The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-12-07 00:00:00

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE MINES

DRAINAGE COMMISSIONERS.

At the monthly meeting of the Mines Drainage Com-
missioners, on Wednesday Mr. W. Williams presiding,
a lengthy discussion took place upon a recommendation
of the Tipton Committee that the Gospel Oak pumping
engine of Messrs. Grazebrook I and Aston should be
purchased for £5,000. The same recommendation was
submitted at the last meeting, when it was refered back
to the committee, who however, confirmed their decision.
Mr. R. Williams protested against the recommends
tion being adopted. He said there was a feeling abroad
that they were going to ruin by their reckless expenditure
in the Tipton district. The policy of the Board should
be that of hiring and not purchasing pumping engines.
They ought to limit their expenditure in that district.
The Chairman thought it would be a wise thing to
secure the engine, because although not the most perfect
engine in the world he was told that it worked economi-
cally, and did the work of pumping generally better than
any otber engine in the district.
_ _ .

Mr. E. Fislier Smith said he had not seen a valuation
of the engine.
Mr. R. Williams said he attended the first meeting of
the committee, but no valuation was submitted, and the
decision to purchase was ccme to in his absence. He
was unable to be present on the last ocsasion owing to
an important engagement with engineers from the India
Office, from whom he expected to secure a large order.
The Chairman explained that a special meeting of the
committee bad been called to consider the question.
The valuation of the engine was either £4,409 or £4,209,
but in his opinion the most important question waslthat
the purchase of the engine would give them certain
rights with regard to making roads underground so as
to raise the water more effectually. Personally he did
not think £5,000 was an excessive sum considering all
things, but the arbitrators would take care that no harm
was done to anyone.
Mr. Underhill read the reports of Mr. Terry, (the
Commissioners' engineer) with respect to the purchase
of the Gospel Oak, engine and his reasons for recom•
mending the subsitute of the Gospel Oak for the Moat
engine. He believed the Moat engine to be the best,
but when it could not be obtained on reasonable terms
the committee were thrown upon the Gospel Oak as their
only resource.
The recommendation was adopted by ten votes to
seven.
The Chairman, in answer to a question, said the
decision would be forwarded to the arbitrators, who
would make their award upon the subject.
Mr. John Addenbrooke was then elected a Commissi
oner in the place of Mr. Benjamin Whitehouse, disqu
The arbitrators, reporting upon the proposed purchase
of near Lord Dudley's Tibbington and Hercuies engine,
state :—" We are sorry to hear that a price has been
arbitrarily fixed, to which we certainly could not advise
the Commissioners to accede ; and we think that upon
further reflection those who represent Lord Dudley will
feel that the Commissioners would be failing in their
duty to the body of mineowners if they adopted this
estimate which, however, conscientiously it may have
been made by Mr. Alexander Smith, has been made
simply ex parte. It is quite clear that if the Herculess
and Tibbington engines be stopped, great danger a nil
injury will ensue to the mines in the district. The rete
made by us has been made for the purpose of working
them, and we therefore have no hesitation in advising
the Commissioners by this our report that the working of
there engines should be continued, and that they shoald
not be allowed to stand still for any period. We trust
that the difference which seems to have arisen may be
composed, and that Lord Dudley and his agent will feel
that the Commissioners, and likewise ourselves, are
only fulfilling a public duty, and that they and we would
not be justified in adopting a valuation imposed by the
owner of the engines without allowing the Commissioners
any voice in the consideration of it. Findly, in order
that there may be no mistake, we beg to report to the
Commissioners that they should work the Hercules and
Tibbington engines under the powers of their Acts, if
they be not kept in sufficient operation of their owner,
the Earl of Dudley."
On the in )tion of the Chairman, it was then received
that the control of the General Drainage Works be placed
in the hands of a special committee.

DIED
DONLEM—November 25th, at her residence, Red Cross
near Ryde, Isle of Wight, Hannah Goodwin Donley),
relict of G. Marlay D)nlevy, Lieutenaat, R N.

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