THE Thames Advertiser SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1874.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1839, 13 June 1874, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1874.

The drainage question is at. present occupying the serious attention of all who are interested in gold mining on this field. The United Pumping Association have issued notices of their intention to claim contributions towards the expenses of their machinery from; all mining companies they conceive to be benefited by their operations. In the Waio-Karaka district these notices are likely to lead to some litigation, and the principal mining companies interested have takllii steps to defend any actions raised by the Pumping Association against them for drainage contributions on the ground that they are not benefited by the Association, but by the Blight Smile Gold Mining Company's pumps. Without enteriug into the merits of the questiou we may be permitted to say that the Bright Smile Company have certainly made out a strong case in support of their claim for contributions from the mining companies of the Waio-Karaka. They have been constantly pumping watw for % la?t two, aud,, ip.,

the opinion of those principally interested, they have been the principal means of enabling the other mining companies in the locality to pursue their avocations unmolested by tins troublesome enemy to smooth working. The Pumping Association claim to have drawn off the water, not only from all those mines, but from the Bright Smile itself, and have, in fact, made a claim for contribution against the latter company amongst others. The result of the meeting of directors of companies interested, held last night, shows a decided intention to dispute the claims of the Association. The claimholders, for the most part, feel themselves placed on the horns of a dilemma. Claims for contributions are made on them, not only by the Pumping Association, but by the Bright Smile, They feel they are benefited by beiug drained, and express themselves willing to pay for this benefit, but there is the difficulty of making a selection. If they agree to pay the -Bright Smile, they may also be forced to pay the Pumping Associa tion, and vice versa. Propositions ac-" companied by, we will not say threats, r but by holding forth ulterior couse-. quences, have been raised. The Bright Smile Company express their determination, if not supported, to stop pumping. The effect of this would doubtless in a very short time be to stop the Queen of Beauty, City of London, Bird-in-Hand, and perhaps .other mines now employing a large amount of labour aud producing gold. The effect of suck a stoppage would therefore be to a great extent disastrous, and should be avoided. On the other hand, the Pumping Association, if' not supported by drainage contributions, will undoubtedly cease pumping, and stop sinking. ] t is claimed that this Association carries a large proportion of the drainage of the Waio-Karaka flat, and that if their operations are stopped, the Bright Smile machinery will be unable to cope with the difficulty. The question is not by any means easy of solution, ' and it is not difficult to understand why the representatives of the companies assembled at meetings should enter with diffidence into any discussion or make engagements which might be be held binding on the companies they represent. The first-action by which the liabilities of the Waio-Karaka mines to contribute to the support of the United Pumping Association is one against the City of London, to be liiei in the Warden's Court next week. It may or may not be a friendly suit for the purpose of testing the question, but we confess we feel-some difficulty in ' understanding the action of the City of London directors in the matter. They invited the co-operation of the Queen of Beauty shareholders in defending the action, and the latter convened a meeting of the leading men of the Waio-Karaka mines for the purpose of arriving at some conclusion, and taking united action, but tlie City of London directors, at the last moment, declined to enter into any engagement for mutual defence, and doubtless elect,to have their suit tried separately. It is stated that two of the directors of the Pumping Association are also directors in the City of London, and under these circumstances it may be that they hold the Pumpiug Association's interests as of paramount importance, feeling inclined to modify their views in respect to the drainage of the Waio-Kara'ka to .suit the interests of the " big pump. Such at least seemed to be the feeling of the meeting last night,, after i'the telegram conveying final instructions to the mine manager of the City of London had been read, and this view was not unwarranted, It will be seen that a number of the companies on the Waio-Karaka have decided to take combined action to .defend any case raised against them by the Pumpiug Association, and without taking further action in reference to the defence of the City, of London, which is the first case, they will employ counsel * to watch the case on their behalf, inasmuch as a judgment given maybe expected to be a precedent in the r , ruling of other cases of a similar character. A short time since some of the residents i,n. ■ the Waiotalii creek made representations to r the Provincial Government with the view of obtaining au extension of the wa;er supply to the Waiotahi. The reply of the Provincial Government to the application was that they could give no answer in the matter pending arrangements with the Borough Council. Within the last few weeks fcikortland has been crowded with natives waiting to go over to the Wharekawa side for the great meeting to be held at the ancient settlement of Wakatiwnt, They are waiting for Mr Mackay, from whom they expect a great deal of money in order to enable them to increase the stock of food they have already accumulated. If the delay is prolonged to any gi'eat extent, however, tho loss wil 1 , we should think,- be more than the gain. The natives do absolutely nothing from morning till night. On the fina days they sit in rows in the sunny places, and loaf about the bars of the public-houses.'. The large building, formerly containing the offices o£ Mackay, Taipari, and Co., MrMaoJonald, solicitor, and others, is now tenanted by a swarm • of Maoris, who lie all over the building. It is said that tlie Maoris are being maintained by monies received from Mr O'Halloran, and other agents for the purchase of native lands in the Thames,' • • ' s" The competing teams in the football match, Auckland v. Thames, to be played at the Parawai gardens this afternoon, will be chosen from the following players;—Auckland—Henderson (captain), Halneavis, Clark, d'udgcon, Wbon, Caverhill, Oliytin, Cousins (2), Pollen, Duder, Burgess, Nichol, Whitaker (2). Thame3 —ltobinson (captain), Bull, Smnison, Davy, Merriman, Burgess, Gudgeon, Abrams, Russell, Niccoll, Tookey, Gavin, Brassey, Carrick, : Nelson, B. Kobmson, and Thomas. Mr D. J. O'Keeffe requests us to intimato that the hind referred to by us as having been purchased by him at Pukorokoro was not purchased recently, but some time ago—at least it has been assigned to Mr i »'Keeh*e forcertsin largo sums of money advanced by him to the family of Pokai, What wo do not understand is, how Mr O'Keeffe gets possession of land belonging to the Ngatipaoa tribe, when all parlies have been solemnly warned that Mr Maokay has paid £200 on the whole lands belonging to the tribo in tho district! of the Thamesand Piako, binding thorn tosejltothe Government only. We presume, that this tra^QUoa.hasten, nude, all, rjgb.l^

