The Mine Drainage Question.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3202, 24 May 1879, Page 2

The Mine Drainage Question.

(To the Editor of the Erening Star.)

Sib, —The stoppage of the Pumps seems to agitate people's , minds, but little at the present time. Most seem to have got over the first shock to the nervous, systems caused by. the stoppage, aud, perhaps, have fallen into the belief that they are doing as well now as when the pumping engines .were bringing up thpir tons of water. Though the people interested seem as' inert* as lotdi-eaters, the water is not idle. It is gaining j rapidly, and minefwqrkingatwithin4ooft of [the surface will have to suspend 1 operations^ ift rthe n^ore to be jregretted from the fact that; iU'.th'e aepth referred to; most excellent 1 prospects are being met with. .Cannot something be do^e-to enable a re-starting of Pumping operations ? We all well know the many difficulties that have accumulated, but I believe that, if means were provided*. by; which-pumping * could > be: carried on :J at little cost; 1 all the minor difficulties;

iw^Qnjjd^tbej.; speedily beetii informed by t practical men* that if pumping were started with the B|g Pump atf 6ieM) r feet 'level, iM the, country.: aboTertliat { thoroughlydrained^ one or two, day's pumping per or even less'wbuld keep the Water' 'down. The expense of this plan, when compared with the former enormous cost enUiled by pumping from the 640 feet level, is merely! nominal, and I have no doubt but that the' funds could be easily obtained. The value of this plan is considerably enhanced if it is true as stated, that there is no drain*ge connection between the Tookey's flat and; Waio-Earaka drainage systems, below a ppint 400 feet from surface; consequently, ift the Big Pump was kept going at the 4^o feet level, the Waio-Karaka mines could also start j their pump and re,supie operations. I am thoroughly convinced that'ipniethingfwjil^need «to be idonejt^Pß^, iii this matter of/pumping.—l am,",&c, .' i •;' ' "'"■ "' AxAcsxoit. x