A LUCKY FIND.

Evening Star, Issue 4289, 24 November 1876, Page 4

A LUCKY FIND.

A curious story has been circulated within the past few days (says the 1 ‘ Mount Alexander Mail ’) respecting a 'Wealthy gentleman who was once a citizen of Castleimune. Some time since a person in a neighboring township died, leaving a quantity of old lumber in his domicile, and no heir or next of kin to take possession of them. The whole fell into the hands of the curator of intestate estates, who quickly realised upon the goods. The gentleman referred to attended sale, and finding there three ordinary-looking boxes of tools of a description he fancied (being an optician by trade), he bid for them ; some dealers, however, ran him up so that he paid for one box L 4, anotlu r L2, and the third LI. On opening the largest and dearest box the contents wore found to be so worthless that he directed one of his assistants to throw it-out, or make an “ old clothes ” box of it. At the same time le overturned and threw all its contents on the floor. On readjusting the box. a small secret drawer was discovered, and curiosity tempted this gentleman to examine it, when to his surprise he found a packet of deeds and Crown grants carefully stowed away, representing the title of the deceased man to property in Carlton estimated to be worth from L 1,500 to L 2,000. Communication was opened with the Curator of Intestate Estates, through a solicitor, notifying that a valuable discovery had been made, but without revealing its nature. In; a day or two the gentleman was surprised by a visit from the officer of the Crown, who demanded to know what was the discovery, but the finder was too wary to be caught like | that, and referred the visitor to his I solicitor. After some negotiation, the purchaser,of the box remarked: “If you give me L2OO, provided my discovery realises to you L 1,050, or pro' portionately less if it does not bring so much, I will give you the requisite information. This was agreed to, and the deeds were at once handed over to ‘ the. astonished curator. The L2OO was then paid, and subsequently the pro : perty sold, realising considerably more than tl*e estimated value.

THE INTERNAm©»M4S?Wia| The general the match increased at New' Xoi;k as from Creedmoor was received! Great crowds surrounded the bulletins as they were issued. Thousands went to Creedmoor by every train. It is estimated that, from 10,000 to 12,000 were present, one afternoon at the ranges. At 900 yards the Americans shot splendidly, piling up bull’s eyes amid the greatest enthusiasm. The gap gradually closed between them and the Scotch, until they gradually fell behind when the result of the 900 yards was announced, the enthusiasm became tremendous, the Americans were* the favorites, and the Irish second. At the first five shots at 1,000 yards the Irish scored 180, the Australians 169, the Canadians 152, the Americans 158, and the Scotch 157, thus leaving the Irish only 26 to reach the American score. The contest now lay between the Americans and ahe Irish. The shooting of the former improved, so that the hope of an Irish victory became faint.

At length the announcement was made amid a scene of extraordinary excitement that the Americans were the victors of tho great International match, the aggregate score for the two days surpassing that of the Irish by twenty-two, and the others being left considerably in the rear. At 900 yards the Americans made magnificent scores, entirely falsifying the prediction that a windy day would destroy their chance, for as the, wind increased their shooting visibly improved. The Irish also rapidly distanced the Scotch, and took sebond place, but their shooting was not On a par with that of the Americans, who, at the 1,000 yards, did their finest shooting. Fulton and Rathbone shot splendidly. Dyas’ first five shots were tour bull’s-eyes and a centre. * The Australians picked up wonderfully. The Centennial Trophy is entirely original in design, and was designed by J. H. Whitehouse, It is 7£ft. high, and 2fb. wide. The banner proper is of iron, inlaid with gold tracery, with the following words in silver letters : “In the name of the United States of America, to the Riflemen of the World.” The banner is suspended from copper rods, above which is a delicately wrought bar of “ Palma.” Over the whole is a burnished copptr grasping a laurel sprig and arrows in its talons.