DRAINAGE BOARD

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7228, 30 April 1884, Page 6

DRAINAGE BOARD

An ordinary meeting of the Christchurch Dr. ! Board was held yesterday afternoon; present—Mr L. Harper (Chairman), Meisrs W. H. Hashing, A. Ashwori.h, K. Ck ohane, E. J. S. Harman, W. Vincent, W. White, and J. 13. Parker. elections, Ac. A letter was received from the Be turning* Ofpc’r announcin'! tho election ol Messrs Fie-her and Parker. An apology was ma ~. for Mr Flesher, who was unable to attend through illness. engineer’s report. The Engineer’s report was read. It stat d that the expenditure ot £lo would be ■-ocessary if a flood-gate wore to bo nl-,vd at Mr O’Neil’s drain. This was vote -.d to the Works Committee. It question d the responsibility of the Board m the in' l l or complained of by Messrs 1 orrons and Pc'rie. as to clearing tho Heatbeote from th< American weed, Ac., so as not to iuterfev-' with the working of the mill. Ibis was referred to the Works Committee. It -ave an estimate of the cost of pniiVng an 18m pipe in Jackson’s Ore *k, near Harman s corner. 11 he Bo ml resolved to postpone the matter till tho next meeting. It reported satisfactorily on the pipe-laying at the Sunnysid. - Isyhuu. It asked for more effectual arrangements for the disposal of the sewage at the Sandhills. This was referred to the Works Committee. It inclosed two lea,! m<>- articles which appeared in tho Star of April 13 and 14, and applications from M’ - -rs Kennett audßrooksthat an investing i , n should be made. Tho Board decided to o -ld an enquiry before a full meeting of th. Board, and conducted not in committee; the parties interested to be invited to att ad with their evidence. deputation. A joint deputation of the Eiccarton and Av. a Eoacl Boards re the natural boundary., of the respective districts, waited upon the Board. The deputation consisted of M-xsrs Dunlop, H. J. Hall, and eight dtie '-s. The proposed boundaries have air ady been published. jVr Dunlop pointed out what was wanted by vhose whom he represented, and concha Id by leaving the matter to the Board. Mr H. J. Hall appeared to oppose the proposals made at the Papanui public ; rato ting, which he stigmatised as a “ hole . an ■- corner ” one. He contended that the Comity Council paid for clearing the Styx, and - he only drain carrying Eiccarton water the .Ivon district paid for was one that came int ■Mr Duncan’s private property. The Drainage Board had not cut one drain ; from the Eiccarton through the Avon ' di. :rict. He thought the Board would < see ! hat there was no justice in the sugges- i tic - of the Avon deputation. < M r Dunlop said all he wanted was that i aB he drains that flowed eastward to the 1 St - x should be included in the Eural Avon i di'r dct. With regard to the County ’ Cc luicil grant, it was charged against the 1 Avii. * The Board promised to take the matter 1 ini ; consideration. 1 □ deputation thanked the Board, and * withdrew. ] The consideration was deferred to the i ne meeting, when it was hoped that Mr j FT-her would be present. 1 secretary's report. £ The Secretary’s report was read, and 1 de.. ; , with. 1 CORRESPONDENCE. 3 1 e following correspondence was read: — c I-omW. E. Parker, asking for a license £ to .l ike connections with the sewers. The £ mr-rtor was referred to the Works Com- 1 ml ‘ e. i I.'m B. E. Best, making a similar e ap: h cation. This was similarly dealt I wi' h. c } h orn the Linwocd Town Board, compl; ining of subsidence in several streets ov r the sewers. The Board resolved to a re- r the matter to the Works Committee to ' port upon. I.om E. Eennett, applying for a renewal 1 of ■: -s license to connect, and stating that I th -accusations against him were without o fo'-.elation. The matter was left to the 1 fui: meeting of the Board previously de- t tei hned to he held.

l orn W. E. Hassal, calling attention to th- construction of a drain through his sec on in Linvood, and asking for information as to its direction, &c. The 13 •> 1 postponed action till the work was ab it to be taken in hand.

] »m Harper and Co., forwarding terms of ; reposed compromise with Stinson. The nr. c er was referred to the Works Committe o consider in all its bearings.

