Major Atkinson on the Big Pump.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3137, 8 March 1879, Page 3

Major Atkinson on the Big Pump.

The following extract from Hansard may thrown tome light; upon,the question —the intention! of the late Government in handing orer the securities of the Big Pump to the County :— The Home went into a Committee of the whole for the purpose of givingleave to add anew clause to the Public Works and Immigration Bill, providing for hand* ing over to the* County of Thames the mortgage held by the colony orer the works of the Thames Pumping Association. , —?■;■: ;X ■ ■':" ■ '-V.-;' y.l '■ ■'■ Major Atkinson said the object of the clause was to enable the Government to hand over to the County Council of the Thames, when constituted, the mortgage held over the Pumping Association's claim. Honorable gentlemen would remember that £50,000 was authorised to be advanced to the Pumping Association of the Thames; and the Provincial Government of Auckland became responsible for that amount, nearly the whole of which had been expended. It was necessary, in order to carry on the works, that a considerably larger sum should still be expended. The Government were not prepared to go further, but the people of the Thames considered it of very great importance, that the work should be continued, as, a large number of mines would be flooded if the works ceased. They thought that at a reasonable cost they could apply water : power to the machinery instead of steam, which would effect a large saving. The Government, looking at this ! matter rfftkcf as a white elephant as far as the colony was concerned, thought it would be far better to get rid of it at once by handing it over to the Thames County. It was a subject of great local importance, and he understood from the honorable member for the Thames (Mr Howe) that the money could be raised to make it a profitable concern. The transfer would relieve the province of all charge in respect to the-advance. He did not pro* pose to burden the county with payment of the interest; for if a work of suoh great importance could be carried on successfully without further cost to the oolony, they might be very well satisfied. Resolution agreed to.