The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3113, 8 February 1879, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1879.

The vacancy for the representation of Middle Ward in the Borough is likely to be contested, we hear. Additional names have been mentioned to day as those of probable candidates. One is Mr Wm. Davies, first Mayor of Thames, to whom, we are informed, a requisition has been prepared, which has already received substantial support. The other gen* tleman we have heard mentioned as a probable candidate, or as about to be asked to become such, is Mr William Howe, who is certainly one of the largest property owners in the Ward, and one not altogether unacquainted with Borough politics and public life in its various ramifications. At the present juncture of affairs, with the Borough in debt for its own affairs and a large liability on account of the Domestic Water Supply Corporation and the Harbor Board, it is necessary that men of experience should be elected as representatives in the Boroiifch Council and at the councils of the other local bodies. Then it is probable that shortly the question of the local bodies again associating themselves with others to resume pumping operations and to carry on the southern cross-cat will be discussed, and Mr Bowe would, from his practical acquaintance with mining and all the details necessarily crop* ping up for consideration ia connection

with this matter, be an invaluable member. .We have had occasion to criticise Mr Eowe's plan of proposed action for carrying on the pumps, not from any distrust of his intentions, but because he seemed to favor too much the view of the Auckland directors and shareholders, and took an unusual way of explaining his scheme. In the Borough Council, controlled by the collective wisdom of the other councilors, Mr Eowe's opinions would be valuable, and would receive consideration. We have not said anything of Mr Davies' fitness for the office. His past public career speaks for itself; and we are the more retioient in indulging in any commendation from the fact that Mr Davies has, we believe, expressed a desire to relinquish some of his present public duties. Should he alter his mind, and consent to again enter the arena of Borough politics, he will have his old frienda rallying round him. .

At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in Auckland yesterday the Chair* man (Mr J. C. Firth) is reported to hare said he thought that was a fitting time to report the efforts that had been made to prevent the stoppage of the Big Pump. The committee had been of opinion that if operations were confined to the 400 feet level they would be within the means of the persons interested. Bepresentations had been made to the local bodies, but the replies received had not been of a nature to.encourage the Chamber to interfere in the matter, with which it was not immediately concerned. "He (the Chairman) understood that in a short time, owing to the stoppage of the pumps, the gas or water would be up to the sea level in the Caledonian, Moanatairi, and other mines, and 3000 mouths would have to be fed, through the persons who would be thrown out of employment." Whoever Mr Firth's informant may be he has exaggerated in saying that the stoppage of the Big Pump will throw out of employ the breadwinners for three thousand persons, for under the worst possible circumstances that could eventuate —if the water should rise in the shaft to the very sill, and drive bad air into every working of the mines in communication with the Big Pump, the number of men thrown out of employment would not represent three thousand mouths. The situation is bad enough, but we have bo desire to see it repre-. sented in a worse light than is consistent with facts. We can only repeat that it is a pity our Auckland friends, who now appear so solicitous on our behalf, did not recognise the necessity for action a few months earlier. Had they done so, there would have been no necessity for a stoppage of the pump.