BURIED TREASURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1926, Page 5

BURIED TREASURE.

IN COMPANY LEDGERS. NO CHANCE FOB HUNTERS. STATE TAKES THE LOT. Some folks fit out expeditions to go to the Cocos Island to dig for pieces of eight buried centuries ago by bold bad pirates and buccaneers, but there is IoC3 of it right here in Queen Street, and if the Government would merely declare an open season for a month or two there might be something doing. As it is the State is the only possible person that can start a treasure hun>t or expect to have the pleasure of feeling the golden guineas trickle through its fingers. And there is no necessity to fit out any expedition and call for volunteers. All the hoarders are bound by Act of Parliament; to make out a neat list of the hoard of bullion stored in .their respective safes or cellars, and send it on to what the legal people call the prospective beneficiary. It must be admitted that the State goes about its "grab' ? with an entire absence of the greed most people associate with pouncing on treasure trove; most of us have seen the passer-by dash at a stray sixpence or a threepence on the footpath, or else stealthily put hia foot on it and ■wait to retrieve it when the crowd goes by. No, the State scorns the stealthy foot business. From time to time that bright little publication "The New Zealand Gazette," which mainly consists of "in pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities," etc., or "know all men," and "God save the King," has tempting lists headed "copy of register on unclaimed moneys held by" such and such a bank or company. In the last Gazette there is a miscellaneous assortment of these charts of buried gold. Most of the treasure islands are located behind bank bars, but some very small ones—hardly worth fitting out an expedition—are to be found in dull commercial premises. In the list of the Bank of New South Wales the largest item is a sum of £90, balance of account unclaimed by a Christehurch woman, described as following the occupation of "domestic duties." The smallest amount is 3/8. also balance of account unclaimed by a Christchurch trainer. Chrisichurch seeros very forgetful but one can readily understand a man of a trainer's mental make-up consulting "heads or tails" as to whether or not he should bother to call at the bank for 3/8. for that is all he contributes to the heap. There is about £400 altogether in this banks little list. The Bank of Australasia has a bigger heap, one item, being £563, amount unclaimed by a farm hand at Mangere. A man careful enough to save tihat much could never have forgotten about it, and no doubt quite unexpected happened to him. The National Bank's clients are more methodical, or more Scotch, for that bank only adds £156 to the pile. A dairy company contributes about £13. which, of course, is unclaimed dividends. A rather peculiar case Is one mentioned in the list of the Union Oil, Soap and Candle Company, ! £47 standing to the credit of a man wiho has not been heard of for thirty years, and £9 to the credit of an individual who has also been missing for a similar period. An insurance company contributes quite a respectable list, most of the items being "tjalance of proceeds of matured policy." Forgetfulness in th-e matter of life insurance is not to be wondered at, as some men even forget the company in which they are insured. As far a= the man in the street is concerned, the annoying part about this unclaimed money business is that only two people have any chance of joining in the Jiunt —the next of kin and the State. It may be taken for granted that the next of kin have already been prospecting, where there is next of kin, and it is more than sure that the State will eventually get the lot. There is a certain time limit fixed, after which the State lays its capacious paws upon the lot and sweeps pounds, shillings and pence into the Consolidated Fund, which always seems to be in such a parlous condition whenever anyone waits upon a Cabinet Minister and asks for a road or a bridge or something of that sort ,