ROMANCE OF A RING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18664, 21 March 1924, Page 12

ROMANCE OF A RING.

LOST IN BALE OF WOOL.

FOUND IN MASSACHUSETTS.

DISCOVERY OF T*HE OWNER.

_The romance of a ring is told in some correspondence which the Mayor of Wei-' lington, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., has now made public. In June, 1920, Mr. Hubert L. Lewis, of Moroa, Alfredton, about 40 miles or so from Wellington, informed Messrs. Levin and Co., that h« had lost a gold signet ring in a bale of wool. In November last the Mayor received a letter from Massachusetts, stating tha* the ring had been found in a bale of New Zealand wool which had reached there through the London wool sales The bale had been shipped to London and then to America, where the ring was found.

On November 15, 1923. the Mayor received the following letter from the Pacific Mills, wool office, Lawrence, Massachusetts: —

"I take tha liberty of addressing you regarding the finding of a ring. This ring was found in a bale of wool at the Pacific Mills, wool store, Lawrence. Mass., U.S.A. It struck me that it might be a keepsake, and of value to the loser for the associations connected with it, so for that reason I ask your assistance in locating the owner. The ring is what is termed in our country a signet ring, and on the inside is engraved as follows: From A.L. and L.E.L., 1917, WGTN., V.Z. The face of the ring is engraved with the letters H.L.L. If after reading this letter you decide to assist in locating the owner and are successful, the ring is held subject to your order." Keepsake During the War. . This letter was published » due course, with the exception of the detailed description, and in reply the Mayor received the following # letter on December 18 from Mr. A. E. Mabin, a director of Messrs. Levin and Co. —

"With reference to the paragraph *■» the press regarding the finding of a signet, ring in a- wool bale in Massachusetts, it is probable that this belongs to a friend of ours named Mr. Hubert L. Lewis. Mr. Lewis wrote to as from Moroa, Alt'redton, ,on June 10, 1920, as follows: —

* I lost last December "in a bale of wool sent from Moroa, a gold signet ring which was engraved with the monogram H.L.L., and inside it had engraved from A.L. and L.K.L., Wg'ton, New Zealand. I value it .as a keepsake. It was given to me when I left to go to the war by my father who died during my absence. I am writing to ask you if by any chance you have heard anything of it.'

"Ii the ring mentioned received by you conforms to the description given by our client, we shall be glad to receive it, and forward it to him. He will doubtless be glad to receive it after its long wanderings, and he thankful to the good people who have co thoughtfully restored it to him."

The King Received. Upon receiving the correct description of the ring the Mayor immediately communicated with the Pacific Mills, Massachusetts, and on-"Saturday received the following reply, doted February 7:—- " Bepfying to* your letter of December 29, 1923, will say I am delighted that, you succeeded in locating the owner of the ring, and am sending ring under separate cover to you. I appreciate the time spent, and interest shown by you in this matter, and take this opportunity of expressing to you my hearty thanks for your co-operation. I arn pleased to be privileged to be of service to one of our soldiers, and if opportune please convey to him my best wishes for health snd happiness, also suggest he keep a firm hold of his ring in the future,. for if I get it again I shall surely keep-it. We of Lawrence are proud of our citv and its mills, and I am taking theliberty of sending yott some literature, so that you may know just why we feel that way. Hoping in due time the ring arrives OK., and with best wishes for the future prosperity of Wellington as a city, and you, My Dear Sir, as its Mayor,"

Customs Duty Waived. The ring came to hand on Monday, when the Mayor -received an intimation from the customs officials. When the story of the ring was explained' to the authorities the customs duty was waived, and the ring is now in he possession of the Mayor. Unfortunately the owner has since left New Zealand and is believed to bo in Fiji, but his whereabouts are known end will be communicated to the Mayor, when the ring will he restored to its owner forthwith.

The Mayor stated that when the first letter was published he received about a. dozen letters from different people, all of whom had lost rings in a similar mariner, and giving descriptions of them. One of them was from a woman in hospital, whose husband, the owner of one of the lost rings, is now dead.