THE ALFORD FOREST DIAMONDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2832, 20 October 1883, Page 3

THE ALFORD FOREST DIAMONDS.

(Bt Telksbaph.) Chbistchubch, Oct. 19. By the San Francisco mail further letters re the supposed diamonds are to hand from Kelsey. After reiterating that Alexander Bros., Klein and others had declared the stones genuine, and the Government Geologist, Pringlo, declared them very deceptive, but undoubtedly " doubly-terminated crystals of quartz and fmgroeuta of the same," he continues: — "Mr Klein was astonishod at the result, and maintains that ho had never seen stones so nearly resembling diamonds. I also informed you list mail he had maintained that the stonea were genuine, that he needed no test to satisfy himself, and that the quality was superior to the Kimberley stones, and moro nearly resembled Brazilian ones. Under these circumstances there is nothing further to be done." A later letter, dated August 25th, is as follows: — "I have tho honor to report that, since writing you, Mr Cunningham of the Grain Agency Company, acting on behalf of the Canterbury Chamber of Com coerce, has cabled endorsing tbe opinion I expressed m my letter and cable messages, and which were the result of the experiments of Mr Pringlo, the Government Geologist. Mr Wigram, one of the Grain Agency Company's Directors on this side, and a member of the well-known firm of Money Wigram and Co., wrote mo as per letter enclosed. I accordingly tuSmittsd to him the sample stones, and although he agrees that the double-terminated stones are merely crystals, he feela convinced that tbe rose-colored stones wore genuine, and intimated bis intention of obtaining shares m the concern despite the Government Geologist's Opinion. I have left the atones m Mr Wijratn'a charge meantime. He is a member of the Royal Geological Society, and intends bringing the stones under the notice of that body. Mr Wigram is doubtless a judge oi diamonds of some 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 bad a fair test. I wiil write you further on the subject when I receive his reply." The following is Mr Wigram's letter referred to above : — " I was yesterday looking st some of the New Zealand diamonds (?) recently sent over. If these have been ascertained to be valueless, would you mind letting me have a few. I fancy mysolf to be enough of a minerabgist to bo interested m guch matters. — (Signed) ROBT. WIGBAM."