LOST AND FOUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 6

LOST AND FOUND

BANK NOTE ROMANCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, February 22. A remarkable story of a, fortune lost and found has just eome to light in Auckland. V Three years ago Mr. Woods, of the firm of Woods and Co:, grocers, of Mount Eden Road, went to an auotion sale in Esplanade Road, and purchased a picture. . It was in many respects quite an ordinary picture, a mirror painted, and contained in' an ordinary frame. Recently, Mrs. Woods happened to be supervising the usual spring cleaning, and the picture was brought down from its place on the wall, and treated to a vigorous dusting.- In tho process Mrs. Woods loosened a piece of cardboard at the back of the . picture, and was surprised to find a good-sized wad stuck in between the cardboard and the glass front. '

Further examination revealed the wad to be a roll' of bank notes worth nearly £1000. " ,

. Mrs. Woods'at once took her discovery to her husband. An examination revealed all kinds of notes, worth from £5 to £50. : They were issued by New Zealand banks; and were all of comparatively recent date, the most recent'being .1911.

Some' people might have been disposed to regard it as a case of "finds is keeps," but Mr. Woods thought that his acquisition of the picture for a pound hardly- justified him in regardine the enclosure of £1000 in notes as part of : ;the" purchase. _ ," He at once communicated with his lawyer, Mr. W. E. Moore, and on Mr. Moore's advice the money was placed in the' hands of the Public Trustee.

The sequel is not less amazing than the story of the find. That anyone covild' put ,£IOOO in notes away in a picture, frame and forget air about it seems incredible,' yet the Public Trustee was able to gain convincing evidence, that this occurred. , ' The owner of the small forturie'transpired'to be a woman who is regarded as eccentric. .) 1 ; Her- claim to the bank notes was established to the satisfaction of all concerned, and the sum has accordingly been paid into her account.