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Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1926, Page 2

Accokdixg to a report in' the ‘‘Daily Chronicle,’’ Mr J. C. C. Davidson, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, announced in Parliament that the cost ol recovering the £4,958,000 from the White Star liner Laurentic, which sank in 1917 off the west const of Ireland while being used as an auxiliary cruiser in the war, was only £138.1100, including a bonus of £6739 to the officers and men concerned. The work of the divers was begun in 1917. lliit tlio Laurentic, a vessel of 14,000 tons, which had been acting as an auxiliary cruiser, was lost in a spot exposed to the full fury of the Atlantic, in 20 fathoms (120 ft) of water. For months at a time the work of the divers was stopped by storms and much of the treasure had to be literally snatched away during a lull in the gales. The work was done from the Admiralty salvage vessel Racer, 1000 tons. Lt. Coinondcr E. L B. Hainan!, R.X., himself a diver, was in charge. Commander Dammit has since received tho thanks of the Admiralty for his work, while several in cm bora of the crew of about fifty have been decorated. It is interesting to recall the loss of the I*, and (). liner Egypt, which sank off I'shanl after a collision in May, 1922. She rallied gold and silver valued at £1,054,000, and an attempt to recover it will probably be made this spring.