An Auckland Mining Scandal.

Manawatu Herald, 8 July 1897, Page 2

An Auckland Mining Scandal.

♦ A meeting of shareholders in the Fiery Gross, Frinoe of Wales and Waihi Welcome Goldmining Companies was held on Tuesday at Auckland. There was a large attendance, and Mr J. M. Shera was voted to the chair. He stated that in the Fiery Cross Company about 9100 shares in excess had been issued ; in the Waihi Welcome 9000, and in the Prince of Wales 10,000, as far as could be ascertained. These shares had been sold and passed from broker to broker and investor to investor. Transfers had been stamped and registered and reoeipts

issued, and in many instances calls were made and had been paid. The position now Was that the acting legal managers of two companies had declined to register new transfers on the ground that the title was acquired from bogus shares. The conveners of the meeting had communicated with the directors of the various companies, and the result of their enquiries was laid before the meeting. After a lengthy discussion it was resolved that a committee be formed consisting of the following gentlemen :— Messrs. Joshua Jackson, J. M, Shera, W» GaucHru E. Bond, Thorne> Collier, Howard and Barnes be appointed with a view to arranging an amicable settlement with the directors of the respective companies, and failing that to take a test case against a company. Acting-Detective Mills proceeded to the North Shore that night, and arrested at his residence there W. R. Waters, legal manager of the Fiery Cross Goldmining Company, on a charge of wilfully falsifying a certain book register of the Company by entering upon the eaid register 8000 shares as being the property of the said Wm. R. Waters intrust, whereas such Bhares did not exist in fact. — Press Association*