ALLEGED DISCOVERY OF PRECIOUS STONES.
Queensland is coming in to share, with the Transvaal district at the Cape, tho honours of its fields of precious stones. So at least it would appear from a story told to us last evening, which runs thus : When tho Governor Blackall was anchored off one of the northern ports of Queensland ’a gentleman came on board and saw Mr Foord, the well-known popu lar lecturer. He showed him some speci mens of stone which Mr Foord pronounced to be of some value, and offered to bring them to Melbourne to have them tested. The gentleman assented, and at the same time requested that if they were proved to he of value they might be set for him, and forwarded to his address, which is at present kept secret. When Mr Foord arrived in Mel bourne, lie at once saw Mr Spink, the lapi dary, who pronounced the stones to be opals of great value. The smaller stone, which has been set as a ring, is estimated as worth between £3OO and £4OO ; while on the larger, made into a gentleman’s breast brooch, Mr Spinks says it is impos sible to set a value, it being, lie thinks, the largest opal ever found, within his knowledge. The discovery, if confirmed by after facts, is bound to make a stir amongst our speculative birds of pas sage. _

BABY FINGERS.
