THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY DRAINAGE CASE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1871, 7 October 1874, Page 3

THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY DRAINAGE CASE.

The drainage scheme drawn up by the three gentlemen who were appointed arbitrators in the recent case against the Imperial City is one which is likely to be very generally accepted as against that devised by Messrs Whittaker and Weston, in accordance with which claims for contributions were sought to be enforced in the Warden's Court. As the deliberate scheme of three thoroughly practical men it is entitled to respect, and in our opinion at least there is a ring of fairness in the basis on which contributions are now awarded which was wanting in the other scheme. The latter took into consideration depth only with- , out regard to area; the former takes in both, and on this ground, if on no other, it has been deemed more suilable to the assessment of the mines. The Queen of iieauty shareholders were defendants in a casein which the Bright Smile and lumping Association sued them for contr.butions on tho scale of the original scheme. Tho case was to com before the Warden's Court ex the latter and adnsed a settlement. Actmg wo beheye, on this advice, the shareholders of Jo Q Uecil of B ' mine made an offer to 'tho effect that they would consent to pay tho amount of contribution. set against thoir claim in the scheme devised by Messrs Wright Dowar, and lernick, on condition that each paid their own portion of the costs incurred so far. That is, they consent to be assessed at the rate of £3:J Qs 8M per month, or £38 i 8s Od per annum as their proportion of the cost of pumpin». The offer has_ been submitted to the directors of the Bright Smile and Pumping Association, and accepted by them. So that this case is virtually decided. JNo doubt tho Court will give judgment in terms of tho agreement. We have no doubt that many if not all of the other companies owning claims on the VVaio-karakawill follow the example set by the Queen of Beauty, and the drainage cases, which promised to bo a source of vexatious litigation for months to come, may, by the general adoption of the scheme alluded to, be amicably | settled without further cost