DISCOVERY OF TREASURE IN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1584, 19 May 1887, Page 4

DISCOVERY OF TREASURE IN THE NEW HEBRIDES.

A discovery of great interest, and which may possibly serve to throw light upon some of the doings of those pirates who used to haunt the Indian and China seas in days gone by has lately come to light in the neighborhood of the French settlements of New Caledonia (says the Auckland Star of the 13th ult). Captain M’Cloud, who owns several of the Islands in the New Hebrides group, having been a resident there for a number of years, discovered upon the white sandy beach of the Island of Mallicollo (about long. 168 E., lat., 15 S.) amongst the rabbit working* a few silver coins. Searching for more, he discovered a considerable number, and from signs around he decided that ibe neighboring sea was either yielding up the treasure of a Spaniard or Portugese vessel wrecked near by, or that treasure had been hidden upon the beach. Not having appliances at hand he left the Island for Sydney, where he has obtained proper diving and other apparatus to be used in the interesting search. The well-known “Vagabond ” (Mr Julian Thomas, of the Melbourne A-gas) accompanies Captain M’Clood back to the Island. We have seen some of the coins, which are bruised and tarnished Spanish coma from early in the 18ih century.