ALFORD FOREST DIAMONDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1056, 24 September 1883, Page 2

ALFORD FOREST DIAMONDS.

... The following letters from Mr T. O. Kelsey were read at a meeting of the Directors of the Pioneer and Koh-i-noor Companies, held on Saturday afternoon:— London, July 24.

Sir, —I have the honor to report that in accordance with the instructions of your Committee I have submitted the samples of diamonds to Mr Alexander, who is a diamond broker and a thoroughly competent judge of precious stones. I have cabled you to-day as follows :—“Cut diamonds, small value, wait letter," by which I mean to convey that the opinio r> of Mr Alexander is that the stones in question are small diamonds, and that before giving a final opinion he would prefer ,a certain number cat. ’At first sight he is of opinion that small stones such as I brought with me would be of about the value of 4i per carat, but as I explained to him these stones have been found on the Surface of the claim, he is under the impression that larger and more valuable stones .may be found beneath the surface. I have an appointment with Mr Alexander for Thursday week, when the cutting of the stones will be completed, and upon that occasion he will hand me his written opinion and value of the stones, in question, when I shall further communicate with you. In the meantime I advocate a course which will protect the land. I will enter into no agreement for the sale or

handling of these here until 1 have further communicated with you. 1 have only just arrived, so please excuse a hurried letter upon this occasion. I will communicate further by next mail. Yours faithfully, T. 0. Kelsey.

London, August 8,1883. T. B. Craig Etq., Christchurch. New Zealand. Dear Sir, —Since writing per s.s. Doric, I received your cable message, which required me to immediately acquaint you (although the stones were then being cut) whether they had been declared genuine or not. I accordingly cabled you that a fair proportion had been declared genuine. Subsequently the brokers waited upohrme and acquainted me with the fact that the diamonds would not out, but flew to powder upon being put to the stone. They also said the crystals were the most deceptive they had ever seen. However, being so nearly perfect, they felt impressed with the fact that, by expending a little'more money in prospecting, you might obtain bigger and more valuable specimens. I accordingly cabled you to that effect, and now strongly Urge that, say, a call of LIOO be made upon the shareholders, and that, under the supervision of one of the Directors, a careful prospecting be carried on, sinking to a certain extent, or crushing the matrix rock, in which you will undoubtedly find the l est specimens. The brokers who acted for us in the matter were Messrs Alexander Bros, of Hatton Garden. Regarding value, presuming, the specimens to bo diamonds, their value would be about 3s to 4s a carat, a price which certainly would not pay. The onjy hope is in larger specimens, and I purpose waiting them here, as I feel sure they are to be found. You will, however, doubtless cable me shortly, and act promptly. Since the above result I have had the opportunity of sub-' mitting them to .‘another la.'ge diamond merchant, a Mr Klein, who unhesitatingly pronounqd : . the stones genuine diamonds, and offered toi buy>ll: we could send, provided'only . they were larger', as he felt' convitfced- that these were specimen samples, and larger stones would necessarily be found in;the vicinity. He further stated that he considered them in point of quality and brightness superior to the Kimberley stones, and equal’ to He was so sure of their being genuine that he scarcely thought |t necessary to apply further tests, but said he would obtain for us a certificate, from the Mineralogical Museum authorities of-' the specific gravity,, and then hand me his written statement regarding-their genuineness, i. I can scarcely hope that the result of this. test will be favorable, because the Messrs Alexander applied this test and found the stones light. ■ • However/ JMr Klein is so positive that his judgment is correct thajt there*may be a possibility of a favorable report. You may re'y on my doing all t' in ray power in the matter. I'fchall now await the arrival of the larger stones and, cable you the result .than. I would impress on you the necessity of losing no timd id the matter. , I am, yours faithfully, Thos. O. Kelsey.