DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 3643, 13 March 1877, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

Monday, Mabch 12

A special meeting of the Board was held at 11.30, to receive the depntation appointed at the meeting held recently at Mr Charles Clark's rooms.

The following members were presentMessrs Hobbs (chairman), Boss, Jones, Harman, Wright, Hall, and Duncan. The deputation consisted ot Hon J. T. Peacock, Dr Frankish, Messrs L. JB. Nathan, B. B. Bißhop, G. G. Btead,;and W. D. Wood. Mr Ollivier—Mr Chairman and gentlemen, we have waited on you as representing a public meeting held some short time since at Mr Charleß Clark's rooms, to bring under your Dotice a resolution there passed, and also to put certain leading questions to yon, to which we shall feel obliged if your Board will give ns answers. The resolution passed at that meeting I will read to yon. It is as follows:—"This meeting is of opinion that any scheme for the drainage of Christchurch and the surrounding districts should be comprehensive and complete, and should have accompanying it a carefully prepared estimate of the cost; and further, it is expedient that a matter of such magnitude should not be decided on hastily before the people interested have time to consider the question in all its bearings." at a subsequent meeting which took-place of the gentlemen who are associated with mc on this deputation, it was resolved to send certain questions to you, to which we could receive your answer at the present interview, and which I have already had the honor to forward to you. Those questions are as follows :—-" 1. As to what portion of Mr Oarruthera' report it is the intention of the Board to adopt and.to immediately carry out. (a) As regards the water closet system, (b) And the removal of the sewage to the estuary. 2. Are tbe artesian wells to be stopped? 3. Are the houses to be connected with-the sewers by pipes? 4 After defining the works intended to be put in hand under the system, we have to request that you will-favor us with an approximate estimate of their cost." We feel, sir, that until we are in poasesaion of the information, the principal beads of which I have embodied in the'questions submitted, we, the public, are totally unable to deal with the question. We, sir, therefore, would feel grateful to you if you will give us the information asked for by us, and we shall then be able to sit down and consider the subject by the light of the information thus afforded to us. It may be said that delays are dangerous, but we think that the delay of three months for which we ask would not be prejudicial to the interests of the public.

The Chairman then proceeded to reply to the deputation, but, owing to the faot that he spoke in a very low tone of voice and that the accommodation provided foe. the reporters was such as effectually to prevent them hearing anything, the greater part of his remarks were inaudible. The views expressed however by him are contained in the following letter of reply, which was subsequently sent to the deputation, and which we publish in this place :— " Chrißtchnrch, March 12th, 1877. "J. Ollivier, Esq.

" Sir, —I have the hononr, by direction of the Drainage Board, to forward you the following reply to jour letter of March Bth, 1877 :—

" The Board have adopted, and it is their intention to carry out with as little delay as possible, tbe system of sewers laid down in MrCsr rnthers' plat s, that system being in their opinion complete and comprehensive, comprising within its area the following districts— Ohri'tchnrch proper, Addington, Newtown, Waltham, PhillipstowD, Ferry road, Avonside, Bingsland, the district between the north town belt and the Edgeware read, Snightßtown, St Albans, and Papanui road, with provision for further extension.

" The Board have no intention of disturbing thepresent arrangements for the removal of night soil, excepting in so far as they may see their way to effect some improvements in matters of detail.

" As regards the removal of sewage to tbe estuary, the Board intend that no sewage shall be there discharged beyond that which at present finds it way there, whether by the rivers or by the existing drains. Their nlti* mate decision as to' the disposal of tbe sewage when collected, whether .by discharge into tbe sea or into the deep water oL the estuary, or by pumping it overland for the purpose of filtration, will be delayed until the Board have obtained tbe fullest information requisite to enable them to come to a satisfactory conclusion;

"In reference to tho water supply from artesian wells, the Board have no desire to restrain its liberal use, but they are of opinion that it will be to the inteiest of the public tbat they should, by Legislative enactment, be armed with sufficient power to enable tbem to restrict its improper waste. " The Board have no in ten tion, as a general rule, to connect the houses with the sewers by means of pipes. In some eases, however, the connection may be allowed, and in others insisted upon, in the interests of public health ; but in all such cases the works will be carried out upon the plans, and under the strict'supervision of the engineer to the Board, and on no other conditions.

"The estimated cost of the works comprised in Mr Carruthers' plana, including management, is £167,000, of which about £6000"provides for the sewerage of roads which at present are almost unoccupied. "Lithograph plana,.accompanied by an explanation furnished by the engineer, will be prepared and will be supplied to ratepayers atthecost of Is each; bnt the Board regret that they an unable to accede to the request of

v, .. that the subject shall remain in abeyance for a period of say three .months from the issue of the above information. : , : ;

*' I have the honor to be, Sir, " Yonr obedient servant, ««B. J. 8. Harm an, " For the Chairman." Mr Nathan asked if the Board could five an approximate estimate of the work which the Board intended to goon witb. Mr Duncan—We have not an estimate off tbe whole work yet. Mr Nathan pointed out that, as the Board had informed them that they only intended! to carry out partofthe work, the approximate cost of the scheme was of little interest to them. Mr Ollivier asked if the Board could give them the approximate cost of the portion which they said they intended to go on with, and then they coald form their own conclusions. Mr Duncan thought it wonld be very unwise to put the figures of their engineer before the public aa respected a part at the work for which they were calling for tenders. Mr Ollivier—The Board might give ns an approximate estimate only, not a detailed one, so that we can form some idea of the proposed work you say yon intend to carout.

