UNUSUAL INCIDENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17062, 21 September 1929, Page 8

UNUSUAL INCIDENTS

PAINT AND ’INK PRANK BURIED TREASURE AT BONDI MYSTERY SHIP OFF COAST. ' SYDNEY", September'-IS. fMany unusual incidents and happenings were recorded here during the past week. When Richard Coulter, a city cooper, opened his cellars on Monday morning after the week-end, he thought he was looking through a kaleidoscope. The room was painted from roof to ceiling in rainbow hues. Even the electric light globes had taken a carnival appearance, and the proprietor’s hat had been decorated with broad red, white and blue stripes. Mr. Coulter, bewildered, began to explore other rooms attached to his cellars. He pushed a door open, and a frying-pan, filled with red liquid paint, crashed down on his head, spraying him from head to foot. Warily he advanced through tho rooms, hut all his care was unavailing in saving him from similar traps. The oilice cushion was soaked in red and blue ink. The oilice table was a, sea of paint and ink, and a cat, kept in the cellars to combat rats and mice, was found dead in a corner. If had been drowned in it mixture of paint and ink. Stationery and oilice ledgers and books were scattered all over the cellar floors, and were smeared liberally with ink. On the office table a note written on an envelope in a childish hand was found by Mr. Coulter. It read: “Ijere is our fingerprints, you soapy demons. Find us if you can.” This was handed to tho police, and within an hour they had arrested three youths, each under 14 years <of age. They were taken to the Children’s Court, and were later sent to an institution. TREASURE IN BONDI SAND. Two schoolboys made a remarkable discovery while playing in the sand at Bondi on Sunday. Near tho main promenadevon the beach they unearthed a mildewed gladstone bag containing dozens of silver spoons, costly bric-a-brac, , exquisitely-made shawls, and a jewelled lorgnette. They staggered with their find to the Bondi police station, and handed it over to the custody of Constable McGill, who is now endeavoring to trace the ownership, and also how the bag became buried in the sand. It is thought that tho valuables are the proceeds of' a robbery iu the eastern suburbs, MYSTERY SHIP OFF NORTH AUSTRALIA. Passengers on the steamer Changtc, which reached Sydney from tho East on Monday last, brought news from Thursday Island of the sighting off the northern coast of Australia of a mystery

schooner said to be identical with one seen two years ago, and which at that time caused much conjecture. On that occasion, when visited by a Presbyterian missionary in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the ship was found to be deserted, though there were ample provisions aboard, and the ship appeared to have been only recently occupied. When boarded by the missionary it was many miles off shore, and, though lie stood by for days, no claimants arrived on hoard.

On his return trip past the same spot the schooner had disappeared, but lie! sighted ,it soon afterwards. On approaching it, he was ordered to stand away and not to interfere, otherwise he would suffer death. He reported the matter to the authorities, but a search of the vicinity by the Government steamer failed to reveal traces of the mystery vessel. ALARMING CUSTOMS DISCOVERY Murderous weapons, consigned from Scotland to a Sydney addressee, were discovered in the last batch of English mail to reach Sydney. The parcels included four knuckle-dusters of solid brass, two solid rings capable of knocking a man unconscious, and a telescopie bludgeon which could be fitted easily into a waistcoat pocket. The discovery was made at the Central Parcels Office when a man called and asked for a parcel addressed to him from Scotland. When the Customs man commenced to unwrap the parcel, the man made a hurried • exit from the building. The weapons were handed over to the police, who are endeavoring to trace the consignee. lit is the first of its kind, declared the Customs Department, for 12 years, and, as it is a punishable offence to' import such articles into the Commonwealth, there are several charges awaiting the owner or would-be owner, when ho is found.