The Pumping Question.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3611, 23 July 1880, Page 2

The Pumping Question.

A semi-public meeting of mine #magers and others interested in the above was held at the Pacific Hotel last evening. Amongst those present we noticed Messrs Comer, Walker, Crawford, J. H. Smith, R. McDonald Scott, G. A. Buttle, A. Porter, Sheppard,. H. R. Jones, W. Tregoweth, T. A. Dunlop, T. James, F. Strange, R. McDonald, and others.

Mr J. W. Walker, in proposing that MrR. McDonald Scott take the Chair, said that their object in calling the meet* ing was this: Yesterday the companies contributing to the Pump received a notification to the effect that the Pump would be stopped in three months in consequence of the want of support by the companies interested', and the withdrawal of the subsidies by the local bodies. It was thought by some gentlemen present that our representatives and the Mayor and Mr Brodie should be urged to get the action of the local bodies legalised. It had turned out that Mr Brodie had already taken action, but nothing was known respecting the. Mayor. He thought it would be desirable to take the whole question of drainage into consideration.

Mr Dunlop seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Scott in taking the chair said they all knew the importance of pumping in connection with goldmining operations on this field. He himself was under the impression when the Pump started last

time that its operation would be continuous. He considered the cropping up of the matter very inopportune at the preseut time. It was inopportune this way—that when they thought the difficulty over it kept cropping up again. The working of the Pump must be an object commanding the sympathies of every man interested in mining on the field. He then asked that Mr Walker should give them further information on the matter.

Mr Walker said he had not come prepared with any formal motion, but he thought they could not do any harm in waiting, on the Borough Council to urge on them the necessity of oblaiuing legislation to legalise the subsidising of the Pump. Mr Porter said the County had not paid any money yet—for the reason that they could not legally do so, and none of the Councillors were in a position to fork out £40 per month. The majority of the Council were willing to carry out the promise, if they would not be held individually responsible. He, as a Councillor, would like to have a guarantee that the companies would contribute their fair share, and not make the local bodies bear the burden as heretofore. During those two years the average cost of pumping—exclusive of driving the cross-cut—had been £760 per month, and the contributions of the companies had been £264 13s 4d, leaving the balance to be borne by the local bodies. The contributions of the companies were as follows:—Kuraaui Hill £115, Caledonian £20, Golden Calf £10, Imperial Crown £12, Tookey £10, Moanatairi £45, Waiotaui £12, Don Pedro £2 10s, Inverness £11 6s Bd, Prince Imperial £10, Cure £11 6s Bd, Bed Queen £6 10s. If the | gentlemen present could tell them the present cost of pumping, and the amount contributed by the companies, something practical might be arrived at. Mr Comer said he was not in a position to give the exact cost of pumping, but he could tell them about it. When the pump started on the 4th of August last, they had had promise of assistance from both: local bodies, neither of which had been complied with. The cost of pumping roughly was about £285 per month. They had only received £195 per month from all sources. He was one of the deputation waiting on the County Councillors when they had been publicly promised the £40 per month, and ai they had been depending on it, he thought the Councillors should be held responsible. [Cr Porter: Make those who voted for it pay you.] He quite coincided with the present action of the Moanatairi Com* pany, as they had had to bear the hoo'a share, and the shoe had began to pinch He might state that there were at present liabilities amounting to £560, and some one would hare to pay them. Mr Porter asked Mr Comer what bad been the cost of pumping since the Moanatairi Company took over the Pump. Mr Comer: A little under £400 per month including stoppages, for which ■none of the companies had contributed. He thought the County should be assessed for the time that some of the mines were in their hands.

Mr James having been informed that a telegram had been received from Mr Brodie, asked if it would not be well to communicate with Mr Ehrenfried asking him to act similarly with respect to the Borough and co-operate with Mr Brodie. Mr Porter suggested that they should draft a short Mining Bill forcing the companies to contribute. It would be a simple matter. After a few further remarks from Mr Comer—

.The Chairman said if the companies in the drainage area would not pay they should be forced to abandon their ground. It was a scandalous shame that the companies had not contributed. Mr James suggested they should deal with the one matter first, and moved:— l| "Thai this meeting telegraph to the' Mayor asking him to co-operate with the County Chairman in his endeavours to get any action of the local bodies in reference to assisting pumping operations legalised." Mr Sheppard argued that the Cohncils had as much right to contribute to roads under ground as those on the surface. Mr Porter said that that was admitted provided the works were inside the County. After some further discussion Mr i James withdrew his motion and Mr Dunlop moved that Messrs Comer, Walker, James, McDonald and the Chairman wait on the Town Clerk asking him to call a special meeting of the Council to receive the deputation. Car* ried. Cr Porter suggested that a resolution should be passed by them as shareholders urging on the directors of the various companies to meet and decide on a scale of contributions. The Chairman said that he did not think that it was in the province of the meeting to pass such a resolution. Mr Walker thought that such a meeting of the directors would be bound to follow as a matter of course. Mr Porter then moved the appointment of a sub-committee to go into the whole question of the pumping. Mr Comer thought that there was no necessity for such a motion. The Moanatairi Company had given them three months' notice. Mr Strange seconded the motion. He said that this was a clear case of whipping the willing horse, and as long a* the Pump was kept going on the present plan there would be some found who would endeavour^ to evade payment. They might as well say if a man shut up his farm, he should not pay road rates. After some irrelevant discussion, Mr Porter said what they had been doing tonight was all unnecessary, as the County Chairman and the Mayor had arranged the .matter while they were dreaming about it. In answer to Mr Buttle, Mr Comer said that the Moanatairi Company could 'not force the companies to pay their con* tributions owing to the inefficiency of the Act" which he could drive a cart and horse through." Mr Porter said that he recollected a pumping association recovering contributions from a company under the provisions of the Drainage Act. Mr Walker thought that the motion was unnecessary at present, and considered it advisable that the meeting should adjourn for a week. The motion was eventually carried, and the following gentlemen were appointed to act on the committee;— Messrs Porter, Shepherd, K. McDonald, James, and the Chairman.

The customary compliment to the chair concluded the business.