understanding arrived at some months ago. It was then distinctly laid down by the ratepayers and accepted by the Board that Mr. Carruthers’ scheme was to be given up altogether—that the district would have none of it. It was, as we believe, distinctly understood by the public that the pollution of the estuary and of the rivers was to be utterly and wholly avoided ; that the Drainage Board wore to carry in their sewers water drainage alone; and that the district was not to be subjected to the burden of heavy rates for the purpose of carrying out the plana of Mr. Carruthers. Now, if there are still two opinions upon this matter, if members of the Board think one thing and ratepayers another, the sooner a definite and specific agreement is come to the better. It will be a gross waste of time and money if a false question is put before Mr. Clark, and if he reports upou plans which the ratepayers have distinctly intimated that they will not have. We suggest therefore that the Ratepayers’ Committee and the Drainage Board endeavor, by conference or otherwise, to get at some thoroughly clear understanding before Mr. Clark arrives as to the real questions to be submitted to him.