PIECES OF EIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 23123, 24 November 1938, Page 20

PIECES OF EIGHT

SEARCH FOR HIDDEN TREASURE ISLAND PROVES BARREN [Per United E'kf.ss Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. No doubloons or pieces of eight have been found by Mr J. W. Wray, owner of the well-known Auckland yacht Ngataki, on the lonely island of Suwarrow in the south-eastern Pacific whither the vessel went recently to test the story of hidden treasure. Advice received in Auckland states that the only riches carried away from the island by the Ngataki was a huge and odiferous turtle shell. When the yacht left Auckland in August, Mr Wray said that, while he did not place much credence on the tale of fortune awaiting discovery on Suwarrow, he intended to investigate the reports which had come to him. To this end the Ngataki carried a number of Kauri gum spears and several old German bayonets with which to probe the sands where the treasure was said to be buried. Advice received to-day, however, stated that the Ngataki arrived at Niue Island on October 31 from Suwarrow and that the crew had said no treasure had been found. The only memento of the island they had brought away was a turtle shell.- With the exception of Mr L. Bakewell, all members of the crew were well. Mr Bakewell, however, had suffered a severe rope " burn " around his ankle when he became entangled in a line being used to hold an cctopus. He was landed at Niue to receive medical treatment, and is to return to New Zealand by the Government motor vessel Maui Pomare. The Ngataki left Niue again on November 2 for Vavau. in the Tongan group. Mr Wray said before leaving Niue that they would spend a lew weeks at Tonga prior to returning to New Zealand, which they hoped to reach about Christmas.