THE WEEK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2105, 2 October 1875, Page 2

THE WEEK.

' The monthly returns of gold published in'jfcsterday's issue { were of an encouragitfg Character, but it appears doubtful if the tiext month's will be equally favorable. The stoppage of the Bright Smile pumping and crushing works if continued must exercise a great influence upon the productiveness of the field. A pr«at deal | has been said on this question during the j last few days. It has occupied public ; liftentio¥^mWn^^ and it may be safely stated that the gene- \ ral opinion is that the stoppage is a public calamity. One of the. prime causes of thy fitijaljcial difficulty inwhioh the Bright tsmiie >direct6rs find themselves involved is the want'ofi support in keeping their pumping arrangements going. It is a matter of sincere and general regret that a stoppage should hare occUrred^but the public and persons most interested will have to face this difficulty and if possible remove! %J '■.'• To Ufaceliitrl - boldly; and intelligently will b.e^.the first step towards ijts ...removal.. Only those,., who are"fully acquainted with the' 'facts 'can realise the importance^ of this question. That it is important is evident front* the feeling elicited by theAactual consequences which have followed by the stoppage of works in'the mine from which less than two months ago such great things were expected. It is fervently to be hoped that some arrangement will be come to amongst the parties most directly interested to avert the worst consequences. which might result from any lengthened stoppage of the Bright Smile works; and if the drainage contributions equitably incurred by surrounding mines can be amicably arranged, the further hope may be indulged in that wise counsels will prevail in the negotiations between the management of the Bright Smile and (heir creditors. Even to the latter the continued stoppage of active operations must be calamitous; while to the field the con-. sequences must be disastrous. A correspondent " William Wood " has written on the subject of crushing power for Tairua, and »some of his ideas may well be considered by all who have the interests of the Thames at heart. Tairua undoubtedly holds out inducements of a promising character, but with ail these inducements little or nothing has been done in the way of testing the value of prospects. Good roads are wanted first, and secondly crushing power. Without the first the second can scarcely be obtained,, and the principle of co-operation suggested by "William Wood" could well be put in force to test the value of Tairtfa. Capital has already been invested in Tairua, and shareholders need not seek further for means to secon>l their efforts. in pioneer work if they will only combine to effect the object in view. It is well known that the money now being uselessly expended in what is called prospecting could be. mote judiciously spent in erecting machinery, and if some step is not taken in this direction before long there will be a c.Qllapse ; more dire in effect than anything "that could be predicted. It would be better for the companies to combine, and"expend the sums realised from '* calls'' in making a road and,; in erecting machinery than to per* petuato the present system of working, which, in some instances, is a mere waste. If the Government cannot or will not make the desired roads the mine owners should do it, and follow this up with a spirit of enterprise in building batteries. Were this done, a great work might be accomplished during the coming summer ; if it is neglected or allowed to remain unaccomplished much valuable time will be lost, capital will be thrown away, and this district will suffer from the want of enterprise and energy which it much aeeds.