ALFORD FOREST DIAMONDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1152, 25 September 1883, Page 3

ALFORD FOREST DIAMONDS.

The Press says the following letter from Mr T O Kelsey was read at a meeting of the Directors of the Pioneer and Kobinoor Companies, held in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon London, August 8, 1883. T B Craig, Esq., 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 upon me and acquainted me with the fact that the diamonds would not cut, 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. Accordingly I cabled to you to that effect, and now strongly urge that, say, a call of £IOO 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 best specimens. The brokers who acted for us in the matter were Messrs Alexander Brosof Hatton Garden. Regarding* value, presuming the specimens to be diamonds, their value would be about 3s to 4s a carat, a price which certainly: would not pay. The only hope is in larger specimens, and I propose waiting them here, as I feel sure they are to bo found. You will, however, doubtless cable me shortly, and act promptly. Since the above result I have had the opportunity of submitting them to another large diamond merchant, a Mr Klein, who unhesitatingly pronounced the stones genuine diamonds, and offered to buy al I we could send, provided they only were larger, as he felt convinced 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 Brazilian. He was so sure of their being genuine that he scarcely thought it necessary to apply further tests, but said he would obtain for us a certificate from the Mineralogies! Museum authorities of the specific gravity, and then hand me his written statement regarding their genuineness. 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, Mr Klein is so positive that his judgment is correct that ihere may be a possibility of a favorable report. You may rely on my doing all in my power in the matter. I shall now await the arrival of the larger stones and cable you:the result then. I would,press on you the necessity of losing no . time in the matter.—l am, yours faithfully,— Thos O Kelsey.