BURIED TREASURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23686, 19 December 1938, Page 12

BURIED TREASURE

MYSTERY OF SUWARROW VOYAGE OF THE NGATAKI SEARCH PROVES UNAVAILING (Per United Press Association' AUCKLAND, Dec. 18. After an unsuccessful search for Spanish treasure on the remote island of Suwarrow, the well-known ocean-going yacht Ngataki, owned and commanded by Mr J. W. Wray, of Remuera, returned to Auckland to-day, having been absent in the South Pacific since the beginning of August. In spite of the failure- of this expedition, Mr Wray is still convinced that there is old-time treasure to be found on Suwarrow, and he intends to return there after the next hurricane season, when he will take with him electro-magnetic equipment designed to detect metals underground. A Wanderer Returns The Ngataki returned with four members of the crew who left Auckland—Messrs Wray, T. Clarkson, A. Coates. and D. Quayle. The remaining member of the crew, Mr L. Bakewell, suffered injuries to his ankle when the crew was attempting to harpoon a large "devil fish" at Tahaa. in the Society Islands. He left the Ngataki at Niue Island, whence he returned to New Zealand by the Maui Pomare a few weeks ago. In Mr Bakewell's place, the yacht brought back to Auckland Mr A. C. Dudley, who said that at the age of 17 he ran away from his home in Grey Lynn and went to sea on the old cargo vessel Wangahui, which is now a hulk in Auckland harbour. Mr Dudley went with the ship to San Francisco and then came back as far as Tonga, where he left the vessel and started trading. He had not seen Auckland for 20 years until he arrived to-day. This time, he intends to stay and to send his daughter Fane, who also made the cruise from Tonga to Auckland with the yacht, to a European school. Another reason which compelled him to sign on the Ngataki, was that he wished to see his mother, whom he last saw before he ran away to sea.

A Monster Ray After she left Auckland, the Ngataki spent 33 days continuously at sea, eventually making a landfall at Rurutu, in the Austral group, 2300 miles from Auckland. The passage was marked by rough weather, three severe storms being encountered without damage, however, to the yacht. From Rurutu, the Ngataki went to Tahiti, spending a fortnight there before making a leisurely cruise of the Society Islands, including Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, and Borabora. It was at Tahaa that Mr Bakewell was injured. The crew had harpooned a "devil fish," or giant ray, measuring 12 feet across, and weighing about two tons: As the monster ran off with the harpoon rope, a loop twisted round Mr Bakewell's leg, burning and bruising it severely. Three other members of the crew also suffered burns on the hands when trying to hold the roDe. Hunt For Buried Hoard Excitement ran high whet) the yacht.left Borabora and headed'for Suwarrow, to test the truth of the story of buried treasure which Mr Wray had heard in New Zealarfd. He had also obtained confirmation for his belief that a rich haul awaited somebody at the island from the attitude of the Frenchmen at Tahiti. Mr Wray said that several of them did their utmost, while he was there, to dissuade him from going, telling him that he would be wasting hs time. It was found that Suwarrow consisted of a circular coral reef about eight miles in diameter, surrounding about 16 small and scattered islands. It was decided that any treasure that may have been buried there would be found on the principal landfall, Anchorage Island, and it was here that the Ngataki's crew concentrated their search. The yacht remained in the atoll for about six days, and much of the time was spent probing the sands with kauri gum spears and old German bayonets which had been taken from New Zealand for the purpose. Traces of Habitation Evidence that the island had at one time been populated by a European race was found among the tangled undergrowth which covered most of the islands, all of them uninhabited. Here and there, the crew discovered ruins of ancient houses or forts made from a mixture of coral and lime, but although the generally accepted theory was that the atoll had been used in the sixteenth century by wandering Spaniards as a base for their enterprises, the origin of the ruins was still clouded in mystery. Support for the suggestion that they were of Spanish construction was given by tales of old Spanish doubloons and gold pieces of eight having been found there. An Idyllic Holiday The Ngataki carried none of this treasure away from the island. A huge turtle shell which was still aboard when the vessel reached port was the sole treasure trove, although the crew said that they had spent an idyllic holiday, living on an abundance of fish, so numerous that thev could be caught by hand in shallower waters, land crabs, and turtles from Suwarrow. The Ngataki sailed 850 miles befpre steady trade winds to Niue. where Mr Bakewell was landed for medical attention. Then the yacht went on to Vavau, in the Tongan Group. After a month's cruising among the Friendly Islands, she left Nukualofa on December 1 for Auckland, an unexpectedly long voyage of IV days being caused bv unfavourable head winds. One of them carried away the main shroud when the Ngataki was about 100 miles off Cape Brett