DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume XXVI, Issue 3392, 18 July 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Christchurch District Drainage Board was held yesterday at the othce, Hereford street. Present—Messrs F. Hobbs (chairman), Hall, Duncan, Harman, Wright, Boas, and Jones. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman said that in going through the new Municipal Corporations Act, he saw that all the drains were invested in the City Council. He then saw the Board's solicitor, who had suggested the addition of some words which would answer the purpose. He (the chairman) had written to His Honor the Superintendent pointing this out, and asking him to have the words suggested by Mr Cowlishaw inserted in the Bill. He had also written to Mr Fisher on the matter. In going through the new Rating Bill he fonnd that clause 40 applied to the question of the liability of the Council to pay rates on the outfall drain, which now existed between the Council and Heathcote Boad Board—" As lands occupied for public purposes by the Crown or the local body of the district" were exempt from paying rates. He had pointed this out to the chairman of tbat Board. He had observed that the Local Electors Bill which had now passed the House of Representatives was optional, and not compulsory, as it was first believed to be. The letters written by the chairman were i read and his action therein approved. The engineer's report was read as follows :— " I —All plans and levels have now been sent to the consulting engineer, accompanied with .records of rainfall, estimates of the discharge of sewage and well water, tide gauge record, areas of watershed to various outlets round the city, and full reports on the present system of drainage in the different districts.. " 2—The clearing of rivers and drains is being vigorously pushed forward, which is cauaing much improvement in the drainage of the land. »3—The surveyor to the Avon Road Board having given his opinion that the Carlton Mill road is not damaged by the mill race, and the owners of the road (which is private property) having stated that they will not allow the road to be touched except under conditions which this Board has nothing to do with, I would .suggest that no further steps be taken in the matter. The owners_ the mill has expressed his willingness to alleviate any inconvenience that the water may cause to the sections below, the race, but asserts that none of the owners have made any complaint. "4—l intend before taking any further steps in regard to opening out Kruse's drain to have some levels taken, which will show whether there is any other direction to turn the water, which will serve the same purpose. **I have the honor to remain, &c, "0. Napier Bell, " Engineer." In conjunction with the report, an opinion from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw was read on the CJarlton mill race. A letter was read from MrT. S. Duncan, solicitor, instructed by the attorneys of Mr W. D. Wood, tenant of Riccarton mill, requesting the Board not to sanction the diverting of any additional quantity of water from the Wairarapa stream than was originally required for the Carlton mills, referred to in the report of the engineer read at a meeting of your Board on the 3rd inst, as the taking of such additional quantity would materially diminish the water power .absolutely required for the use of the Biccarton mills. A second letter was read from Mr Duncan, instructed by Mr John Deans, referring to engineer's report read at last meeting on the Carlton mill race, and stating that if permission be given to divert a greater quantity of water from the Wairarapa stream down tbat mill race than was originally required for the mill, great injury will be inflicted by reducing the water power at the Biccarton mills, of which Mr tiean'B Is the proprietor, and otherwise deteriorating the value thereof. A letter, signed by Mr Money, and another, enclosed from the Avon Road Board, was: read, saying that the road alongside the 1 Carlton mill race was their private property, and offering to sell the same, for a consideration, to the Board. A general discussion ensued on the report and letters read, and a petition received on the matter some time since was re-read, at the requf st of Mr Wrighted. The engineer mtggested that the water at present used by both mills should be measured, as such information might be found useful for reference. It was stated that the water had been raised in the Carlton mill race several inches higher than when it was first, worked. After further remarks from members, Mr Wright moved " That the water be cut off from the Carlton mill race annually for such a period as will suffice to assert the right of this Board to the control of the water." Mr Harman seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The secretary was instructed to write Mr Duncan that no such proposal was intended as referred to in his ietterß. The clauses of the engineer's report were approved. Mr Hfc 11 desired to say that the small outlay incurred by the Board in clearing the watercourses throughout the various districts had given very 'great satisfaction, and relief in many cases | Hear, hear.] A letter was received from Mr W. Kitson, drawing attention to the state of Free's cie?k going through his property, near Madras bridge. Referred to the engineer to report. A letter was read from the Heathcote Road Board, in reply, stating that the payment of the rate for the outfall drain was still under consideration. The chairman said that he had previously stated he had had a conversation with the chairman of the Board on this matter. A letter was received from the Spreydon Road Board in reply, saying that as the drainage rate was struck on a different assessment, and not under the same system as the Road Boards rate, they could not undertake the work of the collection of the rate. A letter wa. read from the Avon Road Board offering to collect the drainage rate in that district for 10 cent upon the amount collected, the rate notices and receipt book- to be supplied to them. It was decided to consider the whole question of the collection of the rate at a later period. . A letter was read from the City Council in I reply, regretting they could not depart from their former decision as to the collection o the drainage rate. A letter was read from Mr C. R. Blakiston, drawing attention to the disgraceful state of the drainage on the northern side of the city, especially on the Caledonian road and laud to the eastward of that road. ! Beferred to the esgineer, with power to take action. A letter was read from the works committee of tbe City Council, enclosing letter from the Avon Road Board relating to Ihe drainage of a portion of that district. The letter requested permission to place drain pipes across the town belt into the drain on the opposite side for the purpose of draining the road on section 33. The chairman said this matter had been i already dealt with. A number of accounts were submitted and paEs.d for payment. At Mr Barman's request Mr Wright was appointed to take bis place on the tub committee to consider the amendments in the Drainage Act. On the motion of Mr Duncan, the Board went into committee to consider tbe tenders received for the collection of the drainage rate. In committee, sixteen tenders were considered, and on resuming tbe chairman reported the acceptance of the following :— City of Christchurch, F. G. P. Leach at 4 per cent; Heathcote, Christopher Ladds at 10 per cent; Spreydon, Geo. Paanell at 7 J per cent; Avon, Avon Road Board at 10 per cent. The Board then adjourned.