THE AUCKLAND DIAMONDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 853, 27 January 1883, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND DIAMONDS.

In a recent issue we made reference to the discovery by Mr Archibald Douglas of a number of light crystalline stones having the appearance of diamonds. Since that notice was written Mr Courtney, a returned diamond miner from South Africa, has had an interview with Mr Douglas, and examined a large number of the specimens in his possession. Mr Courtney has picked out more than one piece which he is quite sure are diamonds of fair quality, though very small, but the greater number of the white stones in Mr Douglas' possession he has pronounced to be white carbon in the process of formation into diamonds. In South Africa this white and crystalline carbon is called ■“ the father of the diamond,” it being the belief of the miners there that all these pieces only want a sufficiently long continuance of the conditions which brought them into existence to convert them into the exceedingly hard and valuable gem which we know by the name of diamond. In South Africa these pieces of white carbon are found in abundance in all the diamond mines, a circumstance which the miners there always regard as a favorable sign. To show the softness of some of these crystalline pieces of carbon, Mr Courtney took up some that appeared to Mr Douglas as good looking stones, and crushed them easily with his teeth. Recording to Mr Douglas’s statement, the whole of the pieces he had in his possession were found in this province, within about 100 miles from Auckland; and according to Mr Courtney, some of these pieces are undoubted diamonds, though small. Mr Peacock tested some of the pieces in Mr Douglas’s collection, and found them not diamonds, which would agree with the result of Mr Courtney’s ■ examination. The stones were gathered by Mr Douglas about three years ago, and he has kept them in his possession, since then, thinking that some day he might.

be able to prove what they were,- and benefit to some extent by his dis-, covery. The discovery was made on private land, and this, of course, somewhat complicates the negotiations till such time as it is known whether the owner would be willing to deal fairly and liberally with the discoverer. Mr Courtney yesterday afternoon advised Mr Douglas to try and obtain some understanding with the owner of the land,, and to get a few gentlemen to join in meeting the expense of throughly prospecting the - district. He. is willing to be one-of the party, and his practical knowledge in this kind of work in another colony might be of considerable service. In New South Wales and in Queensland genuine diamonds have been found in several places, but in neither colony has the place whence they have spread been discovered, It-was the same for some time in South Africa, but after a

time the scattered diamonds were traced home to their source-—in every instance an old volcanic crater —where mining operations have; been systematically carried on since 'at very great profit to many and lessj to others. Since diamond mining was begun in earnest in South Africa, some twelve or thirteen years ago, diamonds worth many millions sterling have been unearthed. Should the discovery made by Mr Douglas prove to be o! value, we are assured the scene of ■ operations will be such that the necessary works can be carried on with efficiency and economy. —New Zealand Hetald.