OCCURRENCE OF PRECIOUS STONES IN N.S.W. 279 
Reply—I am not aware that statements to this effect have ever 
been made, There are not more than a dozen observers who, of 
their own knowledge, dealt with the occurrence of the ruby in 
this colony, and not one of them has ever published a line about 
“other comparatively large rubies stated to have been found in 
this colony.” They all agree that the ruby is the rarest of our 
gems. 
Mr. Smith—“ The theory of the occurrence of these topazes, 
having this colour peculiar to burnt topaz found in this locality, 
is that ete.” 
Reply—I am not concerned with the theory as to the cause of 
colour in these stones, but would observe that the amazing state- 
ment is made that burnt topaz is found with the ruby at Two 
Mile Flat. The record of this locality for * burnt ” topaz is 
certainly new to science; I have reason to doubt its accuracy. 
Professor Alex. Thomson, an accomplished analyst, spent some 
weeks at Two Mile Flat, but made no record of “ burnt ” topaz 
in his paper on the occurrence of the diamond near Mudgee. Mr. 
Norman Taylor an experienced field geologist, spent some months 
at the same place,! but makes no mention of ‘‘burnt” topaz either 
in his paper read to this Society, or in his subsequent papers in 
the Geological Magazine. May I add that I have seen many 
hundred of specimens from the diamond bearing country near 
Mudgee, but up to the present I have not noted a “burnt” topaz. 
Mr, Smith does not indicate whether he spent any time in exam- 
ining this district, neither does he quote any authority. He 
nevertheless states what, as far as I am aware, no one else has 
ever heard of. I venture the opinion that this is going beyond 
the province of legitimate criticism. Surely Mr. Smith does not 
depend for his information on the little collection of Mr. Stephen’s 
that was in my keeping when purchased ‘from the Australian 
Joint Stock Bank by the Department of Public Instruction. The 
“burnt” topaz in that collection is a South American stone. 
Bape ee 
1 Geological Magazine, Dec. 11., Vol. vi., p. 400. 
