The Canterbury Diamonds.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4616, 20 October 1883, Page 2

The Canterbury Diamonds.

[Pbb Pbess Association.]

CHKiSTCHOTtCH, Friday.

By last 'Frisco mail further letters re supposed diamonds are to hand from Mr Kelsey. After reiteraiing that Alexander Bros., Mr Klein, and others, had declared the stones genuine, and that the Government Geologist, MrPringle, declared them very deceptive, but undoubtedly doubleterminated crystals of quartz andlfragments of same, he continues, —" Mr Klein wa.3 I astonished at the result, and maintains I that he had never seen stoces so nearly resembling diamonds." I also informed | you last mail that he had maintained that I the stones were genuine. He needed no test to satisfy himself that the quality was superior to the Kimberley stones, and nearer resembled Brazilian ones. Under these circumstances there is nothing further to be done. A later letter, dated August 25, is as follows : " I have the honour to veport that since writing to you, Mr Cunningham, of the Grain Agency Company, acting on behalf of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, has cabled endorsing the opinion I expressed in my letter and cables, and which were the result of the experiments of Mr Pringle, the Government Geologist. Mr Wigram, one of the Grain Agency , Company's ! directors, on this side, of the well-known firm of Money, Wigram,' and Co., wrote us an enclosed. I accordingly submitted him the sample stones, and although he agrees that the double terminated stones were mere crystals, he felt convinced that the rose-coloured stones were genuine, and intimated his intention of obtaining shares in the concern despite the Government geologist. I have left the stones in Mr Wigram's charge meantime. He is a member of the Eoyal Geological Society, and intends bringing the stones under the notice of that body. Mr Wigram is doubtless a judge of diamonds of considerable ability, and I await with some concern his final report. He fears that the stones that have been tested are those that he condemns, and that the others, showing cleavage, have not had a fair test. I will write you further on the subject when I receive his reply. The following is Mr Wigram s letter referred to:—"I was yesterday looking at some of the. New Zealand diamonds (?) recently sent over. If these, have been ascertained to be valueless, woald you miud letting me have a few? I lancyv myself to be enough of a mineralogist to be interested in such matters.—Bobebt WIGBAM. • • . .