THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13918, 27 November 1908, Page 6

THE DRAINAGE SCHEME.

MEETING OF THE BOARD.

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS AND

v COMMITTEES. The second meeting of the Auckland and Suburban . Drainage Board was held in the City Council Chambers last evening. The chairman of' the Board (Mr. A. M. Myers, Mayor of Auckland) presided, and there were also present: Messrs. L. J. Bagnail, M. Casey, JR. Fun-ell, H. M. Smeeton, C. J. Parr, A. J. Entrican, W. E. Hutchison, G. Knight, H. Tudehope, J. Patterson, A. E. Glover, M.P., P. M. Mackay, W. C. Somers, C. D. Grey (Auckland City Council), 0. Nicholson (Mayor of Mount Eden), F. Bennett (Mayor of Newmarket), G. W. Basley (Mayor of Parnell), G. Savers (Mayor of Grey Lynn), ,1. S. Dickson (Renuiera), W. R. Bloomfield (Epsom), J. H. Garrett (Eden Terrace), F. Rowe (Archhill), ,T. Dignan (Point Chevalier), M. J. Coyle (Mount Albert), and E. W. Burton {Onetree Hill).

The Chairman submitted the following report, of the Provisional Committee appointed at the previous meeting:—

That for the present meetings of the Board be held on Wednesday evenings once a month; that, the Board enter into negotiations with iiic City Council lor office accommodation in' tho Auckland .Municipal Buildings, ii a rental of £2 per week; that the salary of the draiuago engineer bo fisod at £600, per annum, and that the City Council bo asked ,to consent to the city engineer's services being available as drainage, engineer the sum of £600 being paid over to the Council in consideration for such services; that; ; subject to the foregoing, Mr. W. li Bush, city engineer,* lie appointed engineer to the Board; that the drainage engineer be instructed to report to the Board on tlx? probable staff required for his office; that Mr. Henry W. Wilson, town clerk of the city of Auckland, be temporarily appointed secretary and treasurer to the Board, at a salary •: * £16 per month; that applications be pub-iely invited for the permanent appointment of secretary, and treasurer to the Board >at a salary of £350 per annum; that Mr. Thomas Cotter be appointed solicitor to the Board; that the Bank of New Zealand bo appointed bankers to the Board; that tho secretary be instructed to submit draft standing orders for the conduct of meetings of tho Board; that the engineer and secretary bo instructed to report 0:1 the various matters contained in the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Act, 1903, referring to the work of the Board.

Considerable discussion look place in regard to the clauses relating to the position of secretary and treasurer. . Mr. EnIrican urged that as Mr. Wilson (as town clerk) has a close knowledge of all matters pertaining to the drainage scheme, it was desirable that he should be appointed permanent secretary and treasurer to the Board, with an assistantsecretary or clerk, who would be able to' carry out- all the detail* work of the office. He moved an .amendment to that effect. Other members, however, .whilst testifying to the valuable services already rendered by Mr. Wilson in connection with the drainage scheme, .expressed .the opinion that 'his time was already so fully occupied with the duties of town clerk that a separate appointment should be made. After discussion, the amendment wan lost,, and clause six was adopted. An addition was made to clause seven to the effect thai the permanent secretary and treasurer should take up his duties on April 1 next. .■ ~1 ' I . Clause 8 (dealing with the appointment of bjiukeiE to the Board) also gave rise to some discussion. The chairman moved, and Mr." Smeeton seconded, as an amendment to the committee's recommendation, "1 hat.the National Bank of New Zealand be appointed ,as bankers to the Board." This amendment, and also another moved by Mr. Somere, arid seconded by Mr. Glover, in favour of the appointment of the Union Bank .of Australia, were negatived, and the , committee's recommendation, that the Bank of New - Zealand be appointed, was carried. ' , APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. The following committees were appointed:— Legal Committee: Messrs. Court, Parr, 'Mackay, Somers, Knight, Bafiley, Nicholson, ' Burton, and Dickson. Works Committee: Meters. > Hutchison, Glover, Patterson, Casey, Farrell, Bennett, Howe, Dignan, and Garrett. Finance Committee: Messrs. Smeeton, Entric&n, Tudehope, Bagnall, Coyle, Grey, Savers, and Bloomfield. The question of finance and arrangements for temporary accommodation were referred to • the Finance Committee.