MINING NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8735, 11 August 1897, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

THE GLOUCESTER GOLDMINING COMPANY (Limited). We hare to-day been handed the. copies of a batch of letters and cables, of a highly querulous and damaging nature, which have been written and forwarded to the Chairman of the London Board of the above English company, signed by Mr Guthridge, who, it may be mentioned, was one of the - vendors of the propfftty in the first instance, and who has benefited to a large amount by transaction in connection with the ! inine. I Before going into the matter It ! may be remaiked that the Gloucester mine was taken up by Messrs Bowler, Endean, and Guthridge. From a perusal of the copies of cables and letters sent to the

, London Board by Mr Guthndge, it appears to us as if he .were actuated purely by spite, and 'wore ' determined to place a very obstacle in the way of developing the mine As an instance it may be menI tioned that when application wa«f i made by the Gloucester Company to I the Warden for a machine Bite on a I portion of tho Lincola ground, an \ objection was lodged by Mrs Bawden, 1 one of the holders (along with Messrs I Gnthridge, Bowler, and Endean) of the Lincoln. The battery has been stored in Auckland for the past four months pending the granting of the site. There was a certain cleverness in Guthridge and party getting Mrs Bawden to object, for the Warden adjourned the hearing on one occasion, ' when Mrs Bawden did not appear, on the ground that being a wwnan shj might not be acquainted with the rules of the Court. It should be stated that Mrs Bawden and Messrs Guthridge, Bowler, v and Endeau are large shareholders in the Gloucester. The Warden has not yet granted the site, and, | through his absence from the Tluunes,' further delay will be the result. I Ihe cause of this manoeuvre is not difficult to find. At the time the) j selection of a site for the shaft was made by Mr Skrine, Mining Engineer, of Ooromandel, Mr Bowler strongly urged Mr Skrine to commence sinking at a point near or within a few feet of the Lincoln boundary. After a care* ful examination of the position, Mr Skrine very wisely decided not to accept Mr Bowler's suggestion, on the (ground that the position was not central; that the country wim broken and swampy; and, further, that if the shaft wasisunk at the point chosen by Bowler, V>he Gloucester Company would rout of necessity hareto purchase the Lincoln. \ Mr Skrine chose the position of the shaft, t>ut unfortunately the heavy rains caused a land slip in the immediate vicinity after it B«sd-been ( sunk about 10ft, afld the,position was abandoned. Under the circumstances | this was the very best 'flung that could .lave happened, for by going about oOi't to the south the «o!id country ■was found, iiud lias •»&«.:<* .proved ttii excellent position.to siulc the tiHaft. Ilaviug this accident as an t7io following cable waa sent :— Cable from Mr W. P. Gutliridge, N.Z., to 3Tr G. W. Wallace, Loadon • " Gloucester loat shaft. Starting *s>C*i»r sit* worse position lower do-wa/'

Extract from letter addressed by Mr If.! i P. Gnthridge, N.Z., to Mr A. 8. Ciiae, London:—"'ite of shaft as belected was protested against by Bowler, who was on ; the ground at .the time the site was fixed j' by Skrine and the McCnlloughs. He told p tbm that the local shareholders in this i | company had been entirely ignored from*, the first. Thesito fixed by them for the shaft wa* 200 feet farther away from the gold than it need be. The shaft will all go down in broken country." Regarding these communications, it is plainly evident that the sender was ignorant of what was going on at the mine, or forwarded his information on hearsay, for the purpose of damaging those locally in charge. It is satisfactory to note that the Directors quickly divined the motives of the mis-chief-makers, as the following letter will show:— London, i

