LA PEROUSE RELICS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10263, 4 February 1899, Page 2

LA PEROUSE RELICS.

With reference to the cable message announcing that a private yacht, the Lady St. Aubyn, returned to Sydney with relics of La Perouse's ship equipment and armament, a "Sydney Morning Herald" reporter, who went aboard the yacht, was shown many interesting pieces of guns, old flintlock muskets, lead and iron shot the size of marbles, all in a fair state of preservation. "By digging down," said the captain, "we came upon what is supposed to have been the workshop in which the boat was built by the shipwrecked crew, and in which they embarked, never more to be heard of. Many, no doubt, have read his travels, and have seen where his voyage ends abruptly, he never being heard of after parting company with Captain Cook in Botany Bay, Australia, in 1788. One hundred years had passed away when the remains of his two vessels—L'Astrolabe and the Boussole (compass)— were found on the island of Vanikoro, lat. 11 deg. S., -long. 166 deg. E. It is only a few. years ago that the guns, anchors, &c, were brought to Noumea, New Caledonia, by a French man-of-war, the Bruat. It is supposed that during the night these two vessels went on the reef which surrounds the island, perhaps in a calm or during a hurricane." By engaging the natives to fossick near the scene of the wrecks a number of Spanish and French silver coins were found, also one gold one. These bear dates 1727 and 1728; Carolus HX

A * plausible Reason.—Sunday School Teacher: "Why were Adam and Eve driven from the Garden of Eden?" Bright Pupil: "I dunno. Did they walk on the grass?*' ;