Hunters

Tahiti Treasure

English Syndicate’s Representative Arrives in Papeete

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, May 12.

A PROMINENT citizen of New Caledonia, Mr. Ley, arrived in Papeete recently by the Cephee, in connection, it is stated, with the treasure-hunting expedition which was in French Oceania last year.

It will be recalled that a party, backed by an influential syndicate of which Mr.

Ley is a member, arrived in Tahiti from England in the early part of 1934. They chartered a local schooner, and sailed off to the Tuamotu archipelago to test out the reliability of the information upon which the expedition was based.

After a month’s absence the explorers returned to Tahiti, apparently in a very sanguine state of mind, and it gradually became known to the local public that the prospects of the syndicate were excellent.

It transpired that a body of hard material—supposed to be the long sought after treasure—had been located by means of drills beneath 18 feet of sand and water in the lagoon of a certain atoll. The explorers stated that the treasure was found in the very place where it was supposed! to be, according to the information pieced together from various sources. More funds and equipment, however, were necessary before the lifting of the loot could be accomplished.

Subsequently the members of the party went their various ways; some to Australia, America, and England, while others remained in Tahiti to take care of the syndicate’s interests while more money was being raised to bring the enterprise to a successful issue.

In due course the usual newspaper articles came to hand—all depicting our adventurous friends as being on the very edge of success, if not the actual owners of some five tons of golden bullion.

Some of the promoters of this treasure scheme appear to have abandoned their colleagues—at any rate, the expected funds have not yet materialised; and it seems likely that Mr. Ley will thus have a deciding voice as to whether the whole enterprise is to be abandoned or not.

Meanwhile all sorts of speculations are rife along the Papeete waterfront as to the outcome of events.