DRAINAGE BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2629, 28 August 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The fortnightly meeting of the Board was held at half-past ten o'olook this morning ; present— Mr F. Hobbs, Chairman ; Messrs A. Duncan, H. J. Tanored, B. J. 8. Harman, E. G. Wright, T. D. Jones, J. V. Boss, and H. J. Hall. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. chaieman's statement. The Chairman stated that there would be no Engineer's report at this meeting, as Mr Carruthers had sent down for Mr Bell, who had accordingly gone up to Wellington to oonsult upon the drainage soheme for the distriot, Sinoe last meeting he (the Chairman) had reoeiyed a oopy of the Christohuroh District Drainage Aot Amendment Bill, and on going carefully over it he found that olause 11 would not quite moot the requirements of the Board. He had seen Mr Coster, who informed I him that while in Wellington he pointed this out to tho Superintendent, who had oharge of the Bill, and he (the Chairman) believed that that was the reason why the Bill bad been delayed in its passage through the House. In its present form olauso 11 gave tho Board no power to appoint an agent in London for raising or managing a loan, or entering into contracts, and in order to supply this dofioionoy it would bo necessary to add another olauso to tho Bill. A clause had been drafted for tho purpose, and the Chairman read it to the Board.

Tho olause was disoussed and adopted. COBEESPONDBNOE.

A letter was read from the Heathoote Road Board, stating that a portion of the drain at tho Gasworks road had fallen in, placing the road in a dangerous state, also requesting the Board to havo the drain from the railway gates to the belt covered in, and stating that a portion of Boll's oreek on Smith's road was falling in. Tho Surveyor was instructed to have the drain on tho Gasworks road and Bell's oreek attended to.

The other matter reforred to in the letter was ordered to stand over.

A letter was read from Mr Isaac Allen, Poaoook street, stating that a drain was re* quired in his locality to carry off rain water, fie had filled up his seotion, but it did not meet the requirements of the case, and that some of the adjoining properties being higher, and not requiring drainage, the owners would not be likely to do anything in the matter. Something was therefore required to promote unity of notion, and he wished to know if the Board had any jurisdiction in suoh a case. The Chairman suggested that Mr Allen should be referred to clause 107 of tbe Drainage Act and the Local Board of Health. After Borne discussion, the letter was re* ferred to the Surveyor to report upon at tho next meeting of the Board. A letter was read from Mr Smart, calling tho attention of the Board to the creek running past his place and through the Sand, ridge township being blooked up with oress, ana stating that in some instances the persons residing near tho creek were choking up the stream, with the idea that they were justified in claiming to the centre of the creek— the result being that the water in the creek was bftokod up, and now stood two feet higher than formerly. Tho Surveyor was instructed to have the oross cleared out, and to serve notioes on persons who may have blocked up the creek, to romovo their obstructions. A lottor was read from the Superitendent, stating what had been done with referenoe to tho Ghristohuroh District Drainage Act Amendment Bill. A letter was road from Messrs Hanmer and Harper, forwarding a copy of their opinion re tho Oarlton Mill-race, to the effeofc that Messrs Wilson, King and 00. could not possibly acquire a prescriptive right to the i raco, and stating that they hod forwarded a copy of tho same to tho solicitors to tho Board. The Seoretary said he had called at Messrs Garriok and Oowlißhaw's, but Mr Oowlishaw being absont, ho had not received any answer. A lottor was read from Mr Oostor, Manager of tho Bank of Now Zealand, in referenoe to tho oomplotonoss of Clause 11 of the Drainage Aot Amendment Bill, and pointing out the neoossity for another olause in the Bill. Tho Chairman remarked that tho matter had already boon attended to. A letter was read from the Trustees of tho Woslovan parsonage, Fapanui road, calling attention to tho bad stato of the Drainage. The Surveyor said ho would look into the mattor. MISOEIXANEOirS. On tho motion of Mr Harmon, the Surveyor was instructed to construot a bridge across tho Perry road drain, on to Mr Wright's property, Seotion 62. Sundry aooounts were passed and ordered to bo paid. Mr Jones said ho was requested by tho City Surveyor to ask if tho Board would tako over the Antigua stroot drain from tho South town bolt to tho Hospital, and the North town belt drain. Ho said both these drains wore largely usod by districts outside the City, and he thought tho Board should certainly tako them over. Mr Hall said if thoio drains were not inoludcd in tho gonoral system to be devised by Mr Carruthors, they might have to bo filled up.

Mr Harman said without going into that question, ho oortainly thought the Board might koop tho drains clear. Af tor some disoussion, it was resolved that tho Board bfivo drains refcrrod to oleaned out, and take [over tho control of them on the Bamo torms as tho South drain.

On tho motion of Mr Wright, it was rosolvod — "That at the next meeting, a return should bo laid bofore tho Board, showing the total expenditure to date, distinguishing the amounts paid for oontraot works and salaries, aud clearing water courses." Tho Secretary was instructed to insure tho furniture and othor proporty of the Board in tho Board rooms. Tho Board then adjourned.