HUNT'S CLAIM AT THE THAMES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 452, 14 January 1869, Page 3

HUNT'S CLAIM AT THE THAMES.

The following facts with regard to the value of Hunt's claim came out in evidence during the trial of the breach of promise Gase in which he was defendant : George Clarkson, examined by Mr Whitaker, said—l am a shareholder in Hunt's claim. I cannot tell exactly the amount I have received from the claim—it was about £BOOO. I have a seven-eighths share of a fourth part. Mr Hunt has the same. The prospect of the mine looks as well as it used. I cannot fix any value on my share. I have had an offer of £30,000. I was willing to sell, but the purchaser could not find the money. Joseph Howard: lam an accountant in the Union Bank of Australia. lam a shareholder in Hunt's claim. My interest is a sixteenth. I became a shareholder on the 19th September, 1867. I have received over £3,300 for my interest. I believe Mr Hunt has received over £12,000 from his share. Ido not think I would take £IO,OOO for my own interest. The yield last month was over 5000 ozs., equal to £12,500. Mr Hunt's share of last dividend was over £2OOO. I bought my interest of Mr Hunt in September last year (1867). I gave him £IOO for it. By Mr Gillies: In November following, 1867,1 would have given £SOO, for a similar interest.

By Mr Hesketh: I cannot say what would be the fair value of a similar interest in April. It might have been £IO,OOO. Daniel Joseph O'Keefe, examined by Mr Macdonald: I am a sharebroker, carrying on business at Shortland. My experience of the Thames Q-old-fields is of about thirteen months. I had some twelve years previous ex-

perience of goldfields shares in Victoria. I know Huntfs claim. In September 1867, a quarter-share was sold to Mr Howard for £lOO,andtoMr Christy for £IOO, and £IOO additional out of the profits. On the 18th ol August, l-22nd of the whole claim was sold for £IOOO cash, and £2,500 out of the profits of the mine. At that rate the value of the whole claim w. uld be £112,000. One full share would be the fourth of that. The marketable value of one full share would be £45,000. The yield for the last twelve months was about 25,000 ounces. The average value of the gold is about £2 13s. I was offered myself a share by K. H. Bartlett for £IOO. I did not know anything about the mine at the time, and declined to accept the offer.