MOUNT EGMONT'S SECRET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 248, 13 October 1908, Page 3

MOUNT EGMONT'S SECRET.

A DUEL ON THE MOUNTAIN. Somewhere about 1865, wihen the 37th Regiment was stationed in Taranaki, near Mount Egmont (so runs a story supplied to a contemporary by a person who could have no motive in misleading the public), a party of eight officers decided to make the ascent of th-e mountain. They obtained leave from the colonel, and taking tflieir baggage servants to the foot of the peak, dismissed them, with instructions to return to the spot in five days, they having taken provisions for that period. The camp-followers then retired. From one of those who • served his master till his death, comes this mysterious mrra'tlve, -ivliich is liased on the last testimony of title officer himself. it was the old story. Two of the party [gad quarrelled about a girl in Berkshire,

and it was mainly for the purpose of deciding their quarrel that they had ascended t'he mountain. Both as regards Maoris and their own people, it \ras considered a. safe spoL for the business. The duel took place on a small plot near the smnnut. Pistols were used. At the third discharge one foil, mortally wounded. His last depositions were taken. He was then carried nearer the top, and buried belieattli some blocks of stone, with a tin canuister containing a newspaper, the duly attested deposition, the day and date, the names of the party, and the coins of the realm—sovereign, half-sov-

ereign, half-crown, florin, Shilling, sixpence, threepence, a i":niiy, and a half(icnny. The party then hurriedly descended to Hie woods at the base where they remained till the fifth day, in close nuting. They then joined the servants who bad come to seek tlieni and returned to rump, giving out that ttieir companion had lieen lost in the bush, and stating that from th-e appearances lie had probably been surprised and cut oil' by the Maoris. He was simply entered uji as missing on the books olf-' Hie regiment, and that ended the matter. But somewflrere on the summit of the mountain there is a mound (if it has not been displaced by the ice and snow of forty years), and benea'tli it : lies a skeleton with the deposition, tJis' names of the witnesses and tlbe coins. No adventurous tourist has yet unearthed this memento, and thus the object of those who placed it there lias, so far, been defeated. They calculated that i.i a few years it would be discovered, and tlie mystery solved, and the truth given to the world. But t'lif mountain proudly lifts i's snowy head and sellisbly fulfils its trust. Wiheihc: the plant will ever lie exposed is a pro litem of \vlik''i the issue is extreme!* doubtful.