TAHUNANUI

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 23 September 1936, Page 5

TAHUNANUI

TOWN BOARD MEETING DITCHES ON LOW-LYING AREAS A DECISION REACHED At the fortnightly meeting of the Tahunanui Town Board held last eyenmg. there were present: Messrs M. O’Sullivan (chairman), ,C. Chamberlain. J. Logan, A. Stagg. W. G. Tiller, T. W. Roberts and J. Nightinga'o. Accounts amounting to £275 18s 7d wi passed for payment. A letter was received from the Tahunanui Progress League asking for permission to plant more trees in Muritai street. As the road formation in Muritai street was not complete, the Board declined to allow trees to be planted there this season, and suggested that Golf road was a more suitable site at present. The Tahunanui School Committee Wrote thanking the Board for clearing the frontage of the school. It was stated that lawn grass seed had been sown on the spot, and with the Board’s permission some decorative trees would be planted there. The desired permission was granted. The School Committee also wrote stating that during the recent heavy rains serious flooding had occurred in the school grounds, more than half the playing area being under water. The Committee requested that the Board give the matter its consideration with a view to remedying the trouble before next winter.

The chairman thought that under normal conditions the present ditches should be able to deal with the water. It was decided that the Works Committee inspect the position and report to the Board. The Mayor of Nelson (Mr G. L. Page) wrote informing the Board of a meeting to be held regarding the reclamation of a portion of Warren’s Estate for the formation of a Centennial Park, and requesting that the Board be represented. It was decided to send a representative to the meeting. THE DITCH PROBLEM Since the previous meeting of the Board, members met to inspect the

Koto-Green street area, where flooding has been taking place owing to the filling in of ditches. On being called upon by the chairman to report on the inspection, Mr Tiller said that he had been surprised at the course which the water was taking. In some places the level was on the surface, and in others six or seven feet below. The ground was very uneven, and in his opinion it was absolutely futile to get the water away by opening up ditches. The only means of coping with the trouble was to form an open ditch along Green street. The chairman said that prior to the inspection of the locality, the Board had firmly made up its mind to have the filled-in ditches re-opened, but after one property owner had been interviewed, an unforseen difficulty had cropped up, asi a result of which it perhaps would not be advisable for the Board to adopt its original attitude.

Mr R. L. Pearless, civil engineer, had given a report on the matter, in which he suggested two ways of eliminating the water. The first was an open drain from the junction of Roto and Green streets, and the second was to take the water along Green street alone, partly by an open drain and partly by the existing water courses at present filled in. It was mentioned that scheme No. 2 would not deal with water crossing Green street, east of Roto street. Mr Pearless forwarded a plan. showing where ditches would need to be opened up. The chairman estimated the cost of scheme No. 1 at £34 and of scheme No. 2 £2O. After further discussion on the matter. Mr Tiller moved that the Board, having satisfied itself that the present storm water drainage of the Roto-Green street area through private property was unsatisfactory, that an experimental drain be dug, by unemployed labour, in Green street, at a distance of 6ft. from the eastern : boundary in accordance with Mr Pearless’s plan of the Ist September, I 1936. with the following exceptions: ! (i) That the drain at present be dug 1 from the western side of Roto street |to Golf road. (2) That the drain be taken straight across Golf road. Mr Roberts seconded the motion.

Mr Chamberlain moved an amendment that the ditches at present running through private property and which have been filled in, be opened up. Mr Chamberlain gave the following reasons: (1) On account of the expense to the ratepayers of making a new ditch in Green street; (2) because it was only an experiment; (3> because the property owners might come before the Board at any time, (4) because he believed that until a comprehensive scheme for the drainage of the district was drawn up, that no stormwater drains should be tak°n along the roads. The amendment, which was seconded pro forma by the chairman, was lost on bein K put to the meeting. Mr Tiller’s motion was carried. A previous motion moved by Mr Tiller on 25th August, that property owners who had filled in ditches running through their properties be given ten days to open up same, failing which the Board would do the work, was rescinded.