May 21st, 1897. Deab Sir,—JJeEndean—l enolos*herewith a copy of a cable received here by Mr Wallace and forwarded to us, also in extract of letter sent by Mr Guthridge to Mr A. S. Game They explain themselves, and I need. iiot tell you that my Directors hare, entirely ignored them. At the same time they think you should know what these men are doing; and leave you entirelyto take such, actioa M you may think fit. The Chairman request* me to tell you that he thinks behaviours such as this is beneath notice* and that he is j thoroughly satisfied'-with the way in which,] yon, and those associated with you are con* ducting the business of the mine, J. Richabdsox, t . Sec. Gloucester G.M. Co. lion. Win. McCiillough, Auckland. " ~ ' * : -' ■■* Mr Guthridges statements with reference to'the shaft can only be dcs cribed as a tissue of falsehoods. In the first place, the position chosen' by Mr Skriue was not on broken ground: perhaps in the whole area a more" »lid stratum of country cojild not befonnd. It was not the solid country that the rains forced down.;., it was the loose surface soil that slipped on the outcropping permanent country rock. Nevertheless,' in spite of facts and regardless of truth, Mr Guthrjdg* rej turns again to the cowardly attack with the following letter, which is dated Auckland, May 15th ;— I Auckland, j May 15th, 1897. To the Chairman and Directors of the Gloucester G.M. Company, Ltd. London. Deab Sibs,—l take the liberty for myself and co-aharenoldett here in New Zealand to address you on the urgent necessity of placing the working direction of this Company* operations in some efficient hands, L-have, almost continuously, through Mr , Wallace given an epitome of the successive - abortive attempt* at mining which have' distinguished the various gentlemen who hay« had control of the mine. -^ ■; /; f! It may be that you are not aware of the fact that several London engineers of standing have branches here, ainoug others Messrs Bewick Moreiag and Co., l*hillipi and Co.; &c, besides 1oj«1 men such as K. F. Adamt at the Thames* the latter of whom holds plaus of all the old Thames working. Any of these firms are competent to give you correct data and opinions as to where your; shaft should be sunk, or in what maaaer your operations should be dirscteS, ' The loss of the shaft, which has ju»t occurred, must surely convince you that ignor.- J ance stands out prominently in the control.' Now another site has been selected on another spur, similar in character to the one where the last shaft is entombed. Piobably similar results will follow, aid there is the additional disadvantage' that you are 70 feet further aw»y from the gold besides being in more broken country. What special crime has the gold committed that people should so strenuously keep away from it? -' - . Any trucker on the Thames will tell yon that there is only one place for the shift. Yeut long distance from the seat of operations makes it, I know, most difficult for you to determine what is best for all our interests, but I and my copartners here earnestly solicit your besV attention.' The matter I am snre is particularly dUtressine to you and I hope that " all things may come right to him who has the patience to wait-" '

I remain, flentleinrti. Your obediently,. , W. P» UUTHHtIVJE. The outcome of this'-dbufriinuicatian was the following- letter from the London Directors : ■ - LOWOOK, 18th Jan*, ]gfc7. Deas' Sib,—Our Chairman is in receipt of a letter this morning, of which you wilrfind a copy enclosed: He regrets this very much, and requests me to my chat yo* most really lake some steps to prevent these people in New Zealand writing such letters, not only for the sake of the Company tat for your own. :

He has no further remarks to make on die subject, and trust* yon will take legal proceedings or other steps to pat an end to this sore of business. Yours faithfully, J. RICHABDSON, Sec. the Gloucester G;M. Go. (Ltd). The Hon. Win. McCullongh, ' Auckland, N.Z. Mr Guthridge'3 letter published above is so far the last of the scandalous attacks forwarded by him to the London Office. But it is extremely unfortunate for Mr Guthridge that he should-in this last letter have quoted, as an admitted authority, Mr E. P. Adams, for that gentleman has since compiled a report on the works which give? to all the Guthridge allegations a direct denial. We will let the report speak for itself: — . Thamis, 6th Aucuet. 1897.

