EXPEDITION ARRESTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21938, 23 October 1934, Page 10

EXPEDITION ARRESTED

18 BRITISH MEMBERS COCOS ISLANDS TREASURE NEW YORK. Oct. 21 The correspondent of the New York Times at San Jose, Costa Itica, states that the Coeos Islands, in the Pacific Ocean off Central America, were visited by Costa Itican troops, who arrested the 18 British members of a treasure-hunt-ing expedition sponsored by the "Recovery Company, Limited," of London. For years various expeditions have hunted for a supposedly fabulous pirate treasure buried on the island, but, as far as can be recalled, with no success. According to official advice received here, the Government objects to the prospectus of the Recovery Company, which, it is alleged, challenges Costa Rica's sovereignty of the island. Those arrested include Mr. and Mrs. S. D. A. Jolly, Captain C. O. Polkinghorne and Commander F. C. Finnis. Much valuable equipment, including a radio station, electric plant, a refrigerator and firearms, has been confiscated and packed for shipment to Costa Rica. The company's prospectus, it is alleged, states that Costa Rica's claims to the island are at variance with the boundary arbitration decisions, and insists that the finders of the treasure should have no difficulty in substantiating their right to the property. However, the geography of the writer of the prospectus is obviously faulty, it is stated, as one of the islands mentioned in the prospectus belongs to the Republic of Panama. It is understood the expedition is hunting treasure which it believes is in excess of £12,000,000.