DEPUTATION TO THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5012, 13 March 1877, Page 3

DEPUTATION TO THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

The deputation appointed at the meeting held at Mr Clark’s room, on March 2, to confer with the Drainage Board, met that body at II o’clock yesterday morning, at the office of the Board, Hereford street. The members present were Messrs Hobbs (in the chair), Boas, Hall, Duncan, Jones, Harman, and Wright. The deputation consisted of the Hon J. T. Peacock, Dr Frankish, and Messrs Ollivier, E. B. Bishop, Nathan, Wood, and Stead.

Mr Ollivier explained the object of the deputation. He said they had the honour to wait upon the Board, having bean appointed at a meeting of citizens recently held at Mr Clark’s rooms to consider Mr Carruthers’ drainage scheme. They were now present simply for the purpose of bringing under the notice of the Board the resolutions passed at that meeting, and to pat certain leading questions, to which they would be obliged if the Board would give them an answer. The resolutions in question were as follows '

1. This meeting is of opinion that any schema tor the drainage of Christchurch and the surrounding districts should bo comprehensive and complete, and should have accompany‘-ig it a carefully prepared estimate of the cost; and further, it is expedient that a matter of such magnitude should not bo decided on hastily, before the people interested have time t > consider the question in all its bearings. 2. That Messrs Ollivier, Peacock, W. D. Wood, G. Stead, L. E. Nathan, £. B. Bishop, Dr Nodwill, and the mover, he appointed a deputation to wait on the Drainage Board to communicate the opinion of this meeting, and respectfully request that no portion of the works contemplated in the incomplete scheme of Mr Carruthers be undertaken until lithographed plans and estimate of cost be at least three months before the public.

At a meeting that was subsequently held, it was determined to hand to the Drainage Board certain questions, a copy of which he had seat, and which ran as follows: 1. As to what portion of Mr Carruthers’ report it is the intention of the Board to adopt and to immediately carry out—(a) as regards the water-closet system ; (t) and the removal of the sewage to tho estmuy. 2. Are tho artesian wells to he stopped ?

3. Are tho houses to bo connected with tho sewers by pipes ? ■l. After defining tho works intended to bo put in hand tinder tho system, wo have to request that you will favour us with an approximate estimate of their cost.

The deputation felt that, until in possession of the information which was comprehended in those few questions, they were utterly unable to come to any opinion as to the value of the scheme, and without such information could not sit down contented or otherwise. It might be said that time was an object in carrying on those works, but they felt that three months would make little difference in a matter of such magnitude. Having made these few remarks, and submitted the question, the deputation would now like to hear the answers of the Board.

The Chairman piooeeded to answer the questions briefly, but from the position of the reporters it was utterly impossible to catch Mr Hobbs’ remarks except in a fragmentary manner. He said, however, that the Board had resolved to answer the questions formally ii writing, and that his opinions would be found embodied in thoseanswers. These will bo found at the end of this report. In the course of his remarks ho again denied that the Board had adopted the whole of Mr Carruthers’ report. The Board had, however, come to the conclusion to go on with a certain portion of the work, and they had Been no reason to alter their opinion in that respect. Mr Ollivior: That is, you have called for tenders. . , _ , The Chairman said only for the Ferry road drain, which was considered to be an urgent work, rendered necessary for the sake of the public health. Mr Nathan: May I ask if the Board will favour the deputation with on estimate ot the approximate cost of the work which it is now intended to do ? Mr Duncan : Wo shall bo able to give you on approximate of the whole cost. Mr Nathan; But if it is intended to go on with certain works, surely you can give an approximate idea of the cost. Mr Ollivier said : Surely there would be no difficulty in doing this. You must have a knowledge of what this portion of the work is likely to cost—not necessarily within a hundred pounds or so, but so that wo might form some conclusion on the subject. Mr Duncan : 1 do not think it would be right to make this public until the tenders for the work are received. Mr Ollivior : You might leave a margin or a thousand or two, Mr I’oucock said the public wore very naturally anxious to know what the cost of the whole scheme would bo. He did not think it would bo worth their while to know what would be the cost of only a portion of the work. Did they intend to do one portion of Christchurch and leave the other unnrovided for in the matter of drainage P He Ev asked this question for the information nublio. Fcople who might live in those l P«ts that would bo attended to at a future time, would like to know something “ b Mr Wright said the work referred to in Mr JUT v ; r, 6 oimnlv provided for trunk r Un ° to "carry off the storm water. Before linos to othor W orks, they would wait deciding on tbo , ■ f rom England as till .fr.ir s. tbought tl * Board, to the cost of P P°» 1 the necessity ot andthopubhc oo,wou o Lofc th# carrying out _„ n tilatod and he was sure mutter fairly fap they would bod oorrpre hendod the plan public had not U 7 p deal hat j been said or the report, a 8 othor B y ß tems, but upon the dry sy* lookod upon as an those oould on ‘ v , Some time ago the

