RECOVERY OF A LETTER AND PAPERS FROM THE SCHILLER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2335, 25 August 1875, Page 3

RECOVERY OF A LETTER AND PAPERS FROM THE SCHILLER.

The following letter and enclosure appears

in the London Times : — '■ Sib, — On the 12th instant a letter bearing .the New Zealand postmark of March 17 was recovered with the first batch Of mails from the wreck of the 'Schiller,' and safely delivered to the lad}' to whom it was addressed ,in Devonshire. It had been saturated with salt water, but was perfectly legible, and stated tha,t two miniature portraits, of much value^ and ' interest as family, relics, 'had been torwarded to me from" New Ze'alatid by the same mail in a registered, case, .The. miniatures however, did not arrive, arid 'l had given up all hopes fit tliem .until -when I "received intelligence tnat' they had'been fished up ten milep oft the- coast of, Scilly, t and this . •morning I, was' nibst agreeably surprised to receive tfo' fdUo'wing' letter frpin the 1 General Pos^OffisjeJ^wh'lcn'Vaa'for'warded'to my London, address from .the country:—; „, , „ , " General Post-office) . ■ "Returned Letter Office, May 21, 1875. i "Siu,-^ havethia day Bent to the postmaster'at Tavistock a packet saved from the wreck of the ' Schiller,' and which ' is no doubt intended for you. The ' postmaster has ' been instructed to deliver it if it be really fotf vou ' '• * \ " When received here it was in a perfectly sodden condition, but I had it carefully opened, tad the, contents 'gently removed, iv order to discover,- if possible, some clue to the. person for whom it was really intended, the address on thtf outside having been vf ashed off, • I removed the wet wool in which the enclosures t j - > two miniature 'portraits, apparently of much yafue— were packed, and was pleased to find that very little damage had been done by the salt water. The papiermach6 frames were satuated, and to dry them 1 cavofuJly removed, the portraits,' which appear to have escaped wonderfully. When dry, the portraits were replaced, and I b,avo much pleasure, now I have discovered your, address, in sending the packet to you. " I may state that your addressiwaa, casually discovered, under the. outer .covering of the packet, written on the inner canyoa bag. " I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, . /' GK 11. SJf io>jft Goutroller. ■ "I|lr. Walter, Mpi-sheadi". , ,' , I hear that the pictUres have been safely delivered at my. house id. the country, and my correspondent adds that they are very slightly (damaged by their fortnight's immersion off the Rctarrier llocka. ■ , ■ „..•, As an occasional grumble appears in your columns against the Post Office authorities, perhaps, youi,will;,permit,,me .through > your columns to oiler my best thanks to the Controller and the Department for their kind care aud attention under tbo circumstances. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Templo, May 2G. Walter Moksiiuad.