SEARCH FOR GOLD

Waipa Post, Volume 44, Issue 3183, 28 May 1932, Page 4

SEARCH FOR GOLD

SOVEREIGNS UNDER A TREE. A Raetihi settler relates an interesting experience he had recently when a visitor called upon him and asked permission to be allowed to dig for jr some gold on his property. “At first,” said the settler,. “ I thought the visitor was having a joke with me, but in further conversation discovered that he was in earnest. The story briefly was that 25 years ago hewas employed at a mill, and one pay day lie decided to go to Taihape, and, not wishing to take all his money, he buried nine sovereigns in under a tree not far from the mill, i It so happened that he got a better job in Taihape, and on finishing there, drifted to Australia, where he eventually took up land. This was his first visit to New Zealand during the 25 years, and, -wishing to see the .Raetihi district again, he included it in his tour, and thought of looking for his old hoard. The measurements the former mill hand had taken proved fairly accurate, and -we located the roots of a tree. After a little digging we unearthed the sovereigns a few inches below the surface. The tin had entirely rusted away. I have one of those sovereigns as a memento of the occasion, and value it very much.”