THE SUMNER CLIFFS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9323, 25 August 1908, Page 3

THE SUMNER CLIFFS.

A QUESTION OF DRAINAGE. At yesterday's meeting of the Christchurch 'Tramway Board a letter was read from the Sumner Borough Council, stating in reply to a letter from tlie Board, that a -gully through which flowed storm water, about which the Board had complained, off the Sumner Cliffs, was a natural watercourse, which had always carried water during wet weather, and the Council disclaimed any responsibility in the matter. The chairman (Mi- A. W. Beaven) said that the engineer had reported that the water ran down the road/ in Clifton over the cliff, and was blocking up the tramlines. The Council insisted on s man being kept there at certain times to clear the lines. The natural watercourse was taking a great deal more water than it ought to take, because roads had been made, from which water was coming instead of from the half -acre previously drained. The engineer said that the matter was rather serious. The engineer (Mr Scott Symington), in reply to the chairman, said that when there was more water than a six-inch pipe could carry it went over the cliffs. The Council had put in two drains, one to carry off ordinary water, and another — a large wooden drain — to take extra water over the cliff. Mr J. Richardson said that a lj-inch Sipe might overcome the nuisance. [c had been advised that what the Council called a natural watercourse had never carried water, but was now being utilised for the purpose. Mr D. Sykes said that the Council was making a dry watercourse into a wet watercourse. Mr W. Recce said that it was singular that the Sumner Borough Council took every opportunity to thwart the Boa.rd, and at the same time complained about its treatment. Yet whenever anything was proposed there was opposition from the Council. Ho moved that the engineer should supply, the Board with a plan of the locality, so that the matter might be discussed at the next meeting. The motion was carried.