DRAINAGE BOARD HOLDS MONTHLY MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18188, 22 June 1927, Page 3

DRAINAGE BOARD HOLDS MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board was held last evening; there were present—Messrs H. J. Otley (chairman), S. C. Bingham, J. W. Beanland, E. 11. S. Hamilton, R. IT Livingstone, A. T. Smith, C. S. M'Cully, C. Hill, W. Large and W. J. Walter. The ordinary meeting was preceded by a special meeting at which formal resolutions, passed at an earlier special meeting, were confirmed. The Finance Committee reported that accounts amounting to £7981 14s Sd on the general account, and £19,270 0s Sd on the Ho. 7 loan account, were recomI mended for payment. The purchase of a 1 Gestetner duplicator had been authorised by the committee on the recommendation of the secretary, who stated that the machine now in use was about fourWORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported as follows: — The committee has in accordance with the instructions of the board, reconsidered the Question of the sewering of Tipping’s subdivision in St Martins and cannot see its way to alter its decision in the matter, viz., that it will be necessary for Mr Tipping to provide a sewer throughout the whole length of the new Investigations have been made ns to 1 he necessity of appointing - an additional inspector, and it is recommended that, in view of the increase in the number of connections being made at the present time and the prospect of a. much greater increase in the near future an additional inspector be appointed at a salary of £2 75 per annum. The secretary has therefore been instructed to call applications for the position. The following is the programme showing the order in which the committee recommends the carrying out of the sewer reticulation work:—Spreydon (two areas simultaneously), Fendalton, Riccarton North, Riccarton South and Br.vndwr. The engineer has been instructed to immediately proceed with the work of putting the Tamai settlement drain in efficient order. A contract has been let for the construction of stables at the Sewage Farm'. The amount of the tender was 172 13s, aoid the successful tenderer, If. Willis. A letter was received from the City Council with reference to the proposed widening of Austin Street and covering of Jackson’s Creek. The engineer estimated the work will cost £6OO. In view of the fact that no provision has been made on the curent year's estimates the committee recommends that the council be informed that the work will have to stand in abeyance for the present. Mr J. F. M’Kee wrote calling attention to the lack of surface drainage to his and the board’s property in Harrison Street and offering to undertake the work of constructing the drain if the board will supply the necessary pipes. It was recommended that the pipes be supplied and permission granted to Mr M’Kee to make a connection with the hoard’s drain in Harrison Street, the work to be done to the satisfaction of the engineer. Mr A. B. Simpson wrote enclosing a plan of subdivision off Westminster Street and requesting that the whole of the land be included in the special area, also asking that the work of laving the sewer iu Westminster! Street bo pro-

needed with to enable him to connect the house at present in course of construction. It was recommended that the request be complied with. This will involve the continuation of the sewer in Westminster Street from Shirley Road for a distance of approximately six chains; Mr Simpson will then have to provide about nine chains of sewer in the proposed road through the subdivision. The committee has instructed the engineer to obtain a price for the extension in Westminster Street. Messrs Johnstone, Mills and White wrote stating that they had been instructed by Mr F. E. Merry, Breeze’s Road, to advise him as to his rights ' and remedies for damage to his property due to the board’s activities, and suggested that before making a formal claim some representative of the board should meet and discuss the matter with them, such discussion to be without prejudice and with the hope of arriving at a settlement without recourse to litigation. The committee had decided to make an inspection of the property in question. Referring to the Tipping subdivision referred to in the first clause of the report, Mr Livingstone asked if the committee had made an inspection of the land. The chairman of the committee (Mr Beanland) said that the committee had all the information it .required. Mr Livingstone expressed the opinion that the sewer was not necessary. The City Council had held up Mr Tipping’s plan until the road went through. lie moved that the clause be referred back to the committee. The motion was carried. The report was then adopted. RIVER IMPROVEMENT. The River Improvement Committee reported that the river sweeping plant was now nearing completion and would be ready to commence operations shortlv. Due notice would be given to all members when the machine is ready to work. Mr Stewart had advised the committee that of the three engines installed on the sweeper, two had been previously used, but to prevent further delay they had been installed and he was prepared to guarantee them against mechanical defect for two years or replace them if requested to do so. The committee had decided to ask Mr Stewart to replace them at the earliest possible moment in accordance with the agreement which provided that no sec-ond-hand material of any description shall be used. The report was adopted. GENERAL. The engineer reported on work done and in hand. The report added:-—Ten-ders for the Papanui reticulation area having been received at the last ordinary meeting of the board, were referred to the chairman and Messrs Beanland, M'Cully and myself, to accept a tender. I have to report that after careful consideration by the committee mentioned, the tender of F. W. Brightling, amounting to £16,851 10s, was accepted. The usual inspection of tra.de effluents were made during the month, and all sedimentation tanks were found to be in good order. The report was adopted.