CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT DRAINAGE BOARD.

• " ** P -: \ Tho usual fortnightly meeting of the memburs of the Christchiirch 'District' Drainage Board was held at half -past ten o'clock this 'lorningj present — Messrs Harman (in the < 'iair, in the absence of. Mr Tancred, the •- ! hairman), Hobbs,** Hall, Duncan, Wright, ..'ones, nnd Ross. MR CLARKE. ?•[ • Clarke, the Consulting Engineer, was 'i '■ i-luced to the Board. Some conversation i ■ ■ > place as to what had been done in refer- < .; to the Drainage Scheme', and the Chair- > . i gave the entire history of it. Mr < .-.-ke, after some' conversation, withdrew. 'ENGINEER'S REPORT. /his report wasTead as follows :— "March 1,1878. ■' Having measured the land taken for purJ ;ses of No. 2 drain ! new outlet, I find the -. tiount taken from Mr Selfe to be 0.45 acre, :• om the snelling 0.45 acre, and from Mr : jer's 0.62 acre. Every accommodation has 'i jen given that can be required, but I think vie drain ought to be fenced. In regard to tie complaint of Mr Mulholland, I would recommend that the Board keep the drain in good order, and repair along the Avon side, from the end of Farquhar to the Styx river. This was outside of the boundary of the district, but it is the only outlet for the drainage of several sections within. " In regard to the request of Mr Waits and the other petitions to take over the drain through rural section 1144. I would recommend that the Board maintain the drain along the Canaljßeserve, and up the Occupation road as far/as where the drain enters on private land, and I do not think anything more is necessary. The land is exceedingly level in this part, and the outfall drain too high to afford [good drainage to rural section! 1144. •'I submit plans and levels of Mr Boag's j section, showing' how he wishes the course of the river Wairarapa to be changed. I think Mr Boag should act under clause 107 of the Drainage Act to effect the object he has in view. "I submit plan of the road through the Sandhill reserves, which the Heathcote Road Board wishes to acquire instead of the old road shown on the maps. I do not know any reason why the one should not be given for the other. " The drain on lower High street has been -cleaned out ; this part of the drain cannot be kept in good order and clean, unless it is timbered, the cost' of which woidd be about £60. "I have received no reply from Mr Kruse aa to his choice in the matter of a new drain through his land. " C. Napier Bell, Engineer." The question of compensation was left to Mr Harman and Mr Bell to settle. culvert. A letter was read from the Railway Department, stating that the cost of constructing a Culvert under the railway at Riccarton would be £60, and that the work would be commenced on receipt of the money. It was resolved to forward the amount. COMPENSATION. A letter was read from Mr Joynt, on behalf of Mr Green, accepting the compensation offered by the Board (£22 9s). The amount was ordered to be paid. It was stated that Mr Farr's claim had also }>een settled satisfactorily by the payment of £16. THE CHAIRMAN'S ABSENCE. A letter was read from Mr Tancred, stating le had to be absent from the Province for a amonth. Mr Harman was appointed acting Chairman until Mr Tancred's return. - FINANCE. The Chairman read the following memorandum:—A fixed deposit of £4500 fell due, with interest, on the 9th Feb., and had in the meantime been paid into the Board's account —principal to loan account and interest to late account. The balance in favour of the Board on loan account is now £8080 14s, while the balance against the Board on rate account is £3400. He had remitted the sum required for payment of interest, £3048, by a draft of 60 days, thus saving 10 per cent, as -compared with a draft payable on demand. SYDENHAN. The Borough Council of Sydenham wrote calling attention to the' filthy state of the old water-course between Windmill road and Selwyn street, and requesting that steps be at once taken to do away with, the nuisance, as some cases of fever had been reported in its neighbourhood. It was resolved that the portion of the creek referred to should be referred to the Engineer, with power to act. ASSESSMENT ROLLS. A letter was read from the Avon Road Board, consenting to supply a copy of their Assessment Roll on payment of £30 towards the cost of assessing the district. From the Hea*-hcote Road Board, offering to supply a copy of their valuation list, 1878, for £50, 5-12 th the cost of assessment. It was resolved to refer both Boards to clause 65 of the Rating Act, and to ask them to allow the Clerk of the Board to copy the assessment lists. PHILLIPS STREET. A letter was read, from the Heathcote Road Board, calling attention to the dangerous State ef the side channel in Phillipa street. Referred to the Engineer, with power to Act. COMPETITION. From George Alfred Buck, offering to fiupply a complete list of ratepayers within the Drainage Board district for the sum of £20. The offer was declined with thanks, and the writer was requested to see if he could come to any arrangement with the Secretary. barker's road. Petition from C. W. Corser and others -desiring the Board to clear and widen a drain on Barker's road, also suggesting the necessity for a better culvert to the river entrance, which is the main drain for about 1000 acres. Referred to the Engineer. edgeware road. Petition from Robert Lindsay and others, asking that a drain on the Edgeware road might be deepened before the winter. Referred to the Engineer with power to act. OARTWRIGHT's DRAIN. A petition was read from Mr Cartwright, calling attention to the bad state of a drain, known as Oartwright's drain, running through section 94. Referred to the Engineer, with power to act. THE ENGINEER. A letter was read from Mr Napier Bell, informing the Board that he had been selected for the appointment of Engineer to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and asking the Board's consent to. His taking the appointment. Mr Bell offered, in the event of the Board considering that this did not come strictly within the terms of his agreement, to take a reduction of salary equal to 26 per cent.' (that was to say, £600 a year instead of £800) V which would enable- the Boardj at the sarhe cost, to pay for addkioaal eupervwi«n of their own works. •>:.-'■

. .On the motion of Mr Duncan, seconded by Mr Hobbs, the following motion was carried on the casting vote of the Chairman : — "That Mr Bell be to take the position of consulting engineer to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, .providing that the acceptance of that post does not mterf ere with the discharge of 'the duties required from him by the Drainage Board, and that his offer of a reduction of salary during the time he occupies the position of consulting engineer to the. Harbour. Board, be accepted. 7 j f ..ACCOUNTS..'-/.' 7 Several accounts were passed and ordered to be paid. !'-''" ' " ; t,he drainage scheme. Mr Duncan moved — "That the acting Chairman and Engineer place before Mr Clarke all the various plans and reports, as well as every other information in the possession of the Roard relative to the drainage of the district uhd!er the charge of the Board; and further, that Mr Clarke be informed that he is left entirely unfettered iv advising the Board as to the best system of drainage for the district."., -. Afc ' Seconded by Mr Hall. Mr Hobbs said he should like it to go forth to the ratepayers that they would have the full benefit of -Mr Clarke's abilities, independent of any former schemes that might have been placed before him. The motion was then put, and carried unanimously. The Board then adjourned for a week.