TREASURE TROVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 7 March 1912, Page 5

TREASURE TROVE.

THE GENERAL GRANT WRECK. SEARCH STEAMER IX AUCKLAND. There is in Auckland just now tha steamer Wairoa, of <JS tons gross register, which has been purchased from Macklow Brothers by Mr hi. C. May, an American business man who is financing an expedition to Auckland Island wit* the object of recovering treasure and cargo which went down in the sailing ship General Grant in IStit. In a few days the Wairof. «ill leave Auckland for Dttnedin to be fitted oat. and as little time as poshVc will be lost in starting on the expedition. 'file proposition may appear to savour of romance, but Mr May assured a representative of the "Star" this morning that it is purely a coolly calculated mattef of dollars, twelve months ago," he said. "Captain iSorcnson, who was formerly in tbe employ of the Auckland Harbour Board, and has been interesting 2iimself in the prospects of salving tha (ieneral Grant cargo for 35 years, waa introduced to me in New York and as * result of what, he told me I calculated that there >vas good profit in the venture, more especially as the cost of conducting tbe expedition will be less than in any other case of which I know—and I have been engaged ill this sort of business all my life. Captain Sorcnsen and I arrived in New Zealand in October last and we have since been making our pra> Derations. He will act as the diver." It was ascertained that about 18 met will be taken on the Wairoa, which will be in command of Capl. Perriam, as Engli»h captain familiar with the seen* of the wreck. All the necessary machinery has been made in Australia. "Thera have been seven previous expeditions from New Zealand," said Mr. May, "bill they have all worked from the seasida of the cave into which the General Grant was driven after her foundering. To be successful the salvaging should ba done from landward, and that is what I propose doing." Questioned as to the value of the cargo, Mr. May said, that it was insured for £165,000, and he had purchased full rights from the insurance companies. '"I have positive information," he said, "that there was about £500,000 worth of bullion on the Vessel, and outside this •tbe cargo will be worth about £ 100,0001 There were 26 bales of wool, a large nui»ber of hides and pelts, 720 pieces of myal wood and other things. Soma people have told me that it will ha spoilt, but I think I know better than that."

There were only 15 survivors of the General. Grant, and from what they stated, it is firmly believed that a large amount of gold was being taken to England by some 68 miners, who were returning from the Australian goldflelde. If correct, this supposition adds to the value of the sunken treasure. At an/ rate, if it is recovered it should well r»pay the enterprise of the promoters he .risking between £14,000 and £ls/100 on the undertaking. The Wairoa will proceed to Port Ross harbour, near to the scene of the wreck, which is about 24 hoars' run from New Zealand. Auckland Island is uninhabited, and the only signs of life thereon are wild cattle, which have been running there during the past 50 years. The island is about 25 miles in length, and averages from 4 to 12 miles in width.