DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4204, 18 January 1879, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD.

FbTDAT, jANtTABY 17.

The newly-elected Drainage Board for the jthtrict of Christchnrch met at half-past ten o'clock. Present—Messrs H. J. Tancred, Blakiston, Hall, Duncan, John Evans Brown, Harman, and Boss. NEW CHAIB—AN. On the motion of Mr Harman, seconded by Mr Duncan, Mr H. J. Tancred was re-elected chairman. Mr Tancred briefly thanked the Board for the mark of confidence they had placed in him, and took his seat. ENGINEER'S BEPOBT. This report was read as follows :—■. I submit the survey of the drain reserve, Tuam street east, showing the land required to be taken to secure Ihe road a chain wide. It is important to come to a decision about this widening before building the main sewer. The consideration of the contractor's offer to undertake the securing of the Heathcote river from Lincoln road to Christchurch quay was referred to this meeting of the The present contract expires in February. I think it would condnce to economy to let the Heathcote and Avon rivers in one contract.

The cleaning of aU creeks and drains in the Avon district is let by contract, and so far this arraDgo nieut has been satisfactory. A schedule has been prepared with the object of letting the drains and rivers in Biccarton district, if the Board desires to do so. _ . , . The progress of works at the Perry road and, in Madras street is quite satisfactory, except in regard to the delay caused by the -want of bricks. I have endeavored to remedy each delays by constructing the sewers all iit concrete, except the arch; but even so, we cannot get the sewer _. Salisbury street arched over yet. Fresh tenders have been called, for the work in Antigua street, which will be submitted to the Board.

C. HAFTEB BEIX. Mr Duncan said with regard to getting extra ground near Mntheson's road he thought there would be no difficulty in getting the necessary funds. , . ~ v Mr Duncan moved that certain lines be adopted, and that the engineer be requested to confer with the parties lan question with a view to its speedy settlement. Speaking of the next clause, Mr Bell said there was not as yet a particle of brown weed or Yankee weed in the Heathcote. Mr Harman said it would be very desirable to advertise the Avon and Heathcote in one. After some discussion it was resolved that temporary arrangements be made for the clearing of- the Heathcote until the expiration of the Avon contract in order that the two might be , advertised and let together in one contract. With, regard to the paragraph in connection with the drainsjto be included in the achednle,Mr Hall asked that the matter might be allowed to stand over until the next Board day by which time he should have all the neoessary information. - ..: Mr Bell was instructed in the meantime to forward a copy of the schedule to Mr Hall, as chairman of the Biccarton Road Board. In speaking of the next clause, the Surveyor eai'lthey could not build the eewersof brick unless they had their own brickyards. The concrete sewera were in every respect superior. Mr Harman said they must have some hold on the contractor to see that he supplied the necessary number of bricks. Mr Bell said it was impossible to get the amount of bricks they require. At tho present time the contractor was pulling down his kiln and erecting another. He had. given orders to go on with the work without reference to the bricks. Aa there was not a full Board it was resolved that tbe consideration of the question of the banking account should stand over; The Chairman said he had seen the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, and he had agreed to let the ii 10,000 remain on until the end of the term, ihe 9th of May next. On the motion of Mr Hall, it was resolved that the matter should be deferred to the next meeting. TENDERS. i- The Board went into committee to consider 'the tenders for the Antigua street drain, and accepted that cf Mr W. Wady for £1680 18s 6d, tint being the lowest. CORBBSPONDBNCE. A letter was read from the Heathcote Boad Board asking what steps it was proposed to take with regain to the dr*m in front of Mr Loughnan's premises. There was a memo, on the back of the letter to the effect that the drain was required no longer. ~ Thefetter was referred to the engineer. A letter was reid from Messrs Izard and Lougfamn, stating thai they had b«n hnrtrueted on the part of Mr Bartholomew Tgt ,£2OO damages for wrongful entry of the Board en to bis ~ .

Mr Napier Bell said a drain had been cut, but was now filled up again, and the land was in the same condition as before except with regard to the grass. ~ , , Sir Duncan aaked if the proper notice had been given. Mr Bell said no notice had been servedon Mr Tait in this instance, as they could not find out the owner. Notice had been served upon the wrong person. There was, howeTer, no necessity to give any notice. Mr Duncan observed that iimight be bo, but it was always better to do bo. A similar letter was read on behalf of Mr F. Morgan. It was resolved to reply in both cases that the Board would consider the matter in connection with other claims. A letter was read from Sir Cracroft Wilson, complaining of the state of the river Heathcote, near Cashmere. Referred to the engineer. _ It was resolved to provide John Gierszwoki with the means of making a bridge across a drain in front of his premises. AUDITOR'S REPORT. This report was read. It recommended that aIS Touchers should be signed by the chairman, and also contained seme other small matters of detail. XSVVA.TU ACOOUHIB. The accounts were brought np and ordered to lie on the table till the next meeting. Mr Brown called the attention of the Board to the fact that according to the 95th clause of the Act the accounts must be passed at that meeting. The Chairman said the difficulty of this might be get over by adjourning the meeting, so that this and the next meeting would be one, the aocoasts in the meantime to lie on the table for public inspection. A motion to this effect was 'put and agreed to. AUDITORS 7BBS. It was resolved that the auditors should receive twenty guineas each for their trouble, and that the name should be charged to the loan account, having been charged to the rate account last year by mistake. OBDINABT ACCOUNTS. Ordinary accounts, amounting to £2559 17s 10d, were passed. A WORKS COMKITTBH. Mr Human moved —" That, in view of the probable early arrival of drain pipes from England, it is desirable that a sub-committee be appointed to report to the Board from time to time what works can be put in hand with the greatest advantage to the drainage district, such committee to consist of Messrs Duncan, Hobbe, and the mover." These gentlemen would act as a works committee, and would be found to be very useful in many respects. Seconded by Mr Hall. In answer ±o a question, Mr Herman said the committee was not intended to interfere with the engineer, but rather to assist him. Mr Boss said the committee would save work to both the engineer and the Board. The motion was carried unanimously. The Board then adjourned.