African Diamonds.	93
	In June, 1897, the 2 mines had on the floor, 3,082,599 loads of blue earth, valued at 1s. 6d. a load, and worth £231,194, i8s. 6d. Produce of the KlMBERLEY Mine.—Out-put of Blue Ground.—To end of June, 1897. The total quantity of blue ground hoisted from the mine was 972,926 loads, which had been extracted from the various levels as follows :—
	At the Kimberley Mine the best day's work\from the 1,200 foot level was 5,131 loads in 12 hours, and since winding has been going on from the 1520 foot level, the maximum out-put for 12 hours has been 4,675 loads. The Wesselton Mine.—As soon as this mine's output became serious, having in June, 1897, produced 271,777 loads, valued at 1/-, =£13,588 17s. od., the De Beers Company thought it best to buy it up so as to keep up the monopoly in their hands.