THAMES NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9187, 17 October 1888, Page 5

THAMES NEWS.

[own correspondent.] Thames, Tuesday. Two cases of scarlet fever of a most malignant typo -were reported by Dr. Payne this evening , as existing at the All Nations Hotel, Grahamstown. The defective state of the malleable iron mains leading from the Waio-Karaka reservoir towards the Big Pump, which contribute to tho supply of the larger mains from the Waiotahi reservoir, have for some time past created considerable uneasiness, and several stoppages have occurred to those batteries of late who are dependent on the water supply for motive power. The County Council had their attention drawn to this matter by their engineer, Mr. A. Aitken, some time ago, and steps were then taken to remedy the matter by ordering a supply of cast iron mains from England, which are now on the Shortland wharf, but these have been found to be insufficient for the purpose. Consequently, during the last day or two the chairman of the county, Mr. A. Brodio, has been in communication with the Hon. E. Mitchelson on the subject, endeavouring to get ;>, further subsidy to supplement the mains now in hand, in order to lay them down in place of the old malleable ones, but the reply received was not a very favourable one. How important the matter is, and to what serious consequence the defects now existing will lead to it tho state of affairs are allowed to remain as at present, the following letter from the Mining Inspector to the manager of the Prince Imperial mine will best show: — "Inspector of Mines office, Thames, 15th October, ISSS. Sir, —Ifc has come to my knowledge that the 20-inch water pipes laid along Upper Pollen-street, and which are near to your shaft and workings, are in a very defective condition. I am also aware that the old workings are very close to the pipes, and that there is only a few feet of drift between the pipes and the old stopes. I therefore consider that there is danger to men working in your mine while defective water pipes that may burst at any moment arc in such close proximity to your workings, as should such an occurrence take place it is highly probable that the rush of water might preventyour men from getting to the shaft, especially if they were working at a distance from the outlets to your mine. I would suggest that you should without delay urge the Water Supply Committee, or such body as may have the control of the water supply, to renew those pipes that are laid in the street mentioned, in order to prevent the mines from being Hooded or injury to persons who may be in the mines or in the proximity of these pipes should they burst. In the meantime, I wish to point out to you the necessity of providing, if possible, a safe way for men being able to get out of your mine should a rush of water get in from the surface working.—lam, &c.,G. Wilson, Inspector of Mines. G. S. Clarke, Esq.,many.ger Now Prince Imperial mine, Thames. 1, A similar letter has also been forwarded by the Mining Inspector to Mr. W. H. Phillips, manager of the Big Puuip, and Messrs. Clark and Phillips have both written letters to tho Council drawing attention to the matter. Mr. John Ralph and party, who proceeded to the Great Barrier copper mine on Wednesday last, in the s.s. Pearl, returned to the Thames this morning. Volunteer B, Lukey, of the Thames Naval Artillery, has presented his corps with a very handsome silver medal for competition.