Gold Buried Near Opunake

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page III (Supplement)

Gold Buried Near Opunake

In 1862 the Lord Worsetey was wrecked bn the coast very near Opunake Bay. Among other cargo, the vessel carried arriis, kegs of ammunition and four chests of gold, said to be valued at £12,000. Maoris rushed the wreck, one party searching the cargo for arms and aminunition, while another ’ party carried the gold away to a hiding place where the Opunake factory tb-day stands. At night time the marauders attempted to carry the plunder to their home hear Harriet Beach, but found the undertaking besybhd their strength, arid sb had to content themselves with marching off with one chest. Up the coast they carried the weighty treasure arid planted it ih a swaffip inland from the sandhills fronting the Harriet Beach, and that chest of gold has never been recovered. Later, however, the Maoris said that the other three chests were found by a Maori bearing the English name of George Taylor, arid a Mt Graham, superintendent of the Auckland Province.—A.E. (Wanganui).