fie Gloucester Shaft. Sib,—l am in receipt of jour favor of the 3rd, and in reply I beg to report on the new shaft as follows:— The shaft is situated in a central petition to work the Lucky Hit system of reefs, and also tint of the Enterprise -the two reef systems which hare so far proved best iv the locality. All the reefs dip towards the shaft, and fehe distance of croascuttiug to- both systems will therefore diminishas depth is reached. , As an illustration I may mention that the distance to crosscut from the shaft to the Greenstone Reef at a level opened out 160 feet below the Auckland drive will be 350 feet in accordance with the dip of thai lode in the upper workings. ;..-.'. This ..distance of driving will diminish ai the rate of 50 feet for each 150 feet sunk in the shaft. ■:': 1--/.' ,\ The shaft is being sunk, in a thoroughly workmanlike manner, and the oojuntry .Took is an even " sandstone " and good stan'diui! ground. -. ■■',''"';-. .-■ . ', . w .v V ' , I consider that there is no danger pf any accident happening to the shaft from slips, and the Bite is in my opinion a perfectly safe one, so much so that I am submitting you. by . this mail - * scheme, to, .utilize the site for the. pumping and winding niaohinery and mill, *s a very good foundation for these works can be obtained there at a reasonable cost. ■ - I am, etc. E. F. Adams, . Mining Engineer and Surveyor. • The only conclusion which can be arrived at after comparing the above ' enclosures is that Mr Guthridge is j totally ignorant of what he is talking I about. 'The statement in connection I with the loss of the shaft is, in the I face of Mr E. F. Adams' report, a . miserable falsehood, for the new shaft. .is going down in solid country. More> over, Mr Guthridge's childish remarks in this connection very con* ' cisely sum up his knowledge .of ! practical mining, for he is at sea us to the difference between mud and country rock. Where Gruthridge and Bowler would have liked the shaft toj be sunk is in a gully or swamp where, the difficulties to be contended with; would have involved ton times the cost of the present sinking. I Judging by the number of cables and letters sent home, it is cloar that the schemers are determined to play the game for all it is worth. Probably tliay would like to have the buperiutendance of affairs in their own hands, in which case the ultimate fate of the Gloucester would lie in a ruinous amalgamation. From th* tone of the letters addressed, to the New Zealand Attorney, it is evident that the Chair-

man of Directors has accurately guagtd the motires of Ue individuals who are seaking to undermine others in order to secure their own ends; and it is oiotly natural that, for the sake of the company's prestige, the chairman should be anxious to see a legal check ; placed upon such scandalous and infamous utterances. In the fae«s however, of Mr Adams' emphatic report, further refutation is really unaeces> sarv. Meanwhile, the manifest damage caused by such tactics to theiield as a whole is a factor which should not be lost «ight of by the mining public, whose duty it the matter is clear.

(By Our Special Reporter.) VICTORIA. The manager wired to-day: Crashed 49 load* of quarts for a yield of 105 of ' retorted gold. This was reduced upom melting to 103ozs 9dwts, worth about - £290 i! j :" ;:■:•■;•-V:-. -.V ' '

I , M ATA REEFS. Tho reef has been iutemected at the point intended, but the result* met with were not at all encouraging. It is, however, the intention to commence I developments on a larger scale, and endeavor to intersect « Urge lode trending'in the vicinity of the alluvial deposit. It is thought that it was from thif quartz body that the large' amount of loose gold was shed that has bepridtitained in the, gullies below the apprttkimate^rfnd'Vit the lode . A"" large Amount of prospecting, work has '"' been .carried out by-the Company , since its inauguration, and they deserve bettor success t&an Un attended - <het> efforts up to the pretest. . KUVERA^ (Pubv.) The prospecting wo* in hand upom this company's iwupertyi* being steadily carried ahead. So fat Tery , encouragiag results hare bee* met, ■ad in all probability, work on a more permanent basis will shortly be inaugurated. [by telegraph—own coMisroironrr] Auckland, August 11. BOYAL OAK (Coboxahdkl). The Eoyal Oak Company (Coromandel) have completed a crushing of 25 tons quartz, including 16C01bs of picked stone, for a return of 14310 a lldwts melted goid, valued at £8500.