BY MAJOR J. R. SANKEY. 63: 
Thirty-five years since, the firm of Flavelle Bros’ 
purchased a‘ rough diamond, found at Stanthorpe. tor £30 ; 
from, time to time other rough diamonds have been found 
casually, but no systematic working appears to have taken 
place. The writer recently purchased a rough diamond, 
of four and a-half carats, which had been picked up by a 
washerwoman in the bed of Quart-Pot Creek. 
Mr. Barton, M.L.A., representing Stanthorpe, has 
recently exhibited several good diamond crystals found 
at Stanthorpe, weighing from one up to about five carats. 
A diamond matrix, such as that existing in South 
Africa and Brazil, has not yet been discovered in Queens- 
land. but it must be borne in mind that beyond casual 
exploration, such as that carried out by Professor Skertchly, 
of the Queensland Geological Staff, no determined effort 
has been made to find where the stones, casually picked 
up, have come from. 
One or two small diamond crystals have been found 
at Anakie. 
The diamonds found in this State, so far, have not 
been of sufficient value to cause any excitement, and this, 
together with the fact that the European gem merchants, 
in repeating the tactics which their class had in turn 
applied to the diamonds of other Countries, that is, accusing 
them of inferiority, has probably hindered exploration. 
In 1772, when diamonds were found in Brazil, the 
report was spread that they were very inferior, that, in 
fact, they were the refuse stones from India, which up to 
then had been the main source of supply ; this was com- 
bated by the mine owners sending the stones to India 
and obtaining Indian values, after which Brazilian 
diamonds were admittedly the choicest stones. Then, 
with the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, a 
repetition of this treatment came and Cape stones were 
stated to be “no good,” and the story was so well 
believed that every person buying a diamond of any size 
wanted a guarantee that it was a “ Brazilian.’ The 
African miners then sent their stones to Brazil, to be 
forwarded to Europe, and so overcame the oppo- 
sition. Now, in the same way, Australian diamonds 
are said to be “inferior” and unworthy, and 
