SEARCH FOR TREASURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 12

SEARCH FOR TREASURE

COCOS ISLAND HOARD

WELLINGTON EXPEDITION BUILDING OF KETCH DECIDED [by telegram:—own correspondent] WELLINGTON. Friday Lured by the glamour of gold, a Wellington syndicate has been formed to make an expedition to Cocos Island, off Costa Rica, Central America, and investigate the clue which Mr. Donald Black McVicar, of Wellington, claims to have to the Lima treasure hoard concealed there.

Finance for the venture has already been obtained, and within the next fortnight the keel of a 40ft. 12-ton Diesel-engined ketch for use by the expedition will be laid. The vessel is to be constructed by Coutts Brothers and Hare, Limited, at their yard,, and is expected to be completed in three or four months.

Members of the expedition will be Mr. McVicar, Mr. A. Hare, senr., of Wellington, and his son, Mr. R. Hare. Arrangements are being made for the ketch to be shipped by a liner to a point as near as possible to Cocos Island, which is not far off the Panama Canal route.

The vessel will then proceed to the island, "and within a fortnight," said a member of the expedition to-day, "wo will either have the treasure or know it is not there." If the treasure was not secured within a fortnight, he said, the expedition would, return immediately.

The present intention-of the expedition is to leave in May next or perhaps a little earlior, as the best months oil Cocos Island are May, June, July and August. Arrangements are being made for the engagement of two Pitcairn Islanders for the trip to the island. These men 'are good seamen and used to handling vessels in all kinds of weather.

The ketch will be a roomy vessel and will be amply provisioned for about half a dozen. Mr. Hare's son will act as wireless operator. The agreement of the syndicate is that Mr. McVicar shall receive onefourth of any treasure recovered and the other members will divide the remaining three-fourths. The clue which Mr. McVicar claims to have to the hiding place of the treasure will remain his secret until the party actually arrives on Cocos Island.