written to tho papers, and quoted portion-of a report on drainage drawn up by tho highest English authority. He had, however, not given tho whole of the report, but had only quoted fire paragraphs out of nine. He (the speaker), however, was provided with the entire report, and If they would allow him, he would road the four paragraphs that had not boon printed by Mr OlHVler. Mr Ollivior said ho bad sent in tho report os ho had out it out of 4he Pall Mall Oatette. Their object was not to go into a full discussion of the matter now. They had put certain questions, to whioh they required certain answers. Mr Duncan : I take it that tho deputation are hero for tho purpose of obtaining information. I should be inclined to ask tho Chairman to plaoo tho plans on tho table, so that they might bo folly explained to tho deputation. I think it wise that tho plans should bo produced, and placed upon the table for examination.

Mr Stead : I think tho Board misunderstands tbo duty of the deputation. I don’t say that tho plans are not the very best that can begot, but wo are not here now to discuss that. Wo came to ask certain questions. It is known that you have called for tenders to go on with certain work*. Yon have, more or loss, made up your minds with regard to tho scheme generally. |What we want to know, therefore, is if you have made up yorr minds to carry out tho plans in their entirety. As it has boon stated by other members of tho deputation, we did not come here to discuss the merits of tho case, but simply to ask those questions. Wo should particularly liko to know how much the scheme will cost, and if yon have made up your minds to carry out these plans. It is often said that money is no object, but with the ratepayers it is a very great object. As for myself, I don’t set myself up for one minute as a judge of this scheme or that eoheme, but ae a taxpayer I hare a right to know what will bo the cost of the work.

Mr Harman made some remarks, which were almost inaudible to the reporters. He was understood to say that if the whole Bchomo was not carried out, the drainage must still go into the river, and any delay would be contingent on the feelings of the people living in the suburbs. Would they consent to a delay that would be detrimental to the health of their districts. While the city might be able to afford to c" .y out certain portions of the scheme, the matter, he might say, was a matter of life and death with them to bare their portions carried out also. If both city and suburbs consented to delay, then the Board would bo in a better position to decide upon their action. For his own part, ho con* sidered the works they hod agreed to go on with, were a matter of necessity. Mr Ollivier : In the event of the high level system being adapted. The Chairman ; It is adopted, but wo have not resolved to go on with it. Mr Duncan: We have only adopted it so far os oe'rying eff storm water is concerned. It is not qujation of sewage at all at oresent.

The plan of Mr Oarruthor’s scheme wr' then placed on the table, end was examined by the deputation. Mr Ollivier (after examining it): It is absolutely necessary that this pirn should be in the hands of the ratepayers. Ton are very much mistaken if you think there are but few ratepayers who will understand it. I venture to say there will not be a single one who will not understand it. It is unfair to proceed with the discussion unt”. we have such information as is contained in this plan before us. If we have arrived at a wrong conclusion through lack of such information, surely it is better that suoh a want should be supplied and our ignorance removed. You say that there is dr : a copy of the plans in this office. But it is not convenient for every body to come io this office to see them. It is a matter of the greatest importance that every ratepayer shoo’d be supplied with a copy of these plans. We wait the levels with the names of the streets put upon them, and they will be perfectly easy of comprehension. Mr |Stead: Might I ask the Board when they will make up their minds, and when they intend to carry out the work. Mr Duncan : We have adopted the plans, but we do not wish to fly in the face of the people of Christchurch. Mr Stem!; Do I uiderstaud that though you have adopted the plans you don’t intend to go on with the work. The Chairman: Most certainly we do, unless we have a very strong expression of opinion from the ratepayers that they do not wont it.

Dr Prankish: What data have you that it will be necessary to connect any of the houses with the sewers. You say yon intend to apply to Parliament to restrict the waste of water from the artesian wells. Dr Frankish went on to speak about flushing the sowers, but his remarks, like those of other speakers, were partially inaudible to the reporters, who were most inconveniently placed at the rear of the Board and the deputation—in an adjoining room in fact, with the door between the rooms taken down.

Mr Wright said few towns had suoh facilities for flashing sewers as Christchurch, whore there was an abundant supply of water from creeks and rivers.

