Private eye on trail of Tarlton's treasures

By ANGELA GREGORY

WAITANGI - A private investigator has been hired to hunt for a stolen collection of priceless maritime treasures.

Salvaged jewellery, coins and other rare shipwreck relics insured for up to $500,000 were stolen from Kelly Tarlton's Tui ship museum at Waitangi on Saturday.

Police suspect a 24-year-old staff member took the extensive collection, which was discovered missing from a glass-covered vault shortly before 8 pm, while the restaurant was still open.

There were no signs of a forced entry to the valuables, displayed under a bulletproof glass plate held down by padlocks.

The suspect, a man formerly from the Waikato, had not been seen since 7.30 pm and police were interviewing his family in the Bay of Islands.

A daughter of the late Kelly Tarlton, Fiona Tarlton, said police had told the family only that their inquiries were continuing.

"We don't know what's happening."

Ms Tarlton was pleased the insurance company had agreed to pay for a private investigator, who was to start work today.

"We hope to get some action with him. We want whatever it takes ... every effort made to recover the jewellery."

Ms Tarlton said her family were not just sitting and waiting.

Her sister Nicole had spent yesterday contacting jewellers and antiques dealers with details of the pieces.

They had contacted Customs and harbourmasters to make sure boaties were on the watch for suspicious behaviour.

The family feared the culprit might have been part of a team and been taken to sea.

Ms Tarlton said she was confident the suspect would be caught.

"But time is critical. We are worried about what happens to the treasure in the meantime."

The items had a huge sentimental value to the family.

Mr Tarlton, who died in 1985, had spent about 20 years researching and then recovering many of the gold coins from the ship Elingamite.

The passenger steamer was wrecked at the Three Kings Islands, 64km north of Cape Reinga, in 1902.

Ms Tarlton said the valuables were the star attraction at the museum. Their loss would hurt at a busy time - the start of the school holidays.