IN SEARCH OF TREASURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 51, 14 October 1911, Page 4

IN SEARCH OF TREASURE.

The tradition that a Spanish treasure ship was wrecked somewhere in the vicinity of Queenscliff in the very early days is recalled by a search now being undertaken there for hidden treasure (says the Melbourne “Age”). It is, reported that a resident digging there recently came upon some stoul woodwork which had apparently been built to protect something beneath it He bored through the beams and found some Spanish gold coins. He seems to have been an uncommonly cautious, calculating man. Instead of getting into a state of excitement and rooting about to find out what he had struck, he determined before proceeding further to secure the right to what ho found, and lie applied to the Government for permission to search foi treasure. This raised an unfamiliai question, but a diligent research by the Crown law officers resulted in the discovery of a precedent under which the Government, on behalf of the King, can give permission to persons to search for what is legally known as “treasure trove.” The permission was therefore given, the Government making a proviso, in case anything should be discovered, that the State should receive a proportion.