A "GOLDEN LEGEND"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3098, 31 May 1917, Page 7

A "GOLDEN LEGEND"

VAIN SEARCH FOR WEALTH

t A RUMOUR IN AUCKLAND

The "New Zealand Herald" of Tuesday last thus disposes of a baseless rumour "How much wjll you give me lor a 1914 penny:" Tho question was put some woeks ago to a teller in. ouo of tho Auckland tanks by a lady, in whose voico thoro was more than a trace of eagerness. "Two ha'pennies," was the prompt reply. "Two ha'pennies!"' Indignation replaced the eagerness. "Why, luy butcher told me this morning ttiat 1914 pennies wore worth. 2s. IOJd. each, because thero was gold iu them, and that any of the banks would pay mo that much!" The teller had an active mind, and an appreciation of humorous possibilities. "Well, you might take it"to tho Bank of , just : across the street. I expect that's tho ono ho meant." So 4110 lady journeyed across the street, and put her nuostion to another teller, who thought deeply for a moment, and then referred her to tho lollor at tho opposite counter, who happened I<> be rather busy just then. However, ho in turn found lime to reply that tho num who had beeu buying the pennies had been called up in the ballot, and had loft no address. But if there was really gold in tho pennies no doubt the bank further down tho streot would bo on the look-out lor them. Tho lady journeyed homo then, it being -after throe o'clock:,, and meeting several friends in. the car casually mentioned Die matter to them, ascertaining first that nono had any 11111 pennies. ! Since then tho golden legend has spread far and wide, through not only tho city, but right through many country districts, and little bovs and girls in the homes of rich and po-'.'i- alike, havo shamelessly broken open saving-banks and missionary boxes, searching through tho pdes of pennies with all the prinaWvo eagerness of tho professional gold-sucker. Damo .Kuiriour, as usual, has been very explicit in regard, to certain details of tho quest, and very uncertain iu othon. For instance, it is popularly agreed chat a pan of gold in some mysterious manner tumbled into'the pan of copper at tho Mint, and that tho authorities aro making overy effort to earner m the golden harvest thus unwittingly sown. But in spite of closest investigation, it cannot be definitely established which bank is paying tho fancy price—oited at anything from Is. «d. to 35.-for these particular pennies, so as a result every bank in Auckland has been visited by nil army ot small children, eagerly demanding their reward, in addition to largo numbers of grown-up folk calling in to make inquiry. This has resulted in severe nerve-strain for monv of the bank o.lorks. When the innocent' question, "-Havo you heard anything of this 19H penny rumour? was put to one sorely-tried youth on Monday, ho flung ont his arms in a gesture of despair. "Have I heard of it? Havel heard, of anything else? Its enough to drive a roan wild?" . In order to relieve tho situation for those harassed workers, and to prevent any more depredations upon tho missionary boxes, it may therefore be stated, on the authority of. leading bant officials, I hat there is absolutely nothing in the "golden legend." Tho same rumour was abroad in other cities in tho Dominion some time ago. rcceiving'exactly tho same credence, until its fallacy was exposed, and apparently Auckland is merely tho last o.ity to enter "upon the fascinating, but elusive? quest. As a matter of fact, in order to detcrmino the matter, a careful analysis of one of tho mmch-desired pennies was made by a local bank a few deys ago. In it was found tho ordinary nic'lals and nothing more.