TRANSFER OF GOLD

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1934, Page 2

TRANSFER OF GOLD

FERRY STEAMER’S MILLION. [PIB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, August 28. One of the largest shipments of gold ever handled in New Zealand was ta en by the Rangatira from Lyttelton this evening, and will be delivered into the vaults of the Reserve . Bank iii Wellington. The shipment represented nearly one million sterling in sovereigns and half sovereigns from the vaults of all of the city banks in the South Island. It is considered to be the largest shipment of gold ever sent from Lyttelton. The Dunedin consignment, representing 500.000 arrived at Christchurch on Monday evening, and was held here in the vaults of the banks of New Zealand and Australia. This afternoon, with the Christchurch consignment, it was taken in motor lorries from the banks to a train bound for Lyttelton, where it was loaded on to the Rangatira under a guard of men from the bank staffs. The greatest possible secrecy was observed by those engaged in the transhipment from the banks, and, although the public must have known that the shipment was to be made very little interest was taken in the operation. The police and the stall guards watched the operations at the banks in Christchurch, and escorted the gold, which was carried in small boxes in lorries, to the train. A special van on the train to the port was closely guarded. At Lyttelton special precautions were taken, to ensure that while loading, the boxes should not fall into the sea, the safety nets between the ship and the wharf being trebled. Only the bank guards watched the operations ou the wharf.