Smith's English and Continental Combination Troup, who have been performing in Auckland with immense success, wi'l appear to-night at the Academy. of Music, and remain at the

Thames for a short season. The troup comprises all the essentials for a highly sensational performance—ventriloquism, in its highest, grades, gymnastic and .acrobatic feats of the most won'derful description, and other features of such an entertainment, ' The BaUarat Star thus alludes to the performances. by this talented troup:—" The easy and graceful per. formances of Airec on the trapeze was a charm.

That gentleman uses the trapeze'as a rope on which to stand, now on one leg, now on two, now to lie upon, now to lean upon, and all the time swinging to and fro with the moat perfect ease and apparent safety.. But the great feature, perhaps, of the whole entertainment was the ventriloquism of Mr Val Vose. Really we are inclined to accept the eulogy in the bill, and

admit thet the performer is ' the only true and real ventriloquist that has ever appeared in Australia.' He is certainly the best we have ever heard in BaUarat, and we take it that that means Australia." ■

In reference to Mr J. Borthwick's resignation of the management of the Whau mine we

may state that the legal manager was instructed by the directors to forward a communication to him to the following effect under the seal of the compauy:—" Office of the Old Whau Sold Mining Company (Registered), 9th June, 1874.—Mr John Botthwick, mine manager—Dear Sir,—Herewith lam instructed to convey to you the unanimous expression of the feeling of the Board of Directors contained in an extract from the minutes of a full meeting of the Boird held this day, and signed in the name and by appointment of the meeting by the Chairman : —' Unanimously resolved that a letter be written to Mr Borthwick regretting losing his services, and expressive of the confidence the directors have always had reason to repose in him, and satisfaction from his competence, fidelity, and attention to the interests of the company.—Signed, Albert Beethaji, Chairman.' lam further instructed to convey to you the sincere wishes of the directors for your welfare and success in your future avocations in life, and they do this unanimously, notwith-

standing statements -which they _ are aware have been made to your prejudice. I have only to add that it gives me pleasure to carry out my instructions, and remain, dear 'sir, your obedient servant, Thomas Horsbrtjgh, Manager Old Whau Gold Mining Company (Registered)."

The Educational Gazette for June contains several articles of considerable interest, amongst them a statement of the public school system of the province of Marlborough. This is different to a considerable extent from the systems of the other provinces. The existing road boards were constituted education boards, and are authorised to levy a rate not exceeding twopence in the pound on the annual value to let of all property. Each board is authorised to receive from the Provincial Treasurer all fees paid to him in respect of publicans' licences or bottle licences within their respective districts. Under these boards are school committees. About onethird of the cost of the maintenance of the Marlborough system is derived from the publicans' licences. The Gazette contains the examination papers for teachers certificates under the Canterbury Board, The other contents are well chosen for such a journal.

