Year: 1869

Australians are in a ferment. They have dis
covered that the most precious OF al gems lies
hurled almost, in the mud beneath their feet. The
fever burns stronger every day. This ts what
Melbourne correspondent writes TO the London
In NV last letter gave you a short account of the
newly-formed diamond mining company in Mel
ocCand comUsny has been started to search for
pTeclous stones In what Is now called the diamond
district Of New South Wales and both that colony
and Victoria are pretty well bitten alike with this
N'T I'm % every brokers' ONCE at the corner of every
street. in every railway train or public carriage, and
AT every dnner-table the talk is of diamonds, and
rubes and opals and emeralds, and pearls and
topazes and Of every other precious stone known
the cabinet of the lapdary. our Australian nights
are now all turned into Arabian Nights, and many
of us are living and dreaming in another Valley of
will only take shares in the new 'Mudgee Diamond
Mining Company Q.imitedE' You cannot enter
Nudge are presented TO your view.


'Meanwhiie, to bring the excitement TO fever
heat comes to us. a few days back, telegram from
sydney, announcing that diamond so large that
the KohnooTwas contemplate thing TO- it had
been found at Armdaic in the northern district Of
New South Wales; that the thing was nearly as
large as turkeys egg; that IT weighed seven
ounces and some grains and that it was being con
yeyed by an armed escort to Sydney. At first this
report was regarded here as rather stlpid hoax
devised to move the share market. BY subsequent
adviCes, however, we learned that remarkable
stone Of some kind had really been found as re-
ported; that it was as large as described that it
had benn lodged In the Treasury in sydney for safe





peologst had been set to work on it, but that his
report had not yet been made III any authentic
shape


ave next learned by telegram that the Bank of
New South Wales at Arnidale had advanced goo
upon it at venture; that it had reached ana been
placed in the Sydney Mint where it was detained for
ihe payment of escort charges The Australian
Steam Navigation Company also, 1t was reported,
were urging percentage claim on it for freight
Telegram upon telegram thus showing this noble
and protracted contention over the Mountain Of
Light it called, we set it down for topaz at
least, and possibly even diamond. The illusion
seems to be at least dispelled by telegram inform
ing us that it is generally believed to be piece
of crystazed quartz


II had, however, in my own hands the other day
diamond just arrived from Mudgee, and weighing
G-S carets. II is q perfect Octah9drOn clear and
without speck or flaw. 1t was the property of the
Bank of New South Wales, and has since been sold
by them to Mr.. Crisp Melbourne ieweer, for Ie112.
1t is almost supertluous to add that the Mudgee dis
trct is now attracting great numbers Of people Of
every rank and from all parts of the colonies. One
who has been there informed me that he saw bank
ers and merchants clerks and lawyers with their
coats OFF, washing away for koh-i-noors with the en-
thusasm Of the early golden era and that in every
cottage round about the neighbOrhoOd women and
children had their little finds at the disposal Of the
highest bidder"