Tvotn Knight and Whitby, asking permi lon to take clay from the bank of the Ci drain at the bridge nearest the pumping station. The Board declined giving pc -; vssion. From F. Nicholls, asking fßr a supply of pr, he undertaking to do the work he reti iced them for, on his land near the ou' fall drain. The application was granted. From T. Meiry, claiming .£ls for land taken in carrying a drain through his section. The Board resolved to pay the amount. Thom the Assidant-Engineer of the railwa. , offering broken metal at 4s 6d. The 80.- • d did not require any metal. _ 1 tom T. Abbott, calling attention to the fl ....-id condition of his land at Shirley. T - letter was referred to the Engineer to re] ‘.v.-t ujjon. From E. Green, asking the Board to pay ha t the expense of laying pipes on his lai. ■in Edgeware road. The matter was ref rred to the Engineer, From the same, applying for a license to connect with the sewers. The application wa- referred to the Works Committee.

From the Sydenham Borough Council, caning attention to the state of the stone di.i; i in Kingsley street. The Board referred the matter to the Works Committee to i nquire into. From T. Saggers, asking for a license to connect with the sewers. This was referred to Ha Works Committee. From J. Durward, engineer in charge of the pumping machinery, saying that he would not feel justified in accepting the additional responsibility to be imposed up -j him at a salary of .£173 a year. THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS. T’-e following letter was read from the Eu; ineer, with reference to the proposed red n.-'cions in the staff : “ April 28. To the Chairman. “ i'dr,— I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the Secretary’s letter of March 31, in which it is intimated that my present engagement will be terminated on June 30 next, and that it is intended to appoint an Engineer and Inspector from that date at a salary of £3OO per annum, and further reaucsting me to say U I will accept the appointment. With all d ne deference to the Committee who recommended these changes, I cannot help thin king that I might have been consulted in the matter before, or during their deliberations, so far as my department is com •rned, for the reason that I shall still be i i ■ Id responsible for its efficiencyAs ! have not hitherto had an opportunity of expiessing an opinion, I would for this reason respectfully wish to point out where I consider the impending ch::m:es will injuriously affect the Board’s opc rations. Since I have held the present appi mfcmen.t, my work has been of an ard.mns and responsible nature, and I have never spared pains or energy to make the •sewage and drainage scheme a success, as far a* jr- lay in my power. It is therefore nat i: ,idy discouraging to have my salary so r.-F isly reduced; but, putting this on one m!e, the work of inspecting the vari ■ rivers and drains throughout the dLtri-; is no sinecure, and will always fully ■ upy the time of one man if satisfact., :v performed. Knowing as I do the work v. iij.jh must necessarily bo done by the Km'neer in person, I consider it right to point out that the combined offices (in-

eludin'l- that of sanitary inspection, in the sewage area), can hardly bo performed with the efficiency duo to such important duties. lam further of opinion, fro si recent experience, that the chances of actions for damages being sustained will be materially increased if it can bo shown that sufficient attention has not been given to inspection. I trust, however, that the Board will not consider it is my wish or intention to dictate to them in the matter. I am merely giving my opinion as their advisor. With regard to the appointment now under offer, I cannot see iny way to decline it, there being no immediate prospect of other work offering; but, for the reasons and facts already mentioned, I trust tho Board will give the matter further consideration before definitely deciding to adopt a policy tho effects of which must of a necessity be injuriously felt by the community.—l have, &C., “ Edwin Cothbert, M. Inst. C.E.” The consideration' of the above was deferred to a full meeting of the Board. FINANCE. Accounts to the amount of *£3o3 15s on the rate account, and .£1094 9s on the loan account, were passed for payment. Ihe Board is overdrawn .£13,000 at the Bank, but against this is a payment due from the Government of .£2900. COMMITTEES. Messrs Parker and Clephane were added to the Works Committee, and Mr Flesher was added to the Finance Committee. COLLECTION OF RATES, &C. Mr White gave notice of his intention to move in the direction of the collection of the rates and the supervision of the drains being placed in the hands of the local bodies. . . In answer to Mr White, the Chairman said that no communication had been received from the Government as to the drainage from the Hospital into the Avon. The Board resolved to telegraph tp the Government for information. This closed the business.