THE SALTING CASE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 February 1901, Page 2

THE SALTING CASE.

The salting cases, which at one time promised to open a long avenue of law suits, are likely to close with the perjury cases to be heard at Hokitika next week. The civil claims have, we understand, been settled for £2OO. It was held, and perhaps rightly too, that it was better ta accept this sum than continue fighting the cases in Court, and having the whole sum " melted " in law costs. Justice has been satisfied and the law vindicated by the recent trial and sentence of the principal actors in the swindle, and the reproach removed from the West Coast. Perhaps the most satisfactory feature of the whole proceedings is the fact that cannot be too well known that the actual proceedings were commenced and carried on by Mr Tansey, one of the vendors, at his own expense. Mr Tansey and others accepted the statement of the Lawsons as cor rect in the first instance, and believing that Foley's Creek was a good investment b mght themselves and induced others to buy. On the first breath of suspicion, Mr Tansey took active steps to get the ground thoroughly tested by independent and trustworthy men, with what results we all know. His prompt action is deserving of the highest praise, f >v he not only saved a number of people from being victimised, but proved to the colony generally that the people of the West Coast, while anxious to see the dredging industry developed, were determined to have it developed in a straightforward and legitimate manner and prepared to expose any nefarious practises. If this course is steadily adhered to, there need be no fear for the future tf gold-dredging on the Ocast. The industry will stand on its own merits.