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Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 45, 22 October 1857, Page 4

American Honesty.—An American editor announces that he knows a friend who is about to start a bank—as soon as he can borrow a crowbar. This honest promoter of financial speculation has our most cordial sympathy; for seeing the Englishmen who have, of late years, exhibited such activity, is not the outspoken American, by comparison, an honest man ? He goes straight to his point. N» boardroom prayers —no cooked accounts—no useless ingenuity to prove that two and two make five, but a downright determination to act openly ! Candour before all things, is his wise motto ; and we wish him the best of model prisons for his respectable old age.

Ancient Coins at Dunedin. — Some time since some men, who were making alterations in the stables of Mr. Flanagan, situate in Stafford-street, Dunedin, turned up fiom a depth of several feet beneath the pavement a few silver coins of ancient date. One is a coin of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, dated 1568; two others are evidently of the reign of Henry VIII.; another is apparently a Dutch or German coin. Amongst the coins is a copper token, which presents the appearance of having been plated with silver. This token is in a good state of preservation, and bears date 1760. On one side there is a profile of George the Third, with the following words of the nature of a prophecy.—l76o around it; “ George 111. reigns 1809 ;” and on the reverse side “ Long live the king.” The name of the prophet or artist is “Kettle ” How or where these coins came iu the place in which they were found is a subject for speculation. In all probability it must have been subsequent to the date of the token 1760. Cook’s visits to New Zealand were between that date and 1777. That the coins were lost by any of Cook’s sailors does not seem feasible, inasmuch as coins of Henry and Elizabeth were not current coins of the realm at that time, the old currency having been called in during the reign of William and Mary. They may have been buried by the natives who used to be in the habit of burying money or other valuables by way of security If so, how the natives became possessed vf them may form a fertile theme for discussion to those who are disposed so to occupy themselves. — Otago WTOress.