MYSTERY OF CRUDE RUBBER FOUND ON BEACH

Chronicle (Levin), 20 November 1946, Page 3

MYSTERY OF CRUDE RUBBER FOUND ON BEACH

m> NEW PLYMOUTH. Nov. 17. Worth from £25 to £26, treasure trove in the shape of crude rubber was found on the beaeh at Warea last week. IIow it got there is a mysterv, but it is suggested that it was either dumped overboard from a ship by a smuggler or washed ashore from a wreck. About 200 sheets of the rubber were found, and-it is estimated that it would eost about 2s lOd a 1b. in New Zealand. When discovered bv Mr. P. C. Sole. Warea, the rubber was covered with barnaeles and had the appearanee of having been in the water for some time. The sheets were stuck together in a presse.d block that vveighed llewt. Tlie . -Fp}0ie$ . Wjfli;, not fioa^/Oand^. niust have av r re n t . • |itlio 'blpe k . ■ tkbfd' was a a strong current, Mr. Sole said. Since there has not been any wreck in the vicinity of the beaeh where the rubber block was discovered, it is thought that the rubber might have j been dumped by a smuggler who was in I fear of being discovered. To bear out ! this theory, it is known that smuggled I rubber has been offered to a New Plyj mouth firm, which refused the olfer. . Another possible explanation of the presence of the block is that it was washed overboard from soine ship carrying it among its cargo. If it is found below high-water mark j on the beach a find becomes the pro- | perty of the Crown and sliould be reported to the receiver of wreckage, in ! this case the collector of customs, who holds it until ownership has been proved. If ownership is not proved, it is handed over to the police. 8hould the treasure trove have been found above the high-water mark, it automatieally becomes a matter for the police to investigate. New Plymoutlx rubber dealers who were shown one of the sheets vesterday said that it consiated of crude rubber that had been eured and smoked for shipmeut. The produet is received in blocks similar to the one found by Mr. 8ole and is mixed with other materials to make commercial products.

Some years ago, Mr. Sole picked up a bottle containing a note in the German language about a ehain from the place whero he found the rubber. At present there is a considerable demand for crude rubber in New Zealand, and a Hawera rubber firm put the minimum cost iu New Zealand at 2s lOd per lb. The cost of the 'rubber in the Pacilic Islauds is about lOd per lb.