The p.s. 'Enterprise'will proceed to Gibbons's mill to-day in order to take in tow tho barque 'Lady Emma/ timber-laden for Lyttelton. The' Lady Emma' returns from Canterbury with a cargo of grain and settlers' produce to the order of Auckland merchants.

A meeting of representatives of certain 'claims on the Waio-Karaka will be held at the Governor Bowen Hotel this afternoon to take steps to watch, over their interests in referenoe to drainage contributions.

Messrs Ehrenfried and Kilgour, who formed part of the deputation to his tfonor the Superintendent oil wharf and harbour accommodation, take exception to one sentence in the report of the interview furnished to this paper by our telegraphic correspondent. Referring to the repair ot-Tararu whraf by his orders and at public cost, his Honor i 9 reported to have Baid:—" This action had been taken to obviate public inconvenience, leaving the question of •costs to be afterwards adjusted between the Government and the Borough Council." We think it is ,only reasonable that, his Honor should have substituted "the lessees" for

"Borough Council," and with this amendment probably the sentence is correct. As it reads Messrs Ehrenfried and Kilgonr disown it, or anything approaching to it, they say They asseitthat his Honor did say when the foreshore was handed over to the municipality, and harbour works undertaken, it would then be a matter for adjustment' between them—refer-: riflg to portion of the foreshore being within and portion without the municipality; His Excellency the Governor is expected to ake his depirture for Wellington on M>nday,

in his yacht 'Blanche,' from the Manukau, His Excellency's household will proceed to Wellington in the Government steamer' Luna,' H.M.S. ' Blanche" will also leave Auckland harbour on Monday for the Empire city.

The s.s.' Ladybird' was due in the Manukau yesterday from the Fouth,•■• She is the bearer of the Auckland portion of the Suez mail.

It-will be seen by advertisement that the time table of the p,s ' Golden Crown' has been altered for to-day. - She will leave Auckland at 10am instead of 11 a.m., returning from the Goods wharf, Grahamstown, at 3 instead of 4 p.m.

The Board of Education held their usual fortnightly meeting in Auckland on Thursday, when the following business referring to this district was transacted:—Tararu :Mr Vicker; wrote asking for onemonth's salary in lieu of a month's notice to leave. The matter was referred to the school committee. Waiotahi: The. late' chairman of the committee wrote, informing the Board that Mr Comes had been appointed to the Shellback School when the committee were under the impression that it was a country school, and that Mr Comes would be paid according to the scale for country schools. It was agreed that Mr Cornes should receive payment at the country rate until the date of the Board's decision that it should be a town school. The teacher musi communicate with the Board through the committee. Kauwaeranga: The application for a grant for a building was deferred, but the sum of £4 was allowed for a blackboard. _ Kesolved that the Board could not allow an increase of salary to the teacher of needlework The appointment of a teacher of needlework was authorised. Tararu: The secretary was requested to inform the .committee that Mr Lankham might continue to act as teacher for the present, although the Board would defer making a permanent appointment in the present condition of the district. The pupil teacher must send his communication through the committee. It was resolved that the holidays for the schools in the city and in the districts of Ponsonby, Parnell, Mount Hob?on, Newton, and Devonport should be for the week ending June 27. It was a?reed that the holidays for country schools should be left to the various committees to fix. Even the great financier, Mr Vogel, is sometimes wrong in his calculations, and gets a hint that fate is occasionally too strong for him." , /We quote the following little romance from a country contemporary:—" A good story comes from Wellington. The hon. the Premier last week received a leash of pheasants from Auckland." Great in pastry as in public works, Mr Vogel designed a pie which should be game to the core. 1 eter king's skill in carrying out great designs is well known. To him the pheasants were sent, and by him the pie was constructed. The hour of consummation and dinner at length arrived The- Premier, with one or two select friends, enjoyed sparingly their fish and soup, and with appetites whetted but not dull were ready for the great work. It looked peculiar, the top was frosted; still there could be no doubt. The pheisants had come from Auckland, and there was the pie. This was no dinner a la Russe. • The Premier himself drove home the. knife. Could it he? Alas I It is but too true. The pie wis apple. Certain clerks in Government employ, who sometimes get a fruit tart from Laing's, enjoyed, that day a! fasti {hey had not ordered,"