A PUFF OF WIND

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 2, 10 January 1891, Page 7

A PUFF OF WIND

THAT COST THE BANK OF ENGLAND £20,000. A very singular circumstance is narrated in the history of the Bank of England, or rather of the various important events which have occui red in connection with that storehouse of the nation’s wealth. A gentleman many years ago obtained a bank note for £20,000 from the bank, and on his return to his residence he took the note out of his pocket-book to deposit it in a place of safety until it was required. At this moment a servant said that someone at the door wished to ask him a question, and would not detain him an instant. The gentleman rose to give the answer, and placing the note on the mantelpiece went to the door, answered the question and returned. (■icarcely one minute had intervened ; no one had entered the room, and the gentleman had only moved a few paces from the room—but the bank-note was gone. Diligent search was made, but all proved fruitless. At length it Was presumed that the opening of the door had caused a puff of wind, ami that this puff had carried the note from the mantel-piece into the fire and there it had been consumed. The owner of the note was one of the bank directors. He therefore applied to the bank, stated his loss and requested, as the note was destroyed, that another might be given. The directors allowed a period to intervene, and then upon the owner giving security, they consented to replace the lost note, deeming themselves safe from the possibility of loss by the guarantee obtained. Many yeais afterwards the gentleman died, and his property was divided among his children and relatives, and shortly afterwards the residence was to be sold, that it might be taken down to make room for sundry improvements. The materials were disposed of by auction, and purchased by a building contractor, and, on taking down the mantel-piece in the dining-room, the lost note for £20,000 was found. The contractor presented it without loss of time at the bank, and demanded smaller notes in exchange. The cashier explained the circumstances, and refused to pay. The contractor insisted, and urged, as a plea, that as the note was good, and had not been stolen by him, they had not the power to refuse. As to the circumstances, he knew nothing about them ; and then, giving his address, he added, if the money was not sent to him within one week he would affix a notice on the Exchange, stating that the Bank of England had stopped payment. The governors were alarmed, knowing that, if he carried out his threat, there would be a run upon the bank, which would entail a much gieater loss, and might lead to direful results. They, therefore, arrived at the conclusion that it would be the wiser policy to pay the amount, and claim it from the security. The angry man was sent for and the money was paid. The governors applied to the security, and received the answer that the person was dead, that his property had been transferred to the various claimants, and that there existed no one who could be made amenable. Thus, by an unfortunate pnff of wind, the bank lost the goodly sum of £20,000.