MEETING RE BIG PUMP.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3118, 14 February 1879, Page 2

MEETING RE BIG PUMP.

The meeting of members from the Thames Borough and County Councils, the principal mine owners, and the mem* bersof the United Pumping Association, was held at Mr Tothill's office, Shortland street, Auckland, yesterday afternoon. There were present—Messrs C. B. Stone, T. Peacock (Mayor of Auckland), J. M. Lennox, 1 homas Morrin, G. C. McMillan, J. McCabe, R. Macdonald, P. Whitaker, W. Rowe, M.H.E., W. Barker, J. Williamson, A". Brodie (County Chairman), A. Porter, J. < Brown; W. Deeble, W. McCullough (Mayor of Thames), and W. J. Speight. , ; . . Upon the motion of Mr T. Morririi seconded by Mr Lennox, Mr C. J. Stone was elected to the chair.

A letter was received from Mr Partington, of Abraham street, Grahamstown, stating that he had an invention by the use of which he would guarantee to carry on the pumping at the Big Pump without coal or engine, and at a nominal cost when once the invention was fairly started. ...

The Chairman; in opening the proceedings, briefly stated the present position of the pumping arrangements on the Thames, and read the resolution passed at a meeting of the TJ.P. Association calling the present meeting. , ; f After some little delay, no one present seeming inclined to speak— Mr Rowe said he had a few remarks to make upon the position of matters upon the Thames, and the possibility of at once having the pumps set going. He spoke at some length of the past management of the Pumping Association, and expressed an opinion that in the future matters might be managed more economically. His idea was that a scheme should be arranged to at once sink the Big Pump shaft, a further depth of 350 feet, or until the main slide was cut, and to continue the south drive to the Pi ako shaft. This work might be done for from about £21,000 to £25,000, and would take about two years to complete. If the Borough and County would give their gold revenue—he would not ask gold revenue such as that received from the Ohinemuri field, but all revenue received within the area drained— the Government might be asked to lend Bay £5000 out of the vote for prospecting works upon goldfields, and the associated companies should be required to contribute the remainder. Mr Eowe at some length showed how the work could be done for the money mentioned and within the time. He concluded by moving a resolution to the effect—That it was desirable to at once recommence pumping operations, and that a scheme such' as he had sketched should be undertaken.

Mr McMillan said he was afraid that such a scheme as that proposed by Mr Howe could not be undertaken, and he thought that if pumping operatioos were confined to the 4CO feet level it would be the wiser course.

Mr Speight said that it would perhaps be better to understand their position. If it was intended, as might be gathered from Mr McMillan's remarks, to discuss the advisability of commencing pumping operations from the 400 feet level, the representatives of the Thames local bodies present were in a false position. He might remind the meeting that that question, as far as the bodies mentioned we're concerned, bad been disposed of, and the resolution was that not one penny of gold revenue would be devoted to such a purpose.

Mr Lennox said he would support Mr Howe's resolution, but said he was in doubt where the money was to come from to carry out the entire scheme. If the Borough and County Councils would give their gold revenue it would be a help; but the mine owners had so exhausted their resources, that they were scarcely in a position to enter upon such an undertaking. ' •

Mr McCullough said his own opinion was—and he believed the feeling of the Borough of Thames—that any reasonable scheme for the recommencement of pumping operations and prospecting works should receive support from the Borough authorities. He might remind the meeting that, so far as the Borough was con*

cerned, it had no interest in the Big Pump other'than its being at work tended to the welfare and prosperity of the placa. He thought Mr Howe's scheme, or one having for its object some well-defined plan of operation, should be adopted. There was no use in: starting work again with the idea of just keeping the Pumps going, and without a scheme for prospecting upon a systematic basis, a plan intended to cover not one or two years, but five or more, and which would be a part of the permanent „wprks,upon the Goldfield. ..Unless some such scheme were undertaken, buT little help might be expected from the Borough. A reasonable project would receive con-" sideration and, no doubt, help, but as to the amount the Borough would give, and such other considerations, would all depend upon the plan of operations. Mr McCabe said he had one objection to Mr Eowe's scheme, and that was there was no provision for works upon the WaioKwraka flat. The mine owners in that locality had paid more for sinking and pumping works 1 within the last few years than any others on the Thames, and were still prepared to contribute largely to any scheme for thoroughly developing the lower levels. Gold had been obtained at a good depth in the jQueeia of Beauty! mine, aiid there' was a! reasonable hope; that good gold existed at lower levels.' ':' \ Mr Brown agreed with, Mr McCabe^ and thought Mr Kb we might well''intro" duce into his scheme the sinking'of-the Piako shaft, which would enable work to be commenced at both ends : of the south drive. In »ny future 'arrangements -that were made a better, {syt/; tern of management would have, to be organised. He stated that with the ex; ception of the Kuranui prospecting and the County works, nothing had been done in the direction of prospecting by Other mine owners. '.."'."!'.'-

Mr.r, Porter supported Mr Brown*^ views,-and showed that the County had not only spent over £4000 in the south drive, but was now paying interest upon that amount and £8000 more^ spent in connection with the pumping works. Mr Brodie said the County would give assistance, hut not the whole of its gold duly. - He might add that unless sotaething, was done steps would be taken to realise xison- thie securities held!»byl iW r County, and the question made so much of by many Auckland gentlemen as to whether tho County held any intereit or mortgage over the plant would be tested in the Supreme Court. If the County had ho claim upon~the securities—well, the sooner it was known the jbetter for them. The Government-might have their present back, and , the County, would have a fair claim for compensation' for money expended. - > -■ .; -■, ;:r* Mr Whi taker at great length ad rocated; the organisation of an extensive scheme, and thought well of Mr Howe's ideas; I but if attention was given to the mterests pf the Waio-Karaka disirfisf 'it w^ffl^in his opinion be the most encouraging part of the scheme. He "differed wHh^Mr Brown as to the amount of work that had jbeendone by pth^r cdmpanie|, md ttated what he had knot\rn Ijo b^| eipendigd in; prospecting the lower levels. He thought that it would be. well not. to",oarfy,jMry Howe's resolution, but to form , a committee to devise some plan of operations some,what upon the: basis of Mr ttowe^sscheme. . „.-. >■.. ... ;.... ,-,-,:.,.;■

i After considerable discussion a committee consisting of the following gentle-" jmen was formed: —Messrs Bowe^ jMcCabe, Lennox, Firth, Brodie, McCullough and Peacock, the latter (the Mayor of Auckland) to be convener. j A vote of thanks was proposed to the ;chair by Mr McCullough, and carried,; |which concluded the business.. ; - r , ;, ; ,.