Gold

Caught in New Guinea by Private Detective

FOR some time past the Bulolo Gold Dredging Co. Ltd. has suspected that gold thieves were at work on its section, of the New Guinea goldfields. Ten weeks ago Mr. L. V. Waterhouse, of Sydney, technical director of the company, sent a carefully-selected private detective to the goldfields. He was sent secretly, and appeared in Bulolo as an assistant on one of the dredges.

The detective went about his work quietly and efficiently, and apparently he did not take long to uncover the opera tions of the gang.

As a result, it is reported in Sydney that Roland Clay has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for having been in possession of 3oz of retorted gold; Thomas Clay, charged with stealing 52oz of amalgam and 59 gold specimens, has been committed for trial; and Joseph Wil liam Trim has been sentenced to two months’ gaol for having been found in possession of 21 gold specimens and for having received 21oz of gold amalgam.

It is believed that the gold-stealing gang worked by bribing native labourers to steal the gold in the course of their work.

It is reported that all traffic in and out of the goldfields is now subject to strict scrutiny by police officials and it is likely that these developments will consider ably reduce the illegal gold traffic, which had attained considerable proportions. It is believed that one gang was sending gold secretly to Hong-kong. Other gold from Morobe, which had not come through proper channels, was recently identified in Sydney.