TEEASURE TJEIOVE AT TEMUKA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7115, 13 July 1886, Page 4

TREASURE TROVE AT TEMUKA.

SINGULAR DISCOVERY. A singular discovery was made on Wednesday July 7 in a oaddock at tho back of the Royal Hotel, Temuka, (Canterbury.) Tbe Christcburch Press says Mr. Bertie Coira, brother of the landlord of the Wallingford Hotel, to whom the paddock beloogs, was walking through it whenua discovered a gold chain half-buried in the soil. Further search revealed other articles lying buried at the spot, tbe following being a complete list : — A lady'B handsome black enamel and gold watch, a lady's long gold neck chain, an albert chain, a gold brooch, a cameo and gold brooch, a carved ivory and gold brooch, a garnet and gold brooch, three small gold lockets, two gold pins, a gold and carbuncle pin (broken), three pairs of gold earrings, ono odd gold earring, a gold collar stud, an odd gold sleeve-link, and a silver thimble. The field svas formerly covered with flax, which has lately been burned off. The jewellery had evidently been buried for some time, and as no one was able to identify any of the articles, the discovery caused a good deal of speculation. A correspondent at Temuka telegraphs the followiug particulars he had succeeded in gleaning regarding the ownership of the jewellery: — Some twenty years ago the Royal Hotel, Temuka, was owned and managed by Mr. J. A. Young, now »f tbe Wolseley Hotel, Winchester. Among his regular patrons was A. Greenfield, of the firm of Greenfield and Lowenthal, once jewellers at Tiraaiu, but at that time travelling retail dealers iv jewellery and fancy articles. Greenfield made the Royal Hotel bis head quarters for weeks at a time, making short excursions from Temuka to the surrounding allotments, and Belling goods in the hotel in the evening. One evening both Mr. and Mrs. Young we're in Timaru, and did not return until next morning. The same evening Greenfield was also out late, returning home about midnight. Immediately after he returned he called one of the men employed about the house, and told him he had been robbed. The curious part of the story is that Greenfield had his case of jewellery in his bedroom, of which the door was locked, and he only had the key. Nevertheless, he maintained that a number of articles had been removed, the small morocco case being left bshind. On Mr. Young's return the police "were communicated with, but no trace of the robbers or the spoil could be found. Subsequently Greenfield attempted to recover £80, the value set upon the missing articles, but failed, the goods never having been placed in Mr. Young's care. At the time the general impression was that the Btory of the robbery was a tnytb, as it seemed remarkably improbable under the circumstances. However, the old settlers are beginning to recollect the affair, and one lady who had seen Greenfield's stock at once recalled the enamelled watch. She gave a description of a watch, which coincided closely with that of the one discovered, and on seeing ihe other articles identified some of them as well. The whereabouts of Greenfield and Lo venthal is at present unknown, but there can be little doubt that the treasure trove is their missing property.