THEFT OF BULLION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 134, 9 June 1916, Page 4

THEFT OF BULLION.

A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY WAIHI, June S. The arrest of William Smith, employed at the Waihi Gold Mining Co's Waikino mill, for alleged theft of bullion, has disclosed a remarkable series of thefts of cyanide solution, containing gold and silver. The depredations have apparently been extending over a considerable period. but just how long and to what extent of loss to the company, is not known. In. view of the monthly output of from £26,000 to £27,000 it would be difficult to detect small speculations, but the evidence points to a systematic theft of precipitates containing precious metals by a cunningly designed arrangement.

The discovery was made of a precipitating box concealed inside of a drain and subsequently tracing disclosed that if" was supplied with a solution by a small pipe, which ran along underground and had been surreptitiously connected to one of the main solution pipes, The plant was not disturbed, and as a result of watching, Smith Avas caught red-handed, carrying away a billy, containing the bullion precipitate. A search of Smith's residence revealed a number of tins of precipitate of considerable value, also plumbago and crucibles for melting precipitates or slhnes, and a mould for producing bullion ingots. For some time Smith's style of living Avas quite beyond that commensurate witli his ordinary earnings. This aroused local comment, but it was explained by alleged other sources of revenue.