MR ARCHER’S LUCK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 February 1934, Page 5

MR ARCHER’S LUCK.

Portion of Stoleifr Watch Returned. REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE. A portion of a gold watch which was stolen five years ago from the home of the Rev J. K. Archer was recovered on Friday, and its discovery created a remarkable coincidence. When the burglary occurred Mr Archer was Mayor of Christchurch. He was attending a Rugby Union dinner at the time and was sitting next to Mr S. F. Wilson, one of the leading administrators of Rugby football in Canterbury. Word of the burglary was brought to Mr Archer, and he returned to his home. Among the valuables which had been taken was a gold watch which was presented to Mr Archer when he left the Vivian Street Church in Wellington in 1918. The watch had an inscribed plate on the inside, bearing the inscription: “ Rev J. K. Archer, from his Tr ivia i Street Friends, Wellington. X.Z.. 22-6-18.** On Friday afte moon Mrs Wilson was tidying up the garden of her home at 34, Rotherham Street, Riccarton, and. in removing some leaves, the glint of gold caught her eye. She picked up a gold disc which she found to be the inscribed plate from Mr Archer’s watch. Mr Wilson, who naturally recalled the circumstances of the burglary, was delighted to be able to return this fragment to Mr Archer. Apparently the thief, after leaving Mr Archer’s house, went through Riccarton. On examining the watch he found the inscribed plate inside and tore it out, throwing it over the fence of Mr Wilson’s garden. While Mr Archer would have been even more delighted to receive the watch again he was very glad to have the inscribed plate, for it is a tangible memento of his pastorate in Wellington. He had long ago given it up as lost forever, and its sudden reappearance after five years afforded hirr a pleasant surprise.