The Thames Star. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1909. THINGS IN GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLV, Issue 10616, 16 January 1909, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1909. THINGS IN GENERAL.

*r— : THE OLD BIG PUMP.

Itecognasing, as- many on. 'Hhanies do, that the old Big I'uaup shaft may yet be pxolita-bly employed as a ventilation, iandi haulage abaft, we regret tbt. fact that the Thames Dlraiinage Boa^d saw fit at As last aieeting to decide to have the big chimney Pull- d down,. This action, it is said, was decided upon ooi account of a report that *he chimney is dangerous, and tfcat those respon&ible may-f.!^ case of accident 'be mulcted in heavy damages. An, examination of the chimney will surely show that it is substantially and well built, is strongly girded and guyed, and there does not appear to be any danger, of it faUiu<*. Even if it wene insecure—which, ■we very much doubt —'the obvious, duty of the Dtrainage Board is to Tender it secure, especially in view of poesilble developments in, connection with the deep level crosscut. The value of the Big Pump shalt as a ventilation! and haulage shaft is inestimable aoad to wantonly depreciate it« value by pulling down thechimney stack is a. delibea-at© attempt to place obstacles in the way of carrying out wihait Is, under the orcumatancea, undoubtedly t&e best and most popular .scheme for the opening up of Thames deep levels. We take it that this is but the fir.-t fitep towards the dismantling of too Whole plant, and on«e this is accomplished the chance of utlismg, this shaft in connection with development work at 1000 ft is remote •u----daedl We would ask those interested to make' inquire «lid they will satisfy thein«alve« that all tWs ajrAntion »« to the unsafeno-ss of the chimney stack is not prompted" solely frwin plnUn : tbropio or humanitaa-mn motives. iSome time 'back an endeaivour vv made to ■covertly dispose of the who.c of the old Big Pump-Jock, fttocfc, an(l barrel. And *-f the sale, ngiuife* which! we loudly protested at. the time, had bean accomplished, who Tvould have held the key to the

northern portion of the gokliield, especially as the> extension of thy? crosscut af IOCOEt level to the Big : Pump shaft was contemplated?': Uu behalf of the. mining companies of Tifttnies, .on. behalf of the proposed deep level development, and on> behalf of the public, who' 'certainty should take more interest in this all important (project, we protest aga'.nat any attempt to 'dismantle the Big Pump. The machinery may never pump again we admit. If connect .on be effected at the 1000 ft level when the northern crosscut reaoh.es that poinr tine Queen, of Beauty pumps will drain the whole field. Btot as a. ventilating and haulage shaitt it would, we contend, be invaluia'ble, would by :ts very axJstence save the expenditure of thouisands of pounds, and all the plant should be preserved by the Thames -Drain a<ge Board a& a variable asset instead of being dismantled) and sold. Ab a matter of fact the legality oF the action, of the Drainage Board is likely to 'be questioned. .Acoording to the books of the Warden's Office the three respomß'.ble persons —acitiinp: as Trustees we take it, .'or the public—are the holders of 'he special claim on which the Big Pump machinery, etc., stands. These are Messrs H. A). ■Gordon, G. S. Kisslm;*, and J. M. Lennox. In 1881 the ttauraki Pumping held' tho groumß, after wh' * 'I was transf-jr-. red to the Thames Deep Levels' Tribute Association, then to the Deep Level dross, and from, that company to Messrs J. F. Olaa-k, ST Ai. Gordon, and G. S;. Kissling..' Later, on the death of Mr J. F. Clarke, Messrs Kissling, Gordon and Lennox were appointed trustees, their aippointment.datlnig from (Nov., 1901. We contend, thefrefoiie. ttat the Thames D-Hainage Bo aid is vested with administrative powers only, and that it cannot—or at any rate sHiiOuld not--dispose of "any of its valuable possessions until all the parties and the r^eal owners—tine" mining oounpajre" and the public—'are consulted. We believe that an injustice will be done to the district and to' the dee*) level development scheme, if the decision of .the. tDbai-na,(re Board is. given, effect to, and in the interests of Thames and the future of the minting indnKtry a) strong ancl effectual prote-it shbuld he made.