THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2942, 20 July 1878, Page 2

THE WEEK.

For some lime past mining matters have been in such a uniform state of inactivity that few events have arisen to call for comment outside the usual chronicle. Nor can it be said that the past week has been much exception to the rule, as the incidents which have transpired which may be regarded as of a hopeful character afford little ground for congratulations, which might be premature. The season and the seasonable weather hare helped to contribute to the chronic dulness, and, it is feared,, aggravated the result. The County operations have been curtailed, and labor is now abundant —more so than is desirable. The proposed prospecting works from the low levels of the Pumping Association Shaft have not been started, or they would have afforded an outlet for some of the surplus labor. Until these works are entered upon the problem of the deep levels must remain unsolved so far as a large area of ground is concerned. The time is not far distant, however, when the arrangement of the Borough and County to maintain the Pumping operations will cease, and it is to be hoped that some steps will be adopted in the meantima by the companies interested to take advantage of this expenditure of local revenue, as it cannot be expected that the arrangement will be continued if these companies display such supineness in regard to their own interests and those of the district as they have during the past eighteen months. There is a vast amount of pro-, perty at stake, and the interests of the public are no less important than tho^e of the companies whose properties have been benefited; but while the Borough and Council have faithfully carried out their part of a mutual agreement the several companies have been culpable defaulters. The district has thereby suffered in two ways. A large expenditure has been diverted from its legitimate channel (improving "the district) for the purpose of carrying out a work, important enough in itself, that has not been taken ad van* tage of as it might and ought to have been if the, terms of the agreement had been stringently enforced.