AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1928, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

NEW TOBACCO. MADE FROM GUM LEAVES. SYDNEY, May IG. If gallant Sir Walter Raleigh had gone, not to America, but to Australia, he might have discovered, not the tobacco plant as the world knows it, hut tho eucalypt, as the base oi My Lady Nicotine. This is the argument of a company which has been registered in one of the leading towns in New South Wales, with a capital of £IOO,OOO, with tile object of manufacturing tobacco and cigarettes from good, old Australian gum leaves. After many experiments, a Satisfactory article is said to have Been produced l>v the inventor, a well-known grazier. In the town in which tho company has been started the new and typically Australian tobacco is reported to have nict with no little success. The demand for it, after the first trial, has been sustained, and, in fact, increased, in tho face of some lively jests at the expense of those who have smoked it in public places. “Bush fires,” “possum paddock,” “hack to the laud,” and such-like jocular remarks have been hurled at those who have smoked the new mixture in puli-, lie. It is confidently believed that the grievous blunder of Sir Walter Raleigh can he corrected with profit to Australia and fo the company. Anyway, the company is going right ahead, and is now putting down plant.

GREEN DIAMOND. A ROMANTIC! DISCOVERY. - SYDNEY. May 17. Most people find a fascination in gazing into the windows of secondhand shops. Perhaps they have n vague idea that some day they may alight u|H>n something of real value which can lie secured at a bargain price. If so, their curiosity is hound to he increased as tTie result of a valuable “find” in Sydney a few days ago. A rare gem, a green diamond, of which there are only two or tlirein existence in the world, was discovered in romantic circumstances, and is now in the possession of one of Unloading jewellers. Some time ago a representative ol Angus and Cooto, Ltd., chanced t' ! look in the window of a second-hand jewellery shop, when he noticed an antique ring, set with four stones, apparently emeralds and rubies, for which flic sum of 15s was asked. On his return to the office he mentioned the -ring to Mr Ooole. who recommended its immediate purchase. By the style of flic sotting it was estimated that the ring was very old probably fifty years.

It was noticed, too. that one of the emeralds scintillated from every angle whereas the other was comparatively dull. An examination proved to Mr Cooto that he had acquired an exceedingly rare gem. To verify his own results, ami at the same time satisfy the sceptics, the stone was submitted to Professor \ onwiller at the University. According to the Professor the stone satisfied the diamond tests, and was undoubtedly a diamond.

Although the diamond is very small, it weighs slightly under half a carat, its value is about £2OO. An ordinary diamond of the same weight ami ol the finest quality would he worth about .£’so. “It is not unusual to find a diamond tinged with green,’ Mr Conte, “but the discovery of a diamond possessing a perfect emerald colour is an extremely rare occurrence.”