THAMES DRAINAGE BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 36, 11 February 1905, Page 7

THAMES DRAINAGE BOARD.

AFFE'&hS AGAIXBT ASSESSMENTS. A meeting of the members' of the Thames Drainage Bonrrl was held at 12.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of considering appeals ii" any) against the assessments on the various ruining companies for the year 1905. There weie present the Hon. E. Mitehelson (phaivmaa), Messrs 11. Clreeu, G. Coinsr, H. H. Adaais, F. Trembath, S. Hesketb, T. A. Dun.op, and W. Gorric. The Chairman said he would hear Mr J. M. Lennox first. Mr Lenn-os. said ho knew how difficult was the duty of the Bonrd. but ncvei iv the history of the Bo.ud had the assessments given such general dissatisfaction as the present one, with the exception of certain properties represented by certain members of this Board. In 1901, the Kura-nui-Calcdonian notified that it required no pumping, as ail the workings weie outside the drainage area. They conld stop the pump to-morrow and it would not affect the mine. Messrs Graves Alckin, with Mr J. J. Mackay, appeared on behalf of the Victoria Company. The ground of appeal against the assessment was that the drainagi area was put down at 42 acres, whereas the company only had 17 acres within the drainage aiea. Mr A. E. Devore. In conjunction with Mr Paul (manager) and Mr Stevenson (attorney*, appeared on behalf of the Koranti!Caiedonlan G.M. Co., to protest against tho assessment. Mr Devore said 13J acres of the area held by the company was not benefited liy the drainage. From that Iff* acres £!)63 woi th of jro'd was won daring the yr-ar. and that was not assisted hy the pumping. The total jrold won during the year was £4409 12/ G. wen by 4.'i trlhutt-rs. The royalty received by the rompar-y vrai £606 12/. That only allowed the trluntcrs £2 per week on the average. The Chairman s;.iri it did rot affect the ninrter irn to who pot the gold. Mr Devote n!so pointed or.t that the Vanguard and ShorU.ind Flats rlsvlTnn wcie no. assessed, although how private!; , !ipM. The main b«sis of Ms ohjp<-t!n;i v:ss that the company was assessed at £SB7. whoreas it only received in roya.ty £508. am! hud to keep the mine going. The basis of 77>} per cent, on the gold won was unreasonable. To ei'force th" present dem; nd would mean shutting tributers out of the mine. The Chairman said the question was an intricate one to decide. The Board bad tried to mate a fair assessment. The amount necessniy to keep the pump point; had to be paid by somebody, in the matter of thn Knranui Co. the assessment had been increased hy £SO, hnt it must he remembered that the Board had not £1780 surplus to start tbis year with. As to the Vanguard nnd Short land Flats claim, the Board had no definite information resardIns thai when the assessments were ntado. lie might state that the Board had decided to take over the Thames-]laurukl pump. Thst mScrht menu an extra nssessrocnt later oii. as it wnnld pro!>sbly take ii.°,i)O to pet thp water down. It was also possible that £100 or £200 would be required for piunpers. He could n.isr.re those who protpsted that every would be given to the appeals lodjrfd. Mr G. S. Kisslin™. on hehnlf of the TTalotnhl G.M. Co., s-iid his directors did not Intend to pivp the Roard any trouble, nJ-th<-y did rot admit the basis upon which the assessment was made to be a fair one. Mr Hesketh: Would you prefer an assessment on an area basis, with a subsequent assessment on the gold won during the year, Mr Kisslinjr? Mr KipsiSnjr: There is n rrood deal of justice in that suggestion. There is no reason tvhy all the mines should not work to the Ipvp! pumped. At all events, they have the right. Mr Hofikcth said that proposal was made by Mr Adams, and seerued to him a fair one. As far as" present assessments were concerned, he saw no reason whatever for reducing the Kuranui Co.'s assessment. Mr Dunlop suggested that the appeals be allowed to pro before the Warden's Court. That would allow thp Warden to put the assessments on a proper basis. He moved that tho assessments Vie sustained. Mr H. Green seconded the motion, saying that might perhaps be the best way to satisfy those who protested. The motion was then agreed to. THAMES-HAUHAKI PUMP. ' Mr Hesketh submitted thp following recomnieiHlation of the committee:— "That tap Board' agree to r take over for three months the Thames-Hauraki piimpc as offered by -the Minister for Mines by letter dated January 31st, snbject as to thp conditions of the pumps and machinery at the. time they are taken orer, profiled that if (he result of such three months' working be satisfactory the pumps he taken* over on terms and conditions set ont in tho Minister's letter." The Chairman said the Government h-ad appointed Mr Dunlop as supervisor of tho machinery. U wa« agreed to leave it in the hands of the Thames members to appoint an engineer t«i work (he Thames-Hnrcrnk! pump during the three months' test. The tender of Mr J. .1. Craig was necepted for coal, and that of Mr Hawkes for carting.