THEFT OF JEWELS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144145, 15 July 1913, Page 7

THEFT OF JEWELS.

FROM STEAMER MAIL ROOM. per press association. AUCKLAND, July 14. When the Mahcno arrived from Sydney yesterday it was found that a packet of precious stones, valued at £316, consigned by mail to C. J. Nurse and Co., wholesale jewellers, of Auckland, had been robbed of its contents. A thorough search of tho mail-bag in which the packet was carried was made, but no trace could bo found of the missing jewels, and subsequently inquiries have established tho fact that they must have been stolen in transit from England. It was found that the mail-bag had been ripped open with a knife or other sharp instrument, and presumably through the opening tho package had been reached. Tho robbery had apparently been committed at some fdaco on the voyage where the mails lad ha.d to wait over for a time, because tho tear in tho mail-bag had been very carefully sown up. The jewellery had boon packed in two wooden boxes by a Home firm, and when tho mail-bag was opened yesterday it was discovered that both had been tampered with, the contents of one being wholly taken, while part of what was in tho other had boon left. The Auckland police arc of opinion that tho interference took place before tho mails wore shipped at Sydney', probably by some person who had a knowledge of the character of tho consignment, as otherwise the probability of picking out the correct mailbag would be a very remote ohe. Further investigations aro being made. Mr. .Nurse, in speaking to. a reporter, said that the two packages tampered with had contained very valuable jewellery. The one which contained gems and gold only had been completely emptied, but the' other, which had also some articles that could not be so easily disposed of, was robbed of tho more valuable goods.