The Pumping Question.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3616, 29 July 1880, Page 2

The Pumping Question.

The adjourned meeting of gentlemen interested in the above for the purpose of ' receiving the report of the Committee was held last evening at the Pacific Hotel, Mr B. McDonald Scott in the Chair.

The Chairman explained the object for which they were called together, and stated that the fact of them taking steps here had had a beneficial effect in Auck* land, people there «ere evidently of the opinion now that the Pump would not stop. He then called on Uv Porter to read the report of the committee :—

Your committee have the honor to report as followi—(1.) That the amount of ground at present occupudbj the mines within what may be considered the area more particularly affected by druinnge operations is, in round numbers, about 680 men's ground. This includes the Queen of Beauty and the other mines on the WaioKariik* Flat. The accompanying tketch plan will show the area and position of Ihe claims referred to. It wi:l be seen that the seven mines, namely—Moanatairi, £60; Kuranui, £40 ; Caledonian, £30 ; Golden Calf, £15; Waiotahi, £25; Cure, £15; Golden Crown, £10, with ani area of 427 men's ground, have paid the sum of £195 per month towards the drainage contribution, while nine claims with an area of 253 men's ground have paid nothing towards „ drainage. The following are the names ot the •-- defaulting mines:—Inverness, Hera'd, In* penal Crown, Bed Queen, Tookey, Manukau, Prince Imperiul, Don Pedro, Queen of Beauty Extended, and Crown Prices , but it can hardly be expected thut the Queen of Beauty can be asked to contribute when they have to pay such heavy drainage expenses on \ their onn account. (2) The committee has not been able to agree on what they consider a fair scale of contribution, but believe it would be advisable, that area and depth should be taken into consideration in any system of contribution, and they believe it would be advisable if the Directors of the various compsnies would hold a joint meet* ing without taking into consideration sub* sidiee from local bodies, agree on some equitable arrangements either for the purpose of purchasing the Pump and so making it joint property of all the mines interested, or for the purpose of agreeing to a fair mode of contributing towards the working expenses of pumping operations for a period to be agreed on between the interested parties. (S.) The amount of gold duty received by the local bodies since the Pump became the property of the Moanatairi Gold Mining Company has been:—County, £1388; Borough, £347.— Total amount received, £173?. The amount re* ceived'from within the area drained has been in round numbers about £750. The Borough under the Financial Arrangements Act passed on December 10th, 1877, received gold duty as Borough Bevenue, and the Finance Arrangements Act, 1876, msde gold duty County rave* nue. It has been found by both th*se bodies that if payments .were made by them they would be illegal, and could be recovered from the individual members. Such bsing the ease no money has been paid, but we believe that ft majority of both Councils are willing to contribute out of the gold duty received by them provided they can legally do to. Any money so paid could be spent *n what might be eon* sidered extraordinary expenditure. . (6.) The Goldmining District* Act, 187$ gives the owners of pumping machinery ample power to recovtr drainage contributions from, the mines so benefitted (see Act, tectioa 5, clause 58 to 78.) In conclusion, the -- committee trust now that payable gold has been proved to exist in the Golden Calf, Caledonian, and Xuranui mines at low levels that some per* manent arrrugement will be ootne to in reference to pumping operations, and that immediate steps will be taken to enforce payment against the defaulting mines that have failed to pay their fair share of the drainage contribution.

He also read the clause of the Act referred to in the report, giving theji modus operandi of taking proceeding! for refusal to contribute to drainage; The Chairman said he ought to hare stated that the other committee were unable to meet the Borough Council as that body did not meet till to-morrow. He then requested discussion on the report. He trusted that it met the views of the meeting and the riews of the case. The Chairmant I presume the amount of gold dutj obtained was about equal to the drainage contributions. Mr Porter: Yes. The Chairman: The local bodies then would hare made something by oontribut^H ing to the maintenance of the rump. rtH Mr Shepherd said that he believed the County Council wonld go so far as to give the whole of the gold duty or a rery large percentage of it to the pumps provided they found that they could legally do so. Mr Gellion moved the adoption of the report. Mr Buttle, in speaking to the report said that the maintenance of pumpinjrj* was essential to the prosperity of erefw*. mine on the field. So important didr Warden Fraser consider this question that last year he devoted nearly the whole of report to the question, and recommended that the whole of the gold revenue from the district should be given to that purpose. Mr Eneebone seconded the moti'in, ;, which was carried unanimously. Mr Gellion quite agreed with Mr Buttles remarks, but asked what were they to do in the meantime. To meet this he moved "That steps be taken to get legalisation to legalise payments by _ local bodies in aid of drainage operations.", > He thought a short bill should be passed': ' this session to that effect.

Mr Buttle moved that a hearty rote of * thanks to the gentlemen who had drawn up the report. He said he wished it to be unde. sNwd that he did not desire to justify any company, failing to contribute.

Seconded by Mr H. R. Jones and , carried. . «

After some farther desultory, eonversasation the meeting adjourned.