The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3171, 18 April 1879, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1879.

The knowledge that ihe County Council has appointed a committee to meet the United Pumping Association in Auckland, coupled with, the fact that " circumstances have arisen within the last few days which, if taken advantage of, would lead to restarting the Pumps," the ■ tatement made by the Mayor at the las t Borough Council meeting, all tend to lead us to hope that the Big Pump difficulty will soon be ended, and pumping operations again commenced. The right step is now being taken, and one that common sense might have dictated to the parties interested much earlier, for it was apparent that whatever: value the gift of the pumping securities were to the County it was never imagined that pumping and prospecting works were such as came within the province of the Thames County Council, nor was it expected that such would be carried out by it. The situation taken up, we pointed out in former articles as one in which the County Council, anxious to get the best price for its securities, showed a certain amount of indifference ; and the mine owners, trusting that time and the effect of the stoppage would help them to get better terms, appeared to take the same pqsition. While it has had, perhaps, the results anticipated by the parties mentioned, the course pursued has made this district suffer more than was at all necessary. It is to be hoped that the game has been carried on long enough, and that, whatever difference of opinion there is between the County and the United Pumping' Association as to the value of the securities, the matter will be discussed in a liberal spirit, and the subject approached with an evident intention to a final settlement of the same. , If such is not done, the public should not be slow to express' an opinion upon the action of the disputants; and, again, the principle that public • ,bodies should keep in view, that the good of the greatest number is ever to be considered by them^ will urge the County authorities to feel it their duty to concede somewhat in their demands, and the United Pumping „ Association — acknowledging the favors they have in the first place received from a paternal Government, and',more recently from the ratepayers of the municipality -!?,to be, prepared, to ,meet the holders of tbe securities in a liberal spirit. That the Mayor-was right in directing attention to the injury inflicted upon this

district, at the last meeting of the Council, all interested in its future will acknowledge, and it is to be hoped, that the Committee appointed upon his suggestion, may in some way aid in bringing to a satisfactory termination the present situation. In view of the County and the United Pumping Association agreeing upon a price, it is to be hoped that a liberal support will be promised to the Association, to assist it in carrying out pumping and prospecting operations; by the County granting to it at least the gold revenue received through the pumping works, and which, in the event of the same not being recommenced, would not be received ; the Borough, on the other hand, granting the same support. It may be aaid by the County authorities that they are not interested in pumping works being re-ebmmenced, and only nowjpay attention to the question because they hold the mortgages; but such ia a very narrow view of their duties as a local governing body, and the Borough, while it has not a > share in the securities, is, however, deeply interested in having pumping operations re-started. We trust the good sense of all parties concerned—after the experiences of the pait few months—may lead to so desirable a result aa a re-commencement of pumping and prospecting operations, and on such a basis as may give the prospect that the same will not be interrupted for many years. •