THE GREAT PEARL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7369, 22 January 1902, Page 4

THE GREAT PEARL.

Mr J. W. Gibson, writing from Broome on November 25th to the West Australian Argus, says :—: — " There is a good deal of excitement here in consequence of the finding of a great pearl. Mr James Buddivent has been boatbuilding and pearling on a small scale for the past fifteen years at Thursday Island and Broome, and up to the night before last was not considered too fortunate in his undertakings. Mr Buddivent is at present working two small luggers on the shell banks. He does not go out in the boats himself, but sends a white man with them to open the shells and secure the pearlp. On Tuesday night, about 12 o'clock, Mr Buddivent was lying asleep on his couch in the cool of the boatshed, when he was roughly disturbed. On rising to his feet his shell-opener put into his hand the most superb and' wonderful pearl the world has ever seen. All the old pearlers admit that such a wondrous work of Nature has never been discovered in a pearlshell. The shell in which it was found has a lovely cradle at the " heel," in which this queen of pearls was nursed and developed. Mr Buddivent, who is comparatively a poor man, has already refused thousands of pounds for his treasure. A more perfect or beautiful lustre has •seldom been tern on a pearl. The shape is most graceful, and its

length is l£in. In the same shell

two nice small gems were found. One of our best known pearlers has offered his entire pearling plant, with a year's stores, for this pearl, but the offer has

been wisely declined. The pearl was deposited in the bank yesterday afternoon, and its particulars were cabled to London. It is thought that if it reaches London without delay, it will take a very prominent plaoe amongst the great jewels at the coronation of King Edward. It is variously estimated to be worth from £9000 to £15,000. The shell in which the pearl was found goes to London also."

Just received, another lot of ladies' silver keyless watches, £1 each — a nice Xmas present foi .a girl. E. W Sargent, watchmaker jtnd jeweller! Hawera.— Advt.