A SENSATIONAL MINING INCIDENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1773, 25 September 1895, Page 2

A SENSATIONAL MINING INCIDENT.

THEEATENING TO SHOOT.

Thames, Monday. Quite a sensational incident in which the use of a rovolver was threatened, occurred at the Tararu Creek Gold Mining Company’s mine to-day, the particulars of which are as follow:—The company mentioned has juet been formed in London for' the purpose of working the late “Norfolk and City of Dunedin mines, together with additional ground adjoining, find Captain Argali, who represents the company, last Week instructed the mine manager, Mr James McLean, to put on an increased staff of miners, in each of the various sections, in order to systematically develop and test the same. Acting on these : instructions Mr McLean proceeded this morning to put on four miners in the Dunedin section 'for the purpose of sinking a winze upon what, is known as the Day Dawn reef at the Smithy level, at which point a rpn of gold was recently discovered by a party of tributers. This .section of the mine was-lately laid claim to* by a man named Charles Manuel, who has on three 1 occasions brought an action against the late City of Dunedin Gold Mining Company to try and .obtain the same, on the ground that he and his' mates had pegged some two years ago as a'private claim, not knowing it belonged to the City of Duuedin Company, and that the latter had not claimed it until he (Manuel) and his mates had discovered the run of gold. On each occasion,. however, the proceedings have" gone against Manuel, and this has apparently embittered him. ’ /When Mr McLean arrived on the ground this morning with his men he found Manuel arid his two mates, named Dennerloy and Bennett, present. The latter two, on being told by Mr McLean what his intention - was, simply verbally objected to his going into the drive, the door of which, was locked, but Manuel sprang up and took a position close to the drive where he threatened he would shoot the first man who attempted to enter the drive, and drew out a six-chambered revolver fop the purpose of carrying out his threat. Seeing that he was very determined in the matter, Mr McLean at once came into town and took out a warrant for Manuel’s arrest on a charge of threatening to shoot him, and Sergeant Gillies sent Constables Stapleton and Bern out to arrest Manuel. "When the constables arrived on the ground Manuel again* threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to go into the drive, but after a little parleying on the part of the police, who promised that they would not allow anyone to go in the drive pending the hearing of the proceedings that were to be taken, Manuel consented to be arrested, and he was at once brought into town and lodged in Shortland gaol, hail being refused. _He will be brought up at the police court to-morrow morning and charged with-threatening to shoot Mr McLean. ’