A Diamond Find.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6701, 19 May 1900, Page 4

A Diamond Find.

A curious story in connection with a diamond is reported from Kensington. London, SGme little time ago one of the vestry labourers, while sifting some sand which had been taken from the sewers, found what he thought a " funny-looking stone." On happening to show it to a friend, he was advised to get it valued at the pawnbroker's, which lie did in Oheapside. He was told that it was worth between £35 and £40, as it was a diamond, and the man at once forwarded it to the Kensington vestry, informing them at the same of the manner in which he became possessed of it. The Kensington vestry made inquiries as to the proper thing to do with it, and at the last meeting of the vestry, the clerk, Mr Chalmers Leete, said they were not empowered to hand the stone up to anyone, as the law said that whatever was found in the sewers became their property. They could not, therefore, give it up to the proper owner, even if they found one. It was decided to sell the diamond to the best advantage, give £5 to the finder as a reward for his honesty, and hand the balance over to a fund for the widows and orphans. By a curious coincidence the wife of one of the vestry-men lost a diamond exactly similar to this one some 16 years ago.