Mr J.W. Walker on the Wellington Goldfield.

Thames Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4627, 2 November 1883, Page 2

Mr J.W. Walker on the Wellington Goldfield.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

Wellington, Yesterday.

The following are the letters of Messrs laen and Hicks, directors of the Queen of Beauty mine, Makara, which appear in this evening's paper :— Sir, —Mr Walker (known in Wellington as '* the great mining expert") has been good enough to offer a gratuitous opinion of the Queen of Beauty Gold Mining Company. lam not an expert, but as one of the directors who went in charge of the late crushing to the* Thames, I can safely assert that as far as I am concerned the result of the said crushing is given to me by the battery manager as correct. However, to prove whether Mr Walker is correct or not, I am willing to give £20 to the Benevolent Institution of this city providing Mr Walker will do the same, if he not able to substantiate his statement that the cake of gold did not come from the above mine; the editors or proprietors of the local papers to appoint competent judges, so as to settle the question beyond doubt. Neither Mr Walker nor any person connected with the claim to take any part whatever in the test. Now, sir, while at the Thames Mr Walker was good enough to explain to me that by his com* ing here and reporting on the mine we should both make money; but, as I am not a mining expert like Mr Walker, I said that if it were good I should make money, and if not good the first loss is best. (Since his arrival here, he has been good enough to. make proposals to me which I respectfully declined as the previous tests were sufficient to satisfy me more than Mr Walker could do. The nature of the proposals Mr Walker is acquainted with, and as action is being taken by the Company's Solicitors against Mr Walker the public will then be able to learn the nature of these proposals. As Mr Walker is about to take his departure at once (as per this morning's paper), I hope he will not run away before he has substantiated the gratuitous advise which he has so kindly and disinterestedly given to the public—l am, &c, B. Isen. ; . ■•■--..■■ -..•■ ■:■.■: •--■ :

Sir,—As lam one of the directors of the Queen of Beauty gold mine, and in charge of the quartz taken from this mine to Auckland, I can't pass without notice the letter in this morning's issue of the New Zealand Times, signed by "J. W. Walker," who is desoribed as an "expert," He says:—••'"ln the clay course I found no gold, and I have no hesitation in as. sorting that the bar of gold now on exhibi. tion, and represented as being the product of ten tons recently conveyed to and

crushed at the Thames, wherever obtainedi certainly was not got at the Queen of Beauty, Makara." I wish to flatly deny Mr Walker's- assertions. I have placed the matter in the hands of my solicitor, and intend proceeding against Mr Walker, but in the meaniime would be obliged if you would publish the above.—l am, &c, Philip Chas. Hicks.

Several other letters also appear on the same subject. Mr Walker's assertions have caused quite a flutter in the city.