THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3159, 3 April 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1879.

The question of again commencing pumping operations seems lately to receive very little attention from tluse persons who, afc one time, had the matter in hand. This inactivity no doubt results from the action of the United Pumping Association in refusing to proceed with pumping works unless assisted materially by funds from the local bodies, and the disagreement with the Thames County Council. We have so frequently written upon this subjectinourcolumns,that were itnot with the object of calling the attention of our local authorities to the position the district is drifting into, we would not again refer to it. It appears as if each party concerned were playing a waiting game, aud in the meantime the lookers-on—this community—are suffering. It is pretty evident that but little assistance may be expected from the Auckland mine holders in the solution of the difficulty, so the sooner steps are taken by those persons who have the interest of the Thames at heart the better for all concerned. The County authorities seem to still maintain the position they first took up, that a fair price shall be paid for their interest in (be securitieji banded to them by the

Government, and (ho Pumping Association iii the first place questioning tho right of the County to demand any compensation, and, in the next, that the amount asked for by the County is more than the value of the same, refuse to take any steps to compromise and arrange their differences. That the County and the United Pumping Association will have to come to an understanding, as the first step toward* ending the present situation, is the opinion of all who have given any consideration to the question, and such being the position of affairs, endeavors should be made to bring about so desirable a result. The amount of support which the Pumping Association might expect from the local authorities, in the event of pumping operations being recommenced, has been pretty we"\ arranged for. The County has said thai all gold duty received by them, gained by the operations of the pump, will be given towards such operations; and the Borough is prepared, we believe, to make the same offer, and, if prospecting operations are carried out in the south drive to give the whole of the gold duty paid them by the Government. Such being the situation, it calls for instant attention, if the future of the district is to be conserved, and the present depression in some measure removed. If no arrangement can be made between the County and the Pumping Association, steps should be taken to have the mines held by the United Pumping Association forfeited, that other owners might be found more willing perhaps to bear a share in developing the goldfiVd, and interested in promoting its prosperity. It is a public disgrace, and not creditable to this community that such a state of affairs should be allowed to continue. Why should the wbole district suffer because the owners of certain properties held under the laws relating to goldfields—the main feature of which is occupation and working—refuse to proceed with mining operations, because they cannot get such assistance as they fancy they are entitled to, or such terms from the mortgagees as they dictate? This district has ' contributed materially to the prosperity of Aucklandi and has a right to expect some return from the residents of that city, but up to the present has had very little evidence of consideration for its wants. The, Thames has always been looked upon by Auckland people as their property, an estate which should be made to yield as much as possible with any expenditure from the proprietors' pockets. Prom past experiences, such has been the treatment received by the Thames fiom the City of Auckland, and such seems to be all we may expect for the future. It is time that our affairs were looked into, and our local authorities bestirred themselves in the interests of the community, or the day will come when they will find their occupation gone. The Government might well be appealed to for an opinion upon the position taken up by the County on the one hand, and by the Uniled Pumping Association on the other, for between both, this very important district is being retarded, and an industry that calls for support is being rained. We trust the Borough Council will again take the matter into consideration, when we will have something further to say upon the subject.