AN IMPORTANT FIND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7402, 1 May 1891, Page 3

AN IMPORTANT FIND.

Spanish Coins Discovered on the Barrier Reef.

The Torres Sttaifc Pilot of March 7th contains the following interesting account concerning the ducovery -.—Captain Sam Roe, who has been fiishing for heche-de-mer in the schooner Lancashire Lass on the Barrier Reef, dropped into a rather novel patch of wealth, and one which must have soma stray links connecting it with the loss of some old Spanish wreck and probable starvation of the crew. While the divers were aearohing for leche-ie-mer on the extreme outer reefs of tho Great Barrior chain they struck something unusual. An examination revealed it to be an old anchor of a class almost obsolete. After much trouble it was released from its bed, but in effecting this a heap of Spanish dollars was struck. These had evidently been piled up carefully in bags or boxes, but an immersion of many long years iffthe sea had completely rotted - the bags or boxes, and partially changed the k form of the coins, the majority of them haybecome incrustated together as to be *lmost inseparable. The action of decay and the beating waters have worn the edges of some bo as to give them the appearance of having been sharpened on a stone. Tho inscriptions are perfectly legible on many of the-coins, and throe of them beat the following :—" Hispan. etlnd. Rex" is on one side and " Caroluß IHI. 1880" on the other of the oldest coin, whiht "Ferdin. Dei Gratia VII., 1814 "is on another. The third dollar is very indißtinot, but it was evidently coined during the reign of Fernando VII., and the date appears to be 1833. The coins ore said to weigh ' 6001 b, and with all due allowance for debris which exists among the heap, it is fair to estimate the bunch as being worth over £300, In searching the locality carefully for other reließ, the men cam« upon ironwork which had evidently formed some part of the longlost ship. A very obsolete kind of cannon was also found, but this had become so encrustrated and grown over with barnacles that it was impossible to discern of what metal tho implement of war was made. There is one strange feature of the find which might throw a little light upon the | formation of coral reefs, and the rising or falling of the sea. The inference is reasonable that the reef was dry when the vessel was wrecked, bb the unfortunate crew evidently piled up their wealth on dry ground j but when found they were upon a reef which has at least three feet of water upon it at low tides, while at high tides there should he a depth of nearly 15 feet. Has this reef sunk, or has the water risen and covered it up ?"

The first fifteen, of the Wanganui Football Club journey out to Toraiina by brake to-morrow to play the first fifteen of the Turakina Club. The Kaierau Club play a soratoh match on Victoria Park. The Directors of the Public Library would be glad if. any ladies who are willing to assist in getting up a bazaar, or sale of work and articles in aid of the Library funds, would meet at the Library on Wednesday next at 3 p.m. The costumes worn by those taking part in Sbondan'a play, "St. Patrick'gDay,"a6tne breaking-up entertainment of the Collegiate School on Wednesday evening, were made by Messrs Jones and Magnuson, tailors, and reflect most creditably on the firm's workmanship. The last week of the great clearance sale | of art needlowork and needlework requisites is announced at Cremer's depdt, Victoria Avenue. Exceptional bargains are* being offered, and those who desire to procure articles both novel and useful should lose no time in inspecting the varied stock now temptingly displayed. " The Mikado " practice to-night will be held at the Fire Brigade Hall, which has Vindly been placed at the disposal of the members by the hon. secretary of the Fire Brigade. The reason for the change is that the Institute is engaged this evening by the Harding Assembly. Members taking part in " The Mikado " are therefore requested to assemble at the Fire Brigade Hall at 7.80 sharp. Information published in those columns in connection with Court cases is not intended for carping critics of the "Observer " stamp, nor for the class of persons to whom he refers, but for those whose business it is to be in attendance, such as witnesses, for instance, who are glad of a reminder that the particular case in which they are to give evidence comes on for hearing on a certain day. The "loungers" never miss an opportunity of being present, no matter how trivial the cases may be, and are over on the qai vive for something to crop up during tho hearing of a case to satisfy their prurient taste for a certain class of evidence. The Hawk, a London paper, writes: — "Wo are reallyj too courteous in dealing with foreigners on affairs of war. In Franco or Germany if a harmless tourist be ob • served sketching or photographing any place at all near a fortress, he is incontinently thrust into prison, from which he only escapes moat endles3 trouble and the moat abjeot apologios. We, on tho other hand, throw open all our defences, and policely beg possible future foes to come and have a look round. Wo commented two or three weeks ago on tho facilities offered to foreign visitors to inspect Portsmouth dockyard, and we now hear that a German man-of-war has lately thoroughly surveyed the New Zealand harbour of Port Nicholson without interference. Of course our toleration of such things is absurd, but it would have been only in accordance with the rest of it if Lord Charles Scott had sent a ship to aid tho Teutons in their work." A letter has been received at tho New York "Police Gazette " office from Slavin, authorising Madden to match Slavm to fight or box any man in Amarica for any amount from 2,Soodols. to lO.OOOdols. a-side, the " Police Gazette" championship belt and the championship of the world. Slavin will give Sullivan 5000dols if he fails to stop, conquer, or knock him out in six rounds ; give Kilrain 3,000d018. if he faih to knock him out in six rounds j make Dominick McCaffrey a present of sPodols. to box him six rounds, or give the same amount to Godfrey. Slavin does not forget either Corbett or Peter Jackson in his sweeping offer. He agrees to box either ten rounds or light them according to " Police Gazette " rules and forfoit 3,000d015. if he fails to knock eithbroutin ten rounds. Slavin will arrive next month with Charley Mitchell, and stand ready to deposit 5,000d015. to back up the foregoing propositions.