TREASURE TROVE.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 January 1919, Page 2

TREASURE TROVE.

AN INTEHECTING STORY.' A splendid story is told of a New Zealander who formed one of Special party to visit the Western Front recently* The party were inspecting a portion of the "battlefield from which the Hun had "been driven out a fewhours previously, and. in the course of their wanderings, came across a German maehine-gun nest. Close by was a big Hun lying dead with his rifle by his side. The New Zeaflander picked up the rifle, remarking that as its late owner had tto use for it, ho would keep it as a trophy. The staffofficer, who was conducting - the party over the battlefield, said that Shere was no chance of this being done as it was against all regulations. "I'll bet you a tenner I land the rifle in New Zealand," said the New Zealander, who, by the way, has a reputation for seeing things through whicli ; most individuals would give up as ; hopeless. "Well I'll not be with you," said the staff officer, "for I would be betting on a certainty, a"s I know you cannot take the rifle out* of France." "All right," was the reply, "have it your own way." That night the New Zealander, who had carried the rifle about with him during the day, when he arrived at chateau where the party was staying, sought out a Tommy and got him to take the gun to pieces, and carefully packed them in one of the New Zealander's bags. A few days later the staff officer was leaving for "Blighty" on week end leave, and the New Zealander asked him if he would do him a favour. "Certainly," replied the officer, "with the greatest ox ''Then," said the New Zealander, "I wish you'd put this bag with your luggage and have it left" for me at' Dover station. Tin staff officer received the bag, and duly left it at its destination, and some time later, on his return to Flanders, he happened to be at the station seeing the New Zealand party off. When shaking Hands with his New Zealand friend, referred to the rifle incident, remarking that he did not see the weapon, and* declaring with a self-satisfied smile, that ho had told the New Zealander he would never gel it out of the country. "Oli. don't you worry about that," was the startling reply, "the rifle is already safe in England. "How came it to get there?" asked the astonished officer. "Oh." was the reply, "you took it there yourself. It was in that bag that you very kindly took over with your luggage. ' The staff officer collapsed with the remark: "You New Zealanders take the bun every time, no matter what you are tackling. EPIDEMIC RELIEF FUNDu

£ s. a. Previously acknowledged 554 10 a 25 0 0 10 0 0 Mrs. J. McHardy .. 5 0 0 N. Ferguson, Waipapa .. 3 0 0 £597 lu u