FORFEITURE CLAIMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1932, Page 5

FORFEITURE CLAIMED.

THAMES MINING PROPERTY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. In the Warden's Court yesterday, before Mr. F. W. Platts, warden, the Kuranui Golden Hills Company, Auckland, applied for the forfeiture of the New Waiotahi claim from Margaret L. Boyle, of Thames. The case created much interest locally. Considerable evidence was heard. The company was about to start operations, and desired to work as a low grade ore proposition at Waiotahi ground adjoining the claim. Evidence was given by J. W. Smith, supervisor under No. 5 prospecting scheme. He said three tributers were working the Waiotahi property and were paid by the Unemployment Board, not by Mrs. Boyle. In his opinion more men could be used to work the claim. Mr. K.. M. Aitken, on 'behalf of the company, said the latter was. prepared to allow tributere if the company took over the claim. Mr. E. J. Clendon, for the defendant, suggested there were 136,000,000 tons in the Waiotahi ground. Mr. Aitken characterised the estimate as absurd. If the scheme was successful the company would require £50,000 capital, which it could raise in the open market. Mr. E.. Joughin, mining engineer, estimated that there were about 10,000,000 tons above sea level in the Waiotahi ground, which, with the proposed increased capacity of the Kuranui plant, would keep it going for 14 years. Mr. Clendon's motion for a nonsuit under the Mining Act was dismissed. Legal argument then occupied some time, and the warden reserved Mβ decision.