Hon J. T. Peacock said tbat what the public wanted to know was, what wonld the whole scheme cost to carry ont. He did not think it worth while to have the cost of a portion only. What he also wanted to know was, if they were only going to do the high level system, when was the other part to be done ? Were three parts of the people of Christchurch to wait for some years until the next part came to be done? Mr Wright wished to explain that the works they-intended to do were two of the trnck sewers ; the branch street lines coald not be carried out until the quotations for pipes which had been invited reached the Board. He believed tbat though the work might be delayed for some monthß the public would agree, and the Board also, ultimately that the whole work should be carried ouC A great deal had been said on tho subject, but he believed the public were not fully informed what the Board intended to do. jMr Ollivier—"Hear, hear." | But he thought this, that whatever system they adopted they would have to come to the sewer system at last. [Mt Wright was going or* to read an extract from the London Tinea on sewage. J Mr Ollivier said that the deputation had not come there to argue points with tho Board ; their mission was specially to obtain information from the Board as to what they were going to do. Mr Duncan said that he thought that if they went beyond the mere formality of receiving the deputation it would be beneficial to the pnblic. Indeed he would like to) ask the chairman to get the engineer to pot the plans of Mr Carruthers on the table and explain them to the deputation, many of whom perhaps had never seen them. .. Mr Stead—-I think Mr Duncan has mistaken the purport of the visit of the depatation. We don't come to discuss the plans pro oi.con\ tbey may be tho very beat in the world; bnt what we want is to aßk for information on various subjects of interest to the public. But I gather from what Mr Wright says, that it may be five or six months before you decide for certain whether yon will go on with the work or not. [Hear, hear.]. What we want to know is this, if you have come to any idea of the amount which it will cost to carry out the plans, or whether you-intend to carry on the work without reference to coat. I should like to know as a ratepayer what tax I shall have to pay. Mr Harman said that if the high level system was not carried out the draining into the river from north and sonth as at present would have to go on. The subject of most importance was the matter of delay. Perhaps the city might be able to wait in carrying out the plans, but perhaps tha suburbs could not, as it might be a matter of life and death to them. Bat if«the city and suburbs agree to delay, the Board would be perfectly willing to agree. | Mr Duncan said that the plan of Mr Carruthers', adopted by the Board, and foe the construction of which instructions had been given by resolution the other day wea for the providing of a storm water chanEcl—■ the Ferry road Be wer—and the relief of the B.W. portion of Ocrißtchnrcb. No sewaga was intended to go down the Ferry road sewer at all. The plan of Mr Oarrathers was then laid on the table. Mr Ollivier said that on seeing the plan he discovered that the Board intended to carry out something totally different to whaf. he expected. This made him more than ever convinced that it was necessary that the plans should be in the hands of the ratepayers, so that they might study them at their leisure. s Mr Stead—When do yon intend to carry out the rest of the plan ?' Mr Doncan—-The citizens of Christchurcfit say that they don't want to have deep I'sewers, !Mr Hobbs—We don't intend to carry oat the plan if the ratepayers object to it. But the part we have now put in hand ia ttbfc connected with the general scheme;.it is ft separate matter, and is to provide for the storm water to be removed. Dr Frankish—-Is there any scheme before I the Board for flushing the sewers irrespee-- ! tiveof the artesian well supply ? Mr Hobbs—The engineer will indicate on the plan the flushing proposed by Mr Carruthers. Mr Wright said tbat Chrischurob, though laboring under many disadvantages a* regarded drainage, had yet great natural advantages for flushing. Indeed few cities possessed such facilities for this as Chriatchurch. • Mr Boss—What is the ultimate end of this opposition, or rather this questioning of the Board? , Mr Ollivier said that after studying the matter carefully with the information afforded them by the Board before them the public would then be enabled to form *■ definite opinion either one way or the Other, They would then be able to decide with the Board or against it; whether the expenditure proposed to be made was a wise one or the reverse. Mr Boss thought that the matter ought tor be decided by persons who were technically able to give an opinion. Hon J. T. Peacock would like to ask Mr. Bell whether if the whole work was abandoned, the work proposed to be carried out by the Board would be necessary in itself 2 Mr Bell-—lt would be necessary as a storm water sewer. But if this was to standi alone it would be necessary to bare it made larger, as Mr Carruthers had distributed the. storm water over a larger area. Mr Btsad—Do I understand that when yon have carried out the part of the plan you have referred to, you do not intend to go on with the farther parte of Mr Carruthers' scheme until the ratepayers decide f Mr Hobbs said his own opinion was tin— Tbey went Out of office in about a year and a half; tbey would then only have completed what they now intended to do, and the question of proceeding with the rest might be left-to be decided by the election. Mr Stead—Then will the Board say tha* the ratepayers will not be involved in further expense than that necessary to ha incurred to carry ont the part of the scheme you intended to do ? Mr Ball wonld like to ask Mr Bell if they could dispense with the pumping station** Mr Bell said that the scheme was not dependent on tbe pumping stations, bnt then they would be draining into the rivers a» now.

After some further discussion, the chair-man-said a written answer would be sent to the deputation. Mr Bishop, after the retirement of tho other members of the deputation, said hedesired to ask one question, and it was thia. was the report and plans of Mr Carruthers both accepted by the Board ? Mr Harman—-The plan only and not tH© report has been adopted by the Board, and; tha misunderstanding on thia point haa caused most of the opposition. *' '■ - The Board then went into committee, and afterwards adjourned.