A REMARKABLE STORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 45, 24 February 1915, Page 2

A REMARKABLE STORY.

BANK NOTES WORTH £IOOO. DISCOVERED IN BACK OF OLD PICTURE FRAME. Per Press Association. Auckland, February 22. A remarkable story bf a fortune lost and found has just come to light in Auckland. Three years ago Mr Woods, of the firm of Woods and Co., grocers, of Mount Eden Hoad, went to an auction'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 *ln the 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 £IOOO Mrs Woods at once took her discovery to her husband An examination revealed all kinds of notes worth from £5 to £oo. 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 ease of “Finds is keeps,” but Mr Wood , thought that his acquisition o fthe picture for a pound hardly justified him in regarding the enclosure of £IOOO 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 could put £IOOO in notes away in a picture frame and forget all about it seems incredible, yet the Public Trustee was able to gain convincing evidence that this occurred. The owner of the small fortune transpired to bo a woman who is regarded as eccentric. Her claim to the banknotes was established to the satisfaction of all concerned, and the sum has accordingly been paid into her account.