Exaggerated.

Cocos Treasure.

Reports of Lecky’s Finds are Exaggerated.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Oct. 29.

TIED up at the Papeete waterfront is a trim 40-foot schooner rigged yacht named the “Noddeskellen,” which is Danish for “Nutshell.” This little ves

sel arrived here a few days ago by way of Cocos Is lands and the Galapagos, after a long and adven turous voyage from Europe.

Travelling on board is a well known American journalist named Sherwood who states that he ac companied Colonel Lecky’s party to Cocos on the latest treasure hunt, and that up to the time of his departure from that Island, late in June, the treasure had not been located. He therefore considers that sensational reports which have

appeared in various newspapers to the effect that rich treasure had been found, are without foundation.

Mr. Sherwood says that Colonel Lecky’s apparatus for locating metal underground worked perfectly, and set the party digging frantically in many spots. But all they recovered was buried shovels, sheets of iron, and other material left behind by previous explor ing parties.

The chief obstacles to success ap pears to be the dense jungle, which covers Cocos over tht greater part of its area.

It was reported that there have been exceptionally good rice crops in the Navua district, Fiji. It is estimated that in addition to sufficient supplies for the year’s requirements there will be 10,000 sacks of surplus paddy. This will be sent to the Government rice mills.