THEFT OF BULLION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1916, Page 4

THEFT OF BULLION.

A REMARKABLE DISCOVER?, By Telegraph.— Press Association, Waihl, Last Night The arrest of William Smith, enfr ployed at the Waihi Gold Mining Co.'s Waikmo mill, for alleged theft of bullion nas 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 .£20,000 to '* £27,000 it would be difficult to detect small peculations, but the evidence points to a systematic theft of precipitates, containing precious metals by a cunningly designed arrangement, .

.The discovery was made 6f a precipitating box concealed inside of a drain and subsequent tracing diselostd that it was supplied with a; solution by a small pipo, which ran along underground and had been surreptitiously coniiected to one of the main solution pipes. The plant A-as not disturbed and as a result of watching, Smith was caught ied-hjuidcd carrying away a billy oontaming the bullion precipitate. A search of Smith's house revealed a number of tins of precipitate of considerable value, also plumbago and crucibles for melting precipitates or slimes, and a mould fur producing bullion ingots. For some time Smith's style of living was quite beyond Jiat commensurate with ns ordinary earnings. T®his arouwd local comment, but it was explained by alleged other sources of revenue.