THE ELINGAMITE GOLD.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 29, 16 March 1906, Page 2

THE ELINGAMITE GOLD.

The disappearance of many boxes of gold (valued at <£17,000) from the hull of the Elingamite lends a touch of romantic interest to. the doings of the modern speculator. But the pen of Mr W. W. Jacobs would be needed to delineate the disappointment of the New Zealand mariners who put off to the

Three Kings with the congratulations of their friends aud the popping of champagne corks ringing in their ears, only to find out, it is alleged, when they sent the diver down, that somebody had been there since they last inspected the wreck. Rumor has it that a party of smart Yankees took a diving, plant to the Three Kings, and raked in all the bullion as soon as the news of its existence bruited about by incautious tongues reached the land* of wooden hams. It is very unfortunate for the New Zealanders that the Yankees stole a march on them, but enterprise in a matter of this kind is everything, and if R. L. Stevenson hadn’t died at Vailima he might have written another Treasure Island,” with Yankee figures in the foreground, in America there are associations of persons whose sole business in life is to locate and exploit sunken wrecks. They do the thing on a system, and they keep charts showing the approximate position of every wrecked ship, together with the depth of water, nature of the bottom, and all similar details. Then the Lake submarine vessel, which can wheel itself along the ocean floor like a motel cur is brought into requisition, often with excellent results. But in this case it must have been work for a diver, and, after all, the job could not have been a very tough one. A year ago some treasure was brought up from Spanish galleons sunk in Vigo Bay over 300 years ago. And the hapless Elirigamite was only wrecked, so to speak, the other day. A less active tongue aud a more energetic hand seem to be required by the colonial gold-seekers when the next bullionladen vessel sinks in these waters.