THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1697, 11 June 1874, Page 2

THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

A meeting relative to the above subject was held last night at the Governor Bowen Hotel. The Waiokaraka mines were generally represented, either a director or a mine manager from every claim on the Waioknralia line of reef bang present. The ostensible purport of the meeting was to resist the action takon by the Pumping Association against the City of London Company in making a charge for drainage. Mr. Stewart, of the Queen of Beauty mine, was voted to the chair. The Chairman stated that he had invited those interested to assemble to discuss the question of the drainage of the several mines on the flat. He thought it better for the mine owners to meet and consult so as to meet the question at once. Mr Mclntyre, thought that the Bright Smile Company's Pump was draining the flat, and did not think thai the Pumping Association did so, and thought that those interested in the Waio-Karaka mines should band together and resist the claims advanced by the Pumping Association for drainage, and thought it would be a less cost to sink a main shaft to pump and drain the Waio-Karaka district. Mr Thomas, of the Queen'of Beauty mine, said that the water from the WaioKaraka mines had gone. som&where, and so far as he was concerned was willing to pay any reasonable charge for drainage, and asked if the Bright Smile Company were prepared to estimate a proportionate scale of costs. Mr Hicks stated that the City of London Company had been served with two assessments for drainage one from the Pumping Association and another from the Bright Smile Company. The comjrany he represented were willing to contribute to drainage, but wanted to know which company to pay as there were two claimants and they wanted to pay the right party. Mr. Oglen (Crown Prince) thought that it should be proved which pump was actually draining the mines. Mr. W. Sully said that so far as he could learn the meeting had been convened for the purpose of ascertaining who really was draining the flat. He believed it was the Bright Smile pump, and had every reason to believe that the water raised by the Pumping Association arose from a different source than that pumped by the Bright Smile. That company was willing to leave the question of monetary assistance to assessors. Neighboring claims, in his opinion, had been made dividend paying ones by the assistance afforded them in drainage which had cost the owners nothing. He with others would contribute to defend any action brought by the Pumping Association to recover money for draining any of the Waio-Karaka mines, but, in the event of the Bright Smile not being assisted, that company would certainly cease operations. The company would be most reluctant to take such a step, but were quite prepared to do so; if assisted in the enormous cost of pumping, would continue sinking the main shaft- Should another pumping company be projected, no doubt the Bright Smile would contribute; but at present he thought that that company's shaft was sufficient for some time to come.

In answer to Mr. Thomas, Mr. Sully stated that all the Bright Smile company wanted was money assistance so long as the present pump was sufficiently effecttive for draining.

Mr. J. W. Walker, thought that those who' were receiving bene6t from the Bright Smile pump, should contribute; it was unfair for one company to drain the mine ot another without renumeration; and that the claims the Bright Smile was draining should at o?ce contribute to the cost.

Mr. Sully moved that those present pledge themselves to combine and resist the action taken by the Pumping As ociation. Mr. Sully informed the meeting that Mr. Gillies' professional services had been retained by the Bright Smile company. ! Mr. Sully's motion was carried by representatives from the Queen of Beauty, City (of London, Queen of the May, Bright Smile, City of York, Queen of the Thames, Exchange and Queen of England.

The Chairman informed the meeting that the City of London had asked the Queen of Beauty Company to assist them in defence of the pending action. On the motion of Mr Whitford it. was resolved that the Chairman, in conjunction with Mr. Wardell, communicate with the directors of the several companies represented, to ascertain if they were willing to combine in defending the action by the Pumping Association against the City of London, or any future action by that Association againat mines on the Waio-karaka flat.: Carried. The meeting then adjourned to Friday, the 12th instant. A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman. ;