THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1705, 20 June 1874, Page 2

THE DRAINAGE QUESTION.

A meeting of the directors had been 1 convened last night afc the Governor Bowen Hotel to take into consideration whataction should be taken.by those companies who had been summoned by the Bright Smile Co. for drainage of their mines ; the following mines were represented :■■*— The City of London, Queen of Beauty, Bird in Hand, Queen of the May, Queen of the .'•Thames, City of York j and the Exchange.

Mr Stewart was voted to the chair. The Chairman briefly explained the ob- t j ect of the meeting to those present. Mr Mclntyre thought that it was ;only fair that the claims benefited by; the Bright Smile pumps should contribute/ and that assessors should be appointed. What that company's pumping expenses really are, and to what extent each mine was benefited, he could not say ; but so far as he could learn the Bright Smile Company was disposed to treat -with thehvneighbors liberally. ■!.

Mr Thomas suggested that three totally disinterested men should .be appointed to ascertain the cost, the Bright Smile was at for puiiiping, 'and that that company should give a guarantee to keep the water down; also, that if the Pumping Association bring ari action against claims contributing, the Bright Smile should defend it, if claims, paid toward the latter company's pumping expenses. Mr. Wickham intimated that the ;City of York would pay when completed. Mr. McDonald, thought that the meeting was. prematoe, and that it would be better to let the matter rest until the action taken by the Pumping Association against the City of' London was adjudicated onV Mr. Macky said the Bird in Hand Company's directors thought that mine Was being drained by the Bright Smilej and were willing to pay an equitable assessment. ■ . Mr. White stated that he had been deputed by the directorate of the ;City: of London to attend the present meeting. He certainly thought the matter was im; portant and pressing. He was in favor of .having '-the. case brought; before; the. Warden, and would suggest that a formal defence be made to. %q action taken by the Bright Smile Company^ ''■ ■-'' It was ultimately a greed , on the motion, of Mr. Macky, that the Bright Smile Goldrnining Company be requested to postpone their action against the several Waio-Karaka mines for one week, until; the case against the City of-London by tho 'Pampjng Association is heard. ; A vote of thank§ to the chairman terminated the proceedings.