SUNKEN TREASURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23577, 13 August 1938, Page 15

SUNKEN TREASURE

THE KARIMATA'S QUEST APPARENTLY SUCCESSFUL THE HAGUE, Aug. 11. The Karimata, immediately after extending the search area, struck a heavy object and brought up three bars of gold and a number of Spanish silver coins. It is hoped that this indicates that the stern of the Lutine had been found. The wreck of H.M.S. Lutine has* lain for more than 138 years among the shifting sands at the entrance to the Zuider Zee. The dredger Karimata, which is. being operated by the Billiton Company of The Hague, has a length of nearly 250 feet and a dredging depth of just on 100 feet. She was built for tin dredging in the Strait of Karimata, in the Dutch East Indies, and her buckets are so large and strong that it is believed that they should be able to bring to the surface any treasure or wreckage that remains. By agreement between the Dutch and British Governments and by Act of Parliament salvage work at the scene of the wreck is vested in the Corporation of Lloyds, and from time to time the corporation has, as in this instance, granted licences to various salvors, but hitherto the results have not been encouraging By the beginning of this century the total salvage proceeds amounted to more than £IOO,OOO, and there has been no substantial recovery since. The famous bell which now hangs in the middle of the underwriting room at Llovds was raised in 1859. It weighs 1061 b and is 17$ inches in diameter.