DRAINAGE BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2715, 11 December 1876, Page 2

DRAINAGE BOARD.

The fortnightly mooting of this Board was held at tho offloe of the Board, Hereferd streot, at 10 o'olock this morning. Preaent — Messrs P. Hobbs, H. 3. Tanorod, H. J. Hall, Androw Dunoan, R. J. S. Harman, T D. Jonos, J. V. Ross, and B. G. Wrght. The Chairman said that, as that day fortnight would be Christmas Day, thoy would havo to adjourn ovor tho usual fortnight. If thoy let the meeting go over for three weeks thoy would be in the beginning of the new year, whon, according to tho Act, thoy would havo to oleot thoir annual Chairman. Aftor somo conversation, it was deoided that tho Board at its rising, shou'd adjourn for a weok. ekoinbbb's bbhobt. The Engineer's report was read as follows:— .. KNOiNEEn's RErouT, Dec. 11, 1876. Notioo has boen given to ownors of land tbat the Board Intends to out a drain through tho sections south of the Riccarton road ; the length I would proiioao at prosont to out would be botwoon tho roads, 27 chains. A woodon box culvert 2ft by l-dth has boen substituted for tho 9-inch pipe undor tho road at Jaokson's Crook Rosorvo sootion 198, in acoon'ince with tho resolution of the Board. In oompany with tho City Surveyor, I have examined the drain complained, of by Messrs Faoke Brotbors, and have accordingly written to them that tho Board oannot at present dispense *ith thoir right to use tho old channel of Fries' Creek, but, that when the Sowago Works are oonstruotod, tho Board will abandon tho drainage through Messrs Faoke's seotion, thus affording them the desired relief. If tho drain were stopped at present, tho North Bolt wonld need to be raised about 2ft for some dlsb.:; -o on c jh sido, thus making tho xorl and footpath oonaidorably higher than tno BOOtions. The repairs tt tho tim bored sides of the drain near tho Styx known as Homer's drain, have been oxeouted as dirootod by tho Board at the meeting on Nov. 18. - . On aocount of the rapid growth of weeds at this timo of year, I find it necessary ta keep ten mon continually employed clearing drains, but hope to roduoo tho numbor as the summer advances: ia wintor, of courso .this expense will bo considerably roduced. I havo the honour to remafn, C. Napier Bell, Aftor somo disoussion tho report as a whole was adopted. Mr Hall said sinoo the last meeting he had examined tho land at the Fendaltown road that had been reported upon at the last meeting, and found it to bo a perfeot swamp along tho river. He would ask Mr Bell, the Engineer, to aooompany him on the next day, and roport to a future meeting of the Board. The residents had said there was no way of draining the swamp by means of the river, as it was lower than the river itself. It was a question of level. Mr Harman thought it was a case where the Drainage Board should do the work, and charge the parties with the same. After some disoussion.Mr Bell was requested to place his services at the disposal of Mr Hall to go and examine the swamp in question. HBATHCOTE BOAD BOABD. A letter was road from the Heathcote Road Board, stating that Mr Leaoh had agreed to valuo the distriot under the Rating Aot for tho sum of £45. The Ohairman said he did not see how the work could be done under the Aot for the monoy. A COMPLAINT. Mr Homer, of Papanui, waited upon the Board in referenoe to a drain tbat was in front of his placo. This did serious injury, and they wanted it oovered in. It ran for a distanco of fifteen or twenty ohains. There was a lot of foyer in Papanui last year. By boxing it in, thoro would be a good fall (Mr Homer horo handed in several letters on the subjeot, whioh he wished the Board to oonsider when tho whoio matter was taken into consideration.) The Ohairman said tho Board would oonsidor the matter. The applioant then retired. BICCABXON BOAD BOABD. A letter was road from this Board, asking the Drainage Board to contribute the sum of £16 towards tho assessment of the distriot. The Board expressed its willingness to cooperate with the Riooarton Road Board on the terms named. WATBBOBBSS. A lettor was read from several of the residents of Sandridge, complaining of the crook being stopped up by watercress, and so preventing the flow of the water. The mattor was referred to the Engineer with power to act. A BONUS. A letter was read from George Pannell, the Rate-oolleotor of Spreydon distriot, asking for a payment of 10 per cent, instead of seven and a half, on account of the difficulty he had had in oolleoting tho rates iv the distriot. Tho Olerk reported that the rates had boen remarkably well oolleoted, and tbat Mr Pannell was a hard working man. He had oolleoted £186 13s 6d. Only the sum of 8s lld romainod un-colleoted. Mr Jones wished to know what the 7J- per oontogo would amount to on tbis sum. It was resolved to give Mr Punnell a bonus of three guineas above tho amount originally agreed to, on the ground of the satisfactory and expeditious mannor in whioh ho had collected tho rates, SrBEYDON BATE BOLL. Tho Olerk of tho Spreydon Road Board wrote, stating that that Board wonld be prepared to hand over the rate roll of that distriot, when oompleted. It was resolved that the thanks of the Drainago Board bo givon to the Spreydon Road Board, and that the former Board would be preparod to pay for a oopy of the roll. A NUISANCE, The Ciork of the Spreydon Road Board wrote complaining of a quantity of stagnant water in tho channelling on the west side of tbe Oolombo Road, near the station. The matter was referred to the Engineer with power to aot. „ COLLECTION OF BATBS. It was resolved to communicate with the various Road Boards to see if they would undertake the collection of the Drainage Board's proportion of the rates in the various distriots. Mr Jones suggested 'that they should also write to tho City Counoil. The Olerk (Mr Palmer) said the proposal hnd not boon favourably reoeived by the CounoU on a former occasion. Mr Jones soid the feeling might have ohanged now. On the motion of Mr Ross, seconded by Mr Tanorod, it was resolved to write to the different Road Boards and the Oity Council on the

the subjeot, asking them what would be the cost of the various collections. Accoutres. A number of aocounts were passed and ordered to be paid. A letter was read from the Ohairman of the Domain Board (Mr Harman) objecting to the assessment of tbe property of that Board, which had been assessed et £7600. Mr Harman said £334 was the highest rent they could get for the property. Hagley Park was the only part they got anything from. A shilling rato if levied upon them would have taken more than all their income. The Ohairman said there were n good many creeks running through the domain that required to be kept clear. Mr Harman said that after this year no rates could be levied upon this property which, when Abolition came into effeot, became the property of the Crown. Mr Hall thought it was a great mistake to rate publio property. The Board agreed to accept the offer of the Domain Board to be rated upon the annual rental of their property, £334. ATTDITOB3. It was resolved to request the authorities to appoint Messrs Alport and C.aig auditors to the Board. The Chairman said there was about £26,000 to audit. On the motion of Mr Duncan, it was resolved to pay the auditors five guineas eaoh. THB VAPAVVI DBAIN. The question of tbo Papanui drain, brought before the notioe of the Board by Mr Homer, was then considered. Letters were read on the subjeot from residents in the distriot, complaining of the open drain in question. The Engineer said there far were larger aod dirtier drains before otber people's property that were not complained of. The question of health was not tenable, as the drain world be far more unhealthy if covered in. There was plenty of artesian water about, with which the brain could be flushed. It was resolved to write to the applicant, eid state that the open roadside drain was a temporary measure to prevent stagnant water, Ac, from accumulating, and that nothing of a permanent nature coold be done unt" the wb n1 * of Mr Carruthers' duinage scheme was known. This was all the business, and the Board adjourned until Monday next.