THE CAPE DIAMOND AND MIKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 529, 7 June 1872, Page 3

THE CAPE DIAMOND AND MIKES.

—o— The last mail from'the Capo informs ns (Graphic) that sham diamonds have been imported from Birmingham into that colony From the known enterprise of British industry wo can quite believe'the statement. and it is equally credible, in our opinion, that the great hardware town has taken advantage of the new opening for commerce. Eirm'nghamilias for years supplied the demand for idols in and from China, and antiquities of any kind can ho made to order. The manufacture, therefore of sham diamonds seems only a natural response to a demand. We are not informed of the details of this new trade ; whether these Cpsoudo-gems arc embedded, in some skilfully prepared matrix and re-shipped to England again for sale, or used for the purpose of enhancing the value of new r or old “fields.” This might be done by judiciously sowing these diamonds an tracts and claims which are for sale, so that those who “ prospect” them might find them miscuously.” Or they might be similarly employed in drawing a population to any particular district, for the sake of the storekeepers and others who live on the adventurers. Or, again, they might be cleverly inserted into the walls of some old farmhouse for sale in an outeying district, and the attention of a contemplating purchaser drawn to the fact that the mortar ond mud of the old building contained a fortune, which only required picking out. In many instances the walls of houses have liberally produced real diamonds, ■"'lnch had become incorporated with the building. These suggestions remind ns of a curious controversy which sprang up last summer, in reference to the precious stones ■which were reported to be found in great quantities on the shore of “Beautiful Llandudno. Visitors avere attracted there iu very large numbers, and there found jaspers, agates, cornelians, and other Inestimable stones, nnvalnable jeavels, and forthwith took them to the lapidaries t.) be.poljshed, or made into pins, brooches, ami such like art’cles. In due course they received them hack, paying heavily for the

I work done ; but somehow or ptjier a report arose that the atones returned were uoifthe stones taken to the lapidists, hut these enterprising tradesmen had caused to" be deposited along the beech sham pebbles, and that the change made for the presuulod cutting and polishing left a handsome prajgin for profit, even when a real pebble wia returned to the . supposed ■ finder. It wds even said that real pebbles had been “ laid down ” on the beach by those interested in the trade of Llandudno with a view of attracting visitors. This is quite possible, though we do not say probable, as many pebbles can be obtained from certain localities at almost a nominal price. We by no means vouch for the truth of the above charge ; but the story is first cousin to that of the presumed use for which the sham diamonds are intended at the Cape. We are also reminded of the expedient which has been more than once resorted to in the West of England for puffing mines, and raising the spirits of existing shareholders or obtaining new ones. It was to “ plug” the mine with pieces ofgoo.l ore and then invite inspection. The chairman and some directors chosen for their scientific knowledge or general acuteness, journeyed for this purpose to the West’Thcy were met by the “ Captain,” and a trusty miner or two, arrayed in suits of flannel, and conducted through the different galleries and adits of the mine. The Captain directed his attendant miners here and there to pick down a piece “to show the gentlemen.’’The specimens were solemnly pocketed by the chairman and his friends and duly exhibited on the “board of green cloth” at the next meet) ing. Old shareholders were delighted, increased their holdings, and new sharholders flocked in. The shares commanded a high premium, and all concerned (except the Captain and his party) lived in an Elysium of golden hope till the bubble burst, and the ‘ 1 murder was out.”