CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE BOARD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13742, 25 May 1910, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH DRAINAGE BOARD.

The Christehurch Drainage Board met lost night. Present—Messrs Walter Hill (cliairmaii), S. C. Bingham, A. S. Bruce, James Forrester, 11. J. Otiey, fc>. A. Staples arid W. J. Walter. 'Hie Assistant Engineer reported that the -works in connection with No. 18 pipe-laying contract (St. Albans West) were now finished, and as scon as some minor defects had been ijiade good by the contractors, the sewers will be opened for house-connections. The Chief Inspector reported regarding the outfall timber drain that at a point about two chains cast of Telford street he discovered on May 13th that fully 100 ft of boarding had been wilfully removed and carried away. It was decided to instruct the Board's solicitor to take proceedings against the alleged offender. The Selwyn County Council wrote in reply to a letter in which the Boajd objected to pay the subsidy promised towards the co:»t of clearing the river Styx until the work had been satisfactorily performed. The Council stated that the contracts terminated on February 23th, and that at that date the work of cutting weeds and other vegetation had been satisfactorily completed. - . . It was • agreed to. refer the Council to the letter of April 21st, 1909, and to reply that when the work was done in, accordance therewith, the Board would pay the amount.

The secretary to the Mcl/enn Institute wrote, calling attention to the offensive state of Free's creek from Manchester street through the property of the Institute to the border of St. Mary's Church, and asked that the creek be piped. The matter was left to the chairman and Mr Otlcy, with power to act.

Mr H. Cotterill, on behalf, of .the trustees of the Cashmere Estate, called attention to the condition of the' Cashmere stream, running through the estate. He was instructed to ask that the work in connection with this stream, which is an arterial drain for the whole district, should be taken over completely by the Board, and the trustees relieved from the work hitherto curried on. by thorn, and also in particular that the work now required for the removal of the silt should be taken in hand by tho Board. The letter Mas referred to the Chief Inspector for a report. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Christchnrch branch, forwarded a copy of tho claims to be made bofore the Conciliation Council. It was decided to apply for exemption, as the Board is working under an award already. It. was remarked that the clauses regarding working niglii-shifts would seriously affect the Board. It was decide! tc carry out the work on Waltham road storm-water sewer by day labour.

Regarding the deepening of Dudley creek, between Green's and Kelly's, roads, the Special Committee Get up recommended that a sum not exceeding £G0 of No. 4 loan account should be spent on straightening up the creek and taking out slumps, in proportion to the acreage drained in each district, in the following proportions :—Avon .527 St. Albans .208. Riccarton .365. The above is not to be taken as a precedent for any future charges. The report was adopted.