INQUIRIES, ETC., FROM OUTSIDE NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume XLIII, Issue 44, 6 November 1918, Page 643

INQUIRIES, ETC., FROM OUTSIDE NEW ZEALAND.

Brisbane (Western Australia). —Between the 4th and 24th September last the following article? were stolen from a dress-basket while in transit between Christchurch and Melbourne, via Wellington, the property of Minnie Love, Bing Boys Revue Company : A gold chain bag, oval-shaped, about Gin. long by about 3in. wide, slightly broken on top ; a white-metal necklace, set with imitation diamonds, in claw setting; an imitation gold solitaire ring, set with imitation diamonds; an imitation gold brooch, shamrock design, set with imitation diamonds ; an imitation gold lizard brooch, about 3 in. long, back studded with imitation diamonds; an Oriental necklace, set with imitation diamonds; and a true-lovers-knot brooch with two drops at end of bows, set with two imitation rubies : total value, £25. Identifiable. (P. 18/1905.)

Lightning Ridge (New South Wales). —On the 6th July last the following property was stolen from a trunk at the residence of John Findlay Holden : Twelve tins (tobacco and cigarette tins), containing 188 faced and cut black and light opal stones. Among rhe opal are two doublets— i.e., stones with false back. The first is a very full ring stone about 3ct., very brilliant red stone, black cycle enamel on back. The second doublet is a thin oval-shaped stone very brilliant green and red colour, if enamel is removed from the back it would be a light stone. There is also another doublet, triangle-shaped red stone, black enamel on back. One of the tins contained opal of the following shape and descriptions: Green opal stone, best quality at top, towards the centre the colour is very thin, weight about 4dwt. ; black-and green opal on white patch, two sand-patches (one on either side) ; red flash stone, about 1 £ in. long, 20 ct., it requires to be tilted to see the flash at the bottom; brilliant blaok-and-red opal, black cycle enamel in sand-hole on side, not noticeable unless closely examined ; four Queensland matrix pendants; ajoz. 18ct. gold ring, set with a verygood quality black opai, slightly hollow at centre, solid claw setting; also a cake-tin, containing inferior quality opal: total value, £231. Three men, Edward Mahony (plumber), Albert Brunov John Francis, and Allan Ferguson, alias Peter Ferguson, are strongly suspected of having committed the robbery, but no evidence is obtainable. Francis is a naturalized British subject, born in Germany, an opai-dealer, and suspected of receiving stolen property, was formerly at White Cliffs, and was there looked upon with suspicion of illicit dealing in opal. His wife was arrested at San Francisco about ten months ago for endeavouring to smuggle opal into the United States. Francis is well known to opal-dealers, &c., in most of the States of the Commonwealth. He is forty-nine years old, 5 ft. 7 in. or 8 in. high, thiok-set, erect, well built, grey or brown eyes, round face, clean-shaved, about 12 stone weight, light-brown hair turning grey kept closely cut, teeth discoloured, has a strong German acoent. He is at present at Lightning Ridge. Ferguson is very reticent, about fortythree years old, 5 ft. 7 in. or 8 in. high, thin build, dark complexion, dark hair and eyes, narrow thin features, cleanshaved, has indications of negro blood. He left Lightning Ridge for Sydney on the 30th September, 1918. If any information regarding the above is obtained, a communication is to be sent to the Commissioner of Police, Wellington. (P. 18/2061.)