Mining Immorality.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 136, 18 June 1872, Page 7

Mining Immorality.

The Kyneton Observer, of May 11, says : - We preferred a serious charge against the mining manager of the Bradenburg Quartz Mining Company some days back, the grava men of which was that he (Mr Minors), after striking stone of good appearance, inducsd a shareholder (Mr Troup), to sell his 500 shares at 4|d. per share, by speaking of the prospects of the mine in a gloomy and desponding manner. The directors of the company invested the case at Toomey's Hotel, and after hearing the statements of three witnesses decided that the charges were substantially proved. But, for the present, they (the directors) withheld their decision as to how they will deal with Mr Minors.—Another pretty mining swindle came to light in the Warden's Court, on May 10, and serves to give one a favourable impression of the state of mining morality. The legal manager of the Melbourne and Lauriston Company st ited that at the last meeting of direjtorsof fie company he informed the directors tint £BO was due by the company to men for wages. Two or three of the directors pre s snt, who had not paid their thirteenth call, promised to give cheques for the amount due, which w mid about meet the incoming liabilities. With this the manager professed to be satisfied, and the meeting proceeded. The directors then resolved that all shares on which the twelfth and thirteenth calls were not paid should be forfeited, after fourteen days' notice, if the said calls wtrj not paid up before that date. When the lmppv directors were about to part company, Mr King reminded them that they had not filled in the promised cheques, without which he would be in a predicament. The directors (funny fellows !) asked the manager in a bantering style if he did not wish he might ge L . it. They did not pay the calls, and the unfortunate mining manager became liaMe for the amount due. As may well be imagined, he has been badgered and harasse 1 for the money, but the directors, having prepuvd the way, forfeited their shares, having first arranged between themselves that they might do so with impunity.