THE BIG PUMP STOPPED.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1888, Page 4

THE BIG PUMP STOPPED.

Thames, Saturday. Acting upon instructions from the Deep Level Cross G.M.C., Mr James. Coutt g stopped pumping operations at the Big Pump at 2.25 this afternoon. Mr Phillips, the engineer, received a'telegram from the Secretary of the Drainage Board that the Board was . unable to prevent the Cross taking possessitn. Mr Coutts was armed with authority from the Cross to employ men if necessary to prevent" anyone coming on the premises. : The pump is now shut down. The affair ha 3 caused a good deal of excitement. Thames, this day.

Considerable excitement was caused here on Saturday afternoon when it became known that the Big Pump had been shut down " by the Deep Level Cross b.M. Lft in consequence of the Drainage Board tailin o- to comply with their demand for we payment of the balance of the purchasemoney dueonthepuinp. Therecanbenoquestion that if pumping is not resumed before the expiration of a week or ten daj. a large number of miners will be thrown out o employment, as the deep^ levels of our principal mines will be flooded either rf water or gas, which will necesatete the discontinu-nce of operations Itisestimaej that about 300 miners will be ou of wo* from this cause in less than a week, so tha it will be seen that unlessa settlement^ soon arrived at between the Drainage Bowd and the Cross Company, disastrous ,«■J are certain to ensue to the whole district. It is probable that unless something is done within a day or two a monster meeting < miners will be held to urge upon^ Govern ment the immense importance of he jW*r to this goldfield, and tho necessity for aw being granted to the Drainage Boaid to liquidate their liability.