THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2003, 5 June 1875, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Nothing of great importance transpired during the early part of the week justclosed, the excitement with respect to the United Pumping Association grant being allayed The usual gold returns are appended, and it shouldbenoticedthatsome are eminently satisfactory. The Alburnia ; is very good/rather better than was expected ; and the return from the Eed Queen, though scarcely up to expectations,'is nevertheless payable. The yield from theNblanketings in the crushing put through f^r.-the Crown Princess Company makes tho- general return an excellent one. In the Moanatari they have broken through into the Eureka shaft, after a long and expensive course of driving, but the benefits to accrue from the accomplishment of this important work will amply compensate the company for any expense to which they may have been put. When the repairs to the shaft and other necessary > works are effected the' manager will be in a position to commence operations in the ground, with; the channels of communication so complete that tbe output of stuff can be conveyed tothe mill at an economical rate. Thero are no other matters .of sufficient importance to reproduce in " Tbe Week." The Big Pump is hard at work, and all speed is being made in lowering and connecting the 18-inch lift. An impor.ant question was discussed at a preliminary meeting held yesterday at the ' Governor Bowen Hotel —namely, the drainage of the Waio-Karaka district. It is over six months ago since the Warden adopted the report of three competent gentlemen, appointed to draw up a scheme of contribution towards the drainage, of the bvthe Bright Smile .Company, and a certain rate upon each of the mines in the district, to be; payable during the six months following the date of the judgment.* That'term having"expired, the Bright Smile, Company desire to have a fresh adjustment of the rate all round oh an increased scale,'; having found, from the experience of the last six months, that tbe whole amount due from contributing mines was not adequate to pay the cost of carrying on the pump works. The Bright Smile Company estimate the cost of pumping per annum, at £4,403 2s; for six months, therefore, the cost would be £2,201 12s; and the contributions to be set against that sum for the half-year ending April 30th are £1.136. The question is simply this— To what extent are the mines benefited by the Bright Smile pumping workg' to contribute. It is one of paramount importance to the district, andyin the interests of all, should be dispassionately^ considered, and with a broad view as to its general bearing, whichever' way: it may ultimately lie decided. The° WaioKaraka district is now a very important part of the Thames Goldfield, embracing as it dqes the largest gold producing mines on the field, and, what is of greater moment, promises in the future to hold a much, nigher position. It,is admitted that the district is in part drained by the Bright Smile company, and partly by tlie United Pumping Association. Thai is a foregone conclusion ; and a stoppage of the works would necessarilyrcfard operations .in all the surrounding mines, while it would undoubtedly.blight the prospects of those which are in them infancy, or non-productive. This second fact being accepted as substantial, the conclusion is, that some drainage scheme is necessary to the vitality of the district, whether the drainage is performed by the Bright Smile or any other company. With regard to the apportionment of the rate, the most. equitable arrangement would seem to be that suggested by Mr Walker—to levy the contributions upon each mine according to the extant of

benefit received, taking into consideration also their relative value, for the benefit derived must be in some measure proportionate to the value of the property benefited. It is to' be hoped that a friendly settlement of the matter will result from the present proceediHg?. Any other course should be deprecated, if avoidance is possible ; and there really seems to be no valid reason why amicable arrangements should not be come to. The Bright Smile Company appear anxious to have things settled on an equitable footing, and do not shrink from any re sponsibility. Such, of course, is ho more than they should do, as their interests are bound up in the scheme. According to the admission made by Mr Kennan at the meetipg yesterday, pumping cannot be carried on without additional support, and that support should be in some way accorded must be obvious. -" . ■ j