EXTRAORDINARY LOSS OF GOLD.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 70, 19 September 1877, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY LOSS OF GOLD.

(MEEBOtmNE: Ab©us, Skptembeb 50 On Saturday a telegram was received by Mr Franklin B. Kendall, the Melbourne agent fta the Peaioittlir and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, from Galle,. informing bin fch&fc on the arrival of the E. M.S. China at that port on the 2&tb of August, it was discovered that a bos, containing 5,000 sovereigns, was missing, and requested thai the {j.M.S. Avoca, by which the lost treasure had been conveyed from Sydney to- Melbourne, should be searched. The Avoaa arrived again here from Sydney, and by Mr Kendall's directions was at once overhauled by the officers ;. but the bos was not found. The box of sovereigns was one of six which were forwarded by the Oriental Bank at Sydney per the Avoca on tbe 3rd of August,, for delivery and transi? at Galle. The bullion-room, in which they were placed, was in change of Mr lioache, the second officer. On arrival at Melbourne on the 7th of August, they were* all supposed to have been transhipped on board the China* and Mr Eoache was also transferred la fchai vessel, that they might be still under his charge. It is stated that the six boxes were taken out of the bullion-room and placed oq the main deckhand that they were conveyed, together to the China, contrary to the usual practice of trans* ferring one at a. time. It is understood that the room in which the treasure is kept is- not entered during the voyage from one port to another and that the key remains in the possession of the officer appointed for that purpose. The matter has been placed) in the hands of the detective* here for- inquiry,, but Mr Kendall, is of opinion' that it is probable the missing box has been forwarded in mistake to London, or that ifc will yet turn up at Galle..