Mining Review of the Week.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3648, 4 September 1880, Page 2

Mining Review of the Week.

Again the pumping question has been agitating the mining community daring this past week, this time in consequence of legislation being enacted empowering our local bodies to contribute to the Pump. The legislation referred to makes it purely optional on the part of the local bodies, but the County Council at its last meeting, with praiseworthy alacrity, confirmed its previous action, and promised to give £40 per month for the maintenance of pumping operations. The Borough [Council have not yet decided what to do, and though we believe tie majority of the Council are prepared to admit the rectitude of the principle of contributing, there is some question whether or not their embarrased position will allow them to carry out their wishes. There is also a strong feeling on the part of several members of the municipal body that in the event of their extending monetary aid, the Pumps should be worked from, the deep levels and vigorous prospecting carried on, indeed pumping from the present depth is looked on by many as a matter of no importance to the community at large, while pumping and prospecting from a depth of 600 or 700 feet from the surface, in the event of a discovery of gold resulting, would be a matter of lusting good to the whole community. It is therefore probable that it the Borough Council find themselves in a position to contribute, they will only do so with the proviso that pumping is maintained from the deep levels, and that the same are prospected. The admission of the County Council of their liability to assist in pumping- and their carrying out this principle with respect to the Big Pump, has been the means of establishing a precedent for other persons raising water in pursuit of mining operations to apply for aid from the County coffers. At the last meeting of the ; Council, Mr Greenville, of the Hape Creek mine, and who has spent a large amount of money draining it, applied for and obtained aid from the gold duty his mine was. the means of giving to the Council.