DIGGING FOR DIAMONDS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 538, 3 August 1869, Page 2

DIGGING FOR DIAMONDS.

There is a good deal of excitement in Melbourne just now on the subject of mining for diamonds. It lias long been known to the public that these precious stones were occasionally found in the Ovens district of Victoria, but it now seems that in certain districts in the neighbouring colony of New South AVales there is at least one extensive tract of land in which the diamond may be almost said to " abound." There seems, in fact, no room for doubt as to the existence of diamonds in considerable numbers on the Cndgegong; but many persons are still inclined to doubt whether any of the gems will prove sufficiently large and pure to command a high price in the market. 20,1J4 shares have been allotted in the Australian Diamond Mining Company. The remaining 4,856 shares will be taken up by the directors unless applied for. The yield for one week was 77 diamonds.

From the Capo of Good Hope the news has been received that a rich diamond field has been discovered in the province of Albania, Nearly all the diamonds hitherto found have been picked up on or near a farm belonging to one Nicholson, situated at "Waterbocr's country. A company of eight enterprising gentlemen in* Colesberg have purchased the concession of a right to take all metals and precious stones found in the countries under his government. Waterboer's share is to be one-fifteenth of the whole proceeds ; and ho received the magnificent sum of £IOO by way of earnest money on the day the concession was signed, sealed, and delivered before £\ Cape notary public and witnesses in due form.

A correspondent of the Ballarat Star remarks that " although all the known sources of diamonds in the world are running low, astonishing quantities continue to be supplied in the trade in Europe, and, as these are unmistakably genuine, dealers are greatly puzzled to know where they come from. A man named Koeffigof Kemch, of Breslau, who has made immense sales of diamonds of late in Paris, and who has kept all the cutters of Antwerp busy for some time past, is thought to hold the key of the mystery."