STRZELECKI CLAIM

Evening Star, Issue 22718, 4 August 1937, Page 12

STRZELECKI CLAIM

AUSTRALIAN GOLD DISCOVERY “ Account due to Boleshaw J. Strzelecki, of New York, from the Government of Australia , and the Government of Gr<fat Britain—£Bßo,ooo,ooo.” This is the claim now being circulated by Strzelecki, as “ heir-in-law ” of his great-uncle, Sir Paul de Etrzelecki (known as Count Strzeledki), to the “ honourable Parliaments of the Commonwealth of Australia and Great Britain ” in connection with his discovery of gold-bearing and other territories in Australia in 1840, and of the personal estate left by Sir Paul Strzelecki on his death in 1873. Details of Strzelecki’s claims are;— ’ .•• ■■ £ To cost of exploration by great-uncle ... 112,000 To value of gold mines in territory discovered ... 270,000,000 To loss of rents in ditto ... 300,000,000 To fortune of great-uncle 17,000,000 , Total claim ... 887,112,000 It also is suggested that Sir Paul Strzelecki “ annexed ” the mount Kosciuszko region of New South Wales and the ‘ Strzelecki Province ” of Victoria “as a Polish possession.” It_ is therefore claimed that_ 25.000 Polish families should be admitted yearly to the province, and that the Strzelecki family should, in addition, have the right to settle 1,000 persons, “ members of the family,” with full rights of partition of colonisation ” on the estates of the province. _ Previous litigation, it is added, ** issued adverse decisions to the heirs.” The ‘ Dictionary of National Biography ’ includes a fairly extensive account of the life of Sir Paul Strzelecki, and makes the comment that priority in the discovery of gold in Australia “ undoubtedly belongs ” to him.