A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 618, 16 June 1882, Page 2

A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.

A correspondent writes :— <

A tale comes to me here, at Little River, of sucli a marvellous nature that I am almost doubtful whether or not to send it to you for insertion, but it is so well authenticated that I have at last determined to do so. It will be remembered that, years ago, there lived on the banks of Lake Forsyth a settler named Oourtenay, a man of good family, but with comparatively small means. He married a daughter of Mr Job Price, and had a dairy farm, but was accused of having exorcised great cruelty to some of Mr Stanbury's cattle. The evidence was of a circumstantial nature, but it was deemed conclusive, and a sentence of imprisonment was indicted. A petition, however, was presented by a number of residents, which procured him an oarlior roleaso than (ho law had decreed, and inmuxlintoly ho was restored to liberty ho disappeared from the scone.

Yours passed away, and the memory of tho. ovouts lvoordtd nbovu \u\d nearly boon forgot lon, tho rapid changes which so spom lily in n now country throw tlioir mantle nvor tin? p;*j>l, having nearly obliterated (ho talo of Courtenay's troublon. Soino f,nv wooks, ago, however, as Mr Coop mid his family were sitting easily liy (Jio fire, thofO WnS ft liiuK , !; at. tho. door, anil when it was (ino.nctl, lha(. gonial gentleman was uslonislio.il to recognise in ho who sought admission, tho features of his old acquaintance, Courteuay ! Wonderfully well he looked, as if Fate had dealt gcin-rously with him in his long absence, and very hearty were the greetings that wore interchanged. He was soon snugly ensconced in the family circle, and he there told the marvellous tale that showed that what had seemed the most untoward event of his life had been the means o Iris amassing wealth which he couldj never have hoped for by remaining at Little River. It appeared from his

narrative that, after many wandering-gj he had reached the South African Diamond Fields. At first he had met with but little success, and had determined to explore. After wandering for some time, he and his mates tumbled on a bed of debris which the volcanic action of ages had separated from the mighty peaks of igneous rock surrounding it. They went to work, and soon found diamonds in abundance.

It need hardly be said that before bng others came to share the benefits of their discovery, and ere many months had passed, vast sums had been invested by companies to work the ground. The claims are like vast paddocks of shingle, of unknown depth, and seem practically inexhaustible, for diamonds aro found right through the gravel. Cuurtenay and his mates had a five acre claim, and from this they procured diamonds and other gems which, when sold, are expected to give them £100,000 each, after expenses are paid. After a time they got down several hundred feet, and had to get two 45-horse power steamengines to raise the wash dirt to the level of the ground, to be sorted ; and then, thinking that they could sell the gems to much better advantage in Europe and America, they determined to proceed to those countries. They had no difficulty in letting their claim for £350 a week during their absence, and Courtenay wishing to visit New Zealand fer his wife* sake, they all came here, to proceed to England by the San Francisco mail boat. Amongst the gems discovered by this lucky party was an immense ruby, of such exceeding beauty and lustre that it is said to he only surpassed by two others in the world, and there is a doubt if it is not the best. This ruby is coveted by the great Bonanza King for the necklace of peprless gems which he is collecting for his daughter, Miss McKay. It is valued at from £40,000 to £50,000, and Mr Courtenay will proceed to America to negotiate its sale with the great transatlantic millionaire.

Daring his stoppage at Little River, Courtenay showed some ot his rough gems, and with one diamond he inscribed a few words on a window of Olphert's Hotel. He has two children, on whom he told Mr Coop he intended to settle £50,000 each ! He went to England with his mates (who waited for him in Auckland) by the last San Francisco mail boat, and I hear they took steerage passages, being afraid of attracting attention by appearing to possess wealth, because of the immense value of the gems they carried with them, I need hardly say that Courtenay's tale has created great excitement here, and that there are many who talk of trying their luck at the Diamond Fields, I will send you any more particulars on the subject I can gather.

W. E. G. Little Eiver, June 10, JBB2.