LURE OF DIAMONDS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 13, 29 December 1930, Page 6

LURE OF DIAMONDS

REPORTED DISCOVERY. SIMILARITY OF ZIRCONS. The reported discovery of diamonds in uie North Island recalls the face that similar claims have been made on tormer occasions. Major R. McFarlane, who stated in Dunedin that he had found crystals which proved to be true diamonds of the blue-white variety, called at the Auckland “Star” office before be went South, and exhibited a number of small stones which he believed to be diamonds. Another opinion was that they were zircons. Major McFarlane said that he had obtained an option over the property where they were obtained, and lie was hopeful of making further investigation. Uver thirty years ago a supposed diamond field was located at Riverhead, near Auckland, and the necessary steps were taken to set aside a considerable area for mining purposes. Blue clay of the kind so well known in South Africa in the diamondiferous areas was found, and although zircons were fairly plentiful there was no trace of true diamonds. The venture was eventually abandoned. In the Henderson district zircons are fairly common, and they have been seen on the side of the road sparkling in the sunlight after rain. The fact that these first cousins of the diamond are found in the Auckland district has often raised hope that the true diamond will one day be discovered. There is no doubt that the finiding of a Kohi-noor or a Cullinan would considerably brighten the economic outlook.