A SUBSTANTIAL CLAIM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 54, 25 June 1914, Page 4

A SUBSTANTIAL CLAIM.

Mr John Memonitch, who states that -he was the first man to discover gold in -payable quantities in Queensland at Peak Downs, in the Clermont district, from 1861 to 18921 has forwarded to the Commonwealth Government a claim for £15,240,169, 9s 7d. He says the above is claimed from the Queensland Government, and if his claim is • not. satisfied he will take '3OO square miles of land which he prospected and explored. He also claims a premium on all kinds of minerals discovered in Queensland. 'He concludes by saying,/ “I would dike the claim to be settled so as to avoid any further trouble.” The Federal Treasurer was asked in Melbourne on Saturday if he had replied to the communication. He laughed. “Not yet,” he remarked: “I have sent it on to the Secretary of my department for a report.” Sir John ’Forrest added that the claim sets out that Memonitch had spent £36,000 in discovering nine Queensland goldfields. Memonitch claimed £IOOO for each and interest at the rate of 4 per cent, since 1861, making a total of £46,000. He also alleged that he had created a loan of £IOO,000,000, and for this he claimed interest and commission to the amount of £13.000,612. A claim for a half share and 4 per cent, interest on all minerals won in Queensland was responsible for £11.000.000 of the total.