Dr Frankish : I think a groat deal of the mis-understanding has arisen from the action of the Board itself. Mr Ollivier said he hoped the Board would re-consider its determination about the lithographing and distribution of the plans, so that every ratepayer might be provided with a copy of the same, and be able to study it at his leisure. If the ratepayers were going to be taxed for a scheme of this magnitude they might surely be allowed to hare a copy of the plans. Mr Boss: What will it lead up to ? Mr Ollivier: Well, if the matter is discussed by the gentlemen who have taken the matter in hand and others, and their decision is adverse to the scheme, you will very soon hear of it in another way. Mr Boss.- 1 should like to see the point you are aiming at. . Mr Ollivier: Well, it will lead to a general expression of public opinion. If you cannot satisfy that public opinion, and if you say you will carry out the scheme whether the ratepayers like it or not, public opinion will have to be manifested in another way. Mr Boss: If opinion is to be formed it should be formed by those who are technically competent to form it. Mr Duncan asked Mr Bell to point out on the plan what works it was necessary to go on with at once. ... . . Mr Peacock: If the whole scheme is not to be carried out, will this portion of it be necessary P , , Mr Bell: Yes, it would bo necessary for the storm water sewage. You must either deliver it into the river, or you must pump it. Mr Ollivier: If you merely had to relieve the surplus sewage of that portion (pointing to the map), is not the system adopted then ° e Mr*Bell: If only intended for storm water, it might have boon shallower, but not it it is to take off the sewogo from houses. Mr Nathan: The adoption of this portion of the scheme involves the adoption of the The Chairman: Not necessarily. Mr Stead : Do I understand that when you have finished this portion of the work, you will not go on with the other? The Chairman i Not in opposition to the wishes of the people. Wo shall have to go before the ratepayers for re-election m about 18 months, and then the question will bo for the ratepayers to decide. Mr Peacock; But suppose the people say they will not have these plans carried out, what is the use of commencing the works at “ U Mr Harman said one of the principal things was, that they wore not to dram into th Mr* Hall: I will ask Mr Bell if the pumping Bt MrßeU n Toa'Sndo without them if they are no® wanted. (Laughter., The.e dmn. are not dependent upon a pumping station. Dr Frankish: The question is, shall we bo throwing away money by going on with these throwing away * resolved not to carry pre f h r l’S in it. entirety ? In op* out wors of a certain siao, Mr OarSWTtortwtl- bigb JO.OI .jetomof 1 drainage.)

Mr Boll; Yes,. Dr Frankish, lam sure the Board will now see the necessity of supplying us with these printed plans. Mr Ollivior; It may make a most material difference.

Tho deputation having thanked the Board for their courtoty, then withdrew. During the afternoon, tho Board forwarded tho following letter to the Chairman of tho Deputation

, , Cbrlotoburoh, March 12, 1877. J. Ollivior, Esq. Bib,— l Jiaro tho honour by direction of tho Dreluago Board lo forward you tho following reply to your letter of March 8, 1877 t Tho Board have adopted, and It Is their Intention to carry out with an little delay an poaalble, tho system of ooworo laid down In Mr Carrutbore* plans, that nyatom being in thoir opinion complete end oomprobonnlvn, comprising within Its urea -ho following districts:—Christchurch Proper, Addington, Newtown, Waltham, Philllpstown, Perry road, Avonvillo, Bingsland, tho district between tho North Town Bolt nnd tho Edgowaro road, Knightstown, Ht Albans, nnd Papanui road, with provision for further extension.

Tho Board hnvo no intention of disturbing tho present arrangements for tho removal of nlghtsoll, except In so far as they may see thoir way to effect nomo Improvements in matters of detail. As regards the removal of sewage to tho estuary, tho Board intend that no sowago shall bo there discharged beyond that which at present finds its way there, whether by tho rivers or by tho existing drains. Thoir r’timato decision as to tho disposal of tho sewage when collected, whether by discharge into tho sea or into the deep water of the oslnary, or by pumping it on to land for tho purpose of filtration, will bo delayed until tho Board have obtained tho fullest information requisite to or able them to corao to a satisfactory conclusion. In reference to tho water supply from artos'an wells, tho Board 1-avo no desire to restrain its liberal use, but they nroof opinion that it will be to the interest of tbo publio that they should, by legislative enactment, bo aimed with sufficient power to enable them to restrict its improper wasto.

Tho Board have no intention, as a general rule, to connect tho houses with tho sowers by moans of pipes. In some cases, however, tho connection may be allowed, and in others insisted upon, in the interests of public health; hat In ail such cases, tho works will bo carried oat upon tho plans and under tho strict supervision of tho Engineer to tho Board, and on no otbor conditions. Tho estimated cost of tho worse comprised in Mr Carruthors' plans, including management, is £167,000, of which about jCCCOO provide for tho sewerage of roads which at present are .'most unoccupied.

Lithograph plans, accompanied by an explanation famished by the Engineer, shall be prepared, and will bo supplied to ratepayers at a cost of one shilling oaca, bat tho Board regret that they are unable to accede to tho request of your Committee “ that tho subject shall remain in abeyance for a period of, say three months from tho issue o( the above information.’’—l have, &0., B. J. S. Harkan, for tho Chairman,