A SINGULAR DISCOVERY.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 740, 15 March 1877, Page 3

A SINGULAR DISCOVERY.

The' following circumstances are narrated in the ' Burrangong Chronicle ;—" A very curious incident oo-

curred at the sale of some effects recently disposed of within a few miles of Young. For a long time the deeds of some property concerning a house and premises and about 100 acres of land were mislaid, and could not be discovered.- It was supposed that they were irrevocably lost, and application was made at the Registrar-General's office in Sydney for a copy of the missing documents. The persons interested weie unable, however, to give a satisfactory description of the property, and the consequence was that their application was not successful, for the simple reason that they could not accurately describe the property. The family was still in possession of it, however, and did not manifest any further care in the matter. Upon the death of the surviving parent, which took place recently, the children began to adjust affairs and to look into the matter of the landed property. The same difficulty presented itself as of old; the deeds could not be found." The furniture was sold, amongst which was an old chair, made out of an old ale cask, well padded, and used, exclusively, almost, by the departed male parent of the family. This discarded article was removed by one of the sons of the family ', for some time it was used by him in the parlour ; then it was taken into the bedroom j finally it found its way into the kitchen, as a lounging seat for Mary Ann. This son got into difficulties, and gave a bill of sale to one of his creditors over the entire lot of his effects. The man taking the inventory was pleased with the comfort the old chair afforded him, and having an eye to business, pat it down, with the intention of buying it should it be put up to the hammer, a result he foresaw was immediately pending, A few weeks' time justified the prediction. The son's effects jrere sold> and the family being in - reduced circumstances, many articles- were bought in by private friends for them. The old chair, however, was ' spotted' by the man who made the inventory, and was purchased by him for Is 6d. This so exasperated the servant girl, that, taking up an axe, she deliberately cleft the chair in twain, when, lo and behold! was discovered to view in its interior, not only the missing deeds of the property, but a will, and a sum of .£9OO in notes and gold, and various valuable trinkets. The bailiff was so dumbfounded that he appeared to have lost all reflection, for certain it is Mary Ann took possession of her unlawfully acquired property, which, however, in all honesty, she handed over to her master and mistress, whose joy can be well imagined."