HIDDEN MONEY HOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19032, 7 June 1924, Page 11

HIDDEN MONEY HOARD

ISLAND TRADER’S LIFE. Additional interest is lent to the report of the death of Antone, the mysterious trader at Tarawa Island, in the Gilbert group, by a statement given by Mr C. Stewart, of Auck land, who was for two years in the Gilberts, and who knew the old trader well. After Antone’s death, over £2OOO was found in the walls of the house,, besides 300 sovereigns in a trunk and silver in a bag. An tone had been wrecked on the island 49 years before, and had remained there ever since. Mr Stewart states that his proper name was Antone Cavarro, and he was a native of Genoa, whence he sailed as boy assistant to a ship’s copk in the vessel which was wrecked as reported. His trading station was in the village of Bet io, on Tarawa Island, and having been resident for years before, the British Government took over the group, he had the freehold of his property (nt the present time the natives are not permitted to alienate their land, and newcomer* cannot acquire freehold). He did if very lucrative trade until the advent of European opposition, but -he remained perfectly friendly to his rivals, as also did his half caste son. (Jimmy Kurrara. “Jimmy,” says UClr

Stewart, "had white man’s paper* enabling him to partake of beer, while liquor of any sort is forbidden io the native. He was inclined to overdo it in this direction, and got very ‘flash. It was the knowledge of this failing of Jimmy’s that led old Antone to secrete his wealth] though he al ways intended to disclose it to the CoiiimissioDer, and have it held in trust for his wife and family. "1 spent many a pleasant evening with the old man, listening to his reminiscences and picking up points * about the Gilbert language, which 1 learnt to speak fluently, and the cuntoms of the natives. H« was a great 1 old poker player, too, losing with the J same good humour as he won with, • chuckling like anything when he held ' a flush and bumped a ‘full house.' He was a great cook, and his suppero of toasted cheese and macaroni, curri- . , ed chicken, with a bottle- vf lager, ■ were things to be remembered. J. “With no home tids that he knew or cared about, it is iiot a matter for surprise that he never attempted io leave his island home; the old chap • had never learned to read or write, i and would have been ‘up against it* f in the vortex of the civilised world. He could reckon the .value of cloth at, so many dollors a fathom, or 4 01b. s of copra at 3J cents per lb. Antone could have the best the island pro- • vidcd,, and knew when he was well off.”