DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10057, 8 June 1898, Page 6

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Drainage Board was iie-ld yesterday. PresentMessrs John Deans (in the chair), R. M. Taylor, W. E. Samuels, J. Down, R. HilJ Fisher, G. Mclntyxe, E. Smith, C. Burgess. An apology for absence was received from Mr Palairet. The Chairman said the proposal which was referred to in the notice paper was shortly thus:—The amount of accumulated sinking fund at present exceeded £27,500. If Parliament consented to guarantee the repayment of the Board's loan, or rather to enact that a new loan should be raised at the end of the debenture period in 4925 to pay off the existing loan, there would be then no further need of the sinking fund. The money so released could then be used to complete the sewers, the necessity for which was daily becoming more urgent. The rural areas would also be relieved from the present unfair tax imposed on them. The most expensive part of the system, viz., the main sewers, pumping station, and farm, had been already provided, but could not be used to anything like their full capacity until the sewers were complete. He thought were tliis plan approved by the Board, and the necessary legislation passed, it should be made compulsory for all houses within the reach of sewers to be connected. For many reasons if they could approach Parliament in the matter it would relieve them greatly; if something was not done they would have trouble and ill-health. It was a hard condition that they ehould have to pay off this sum in so short a time. Posterity should help somewhat. Mr Taylor said he did not think there was the slightest chance of the Government interfering between the Board and the bondholders. The only hope he could see was that the rateable value of city property would increase in a year or two. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Taylor, that the Board should wait on the Premier as soon as he came to Christchurch, and that a copy of the Chairman's statement and the resolution to wait on the Premier should be sent to the other local bodies. The Secretary and Treasurer's report showed that the amount of rates received since last meeting was £62 19s lid, amount received from other sources £55 10s, amount of 1896 rate outstanding £25 18s 2d, amount of 1897 rate outstanding £222 8s sd, amount of 1897 rate collected to date £19,111 12s Bd, debit balance £1423 9s lid, expenditure since last meeting £6489 Is 10d. In answer to Mr F. J. Murray, it was decided to assist the Avon Tennis Club in draining a portion of the grounds by paying half the cost of the pipes, provided the work was done to the satisfaction of the Board. The Woolston Borough Council having forwarded a complaint regarding the bad state of the River Heathcote within the borough, it was decided to ask a committee of the Council to meet the Works Committee of we Board on the spot on the 23rd inst. Messrs Mclntyr© and Smith were appointed delegates, with the Engineer, at the conference of representatives of the Christchurch City Council, St. Albans Borough Council, Christchurch Drainage Board, Riccarton Road Board, Avon Road Board, and the Papanui Progress Committee on the subject of a water supply. MrD. Donaldson, of Taylor's road, Aldington, wrote stating that there was a large number of rabbits on the Board's reserves near New Brighton; as shooting was prohibited there was no check on them. He therefore asked permission to shoot over the ground. It was decided to refuse permission. -