Alford Forest

{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2025}}

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File:Alford Forest Hall with Moa - panoramio.jpg

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Alford Forest is a location in Ashburton District, Canterbury, New Zealand.[http://www.wises.co.nz/l/Alford+Forest+/ Wises.co.nz]

Alford Forest was named after Lord Alford, a member of the Canterbury Association.{{cite book |last=Rickard |first=L. S. |orig-date=1928 |date=1995 |title=Historic Place Names of New Zealand |publisher=Cadsonbury Publications |page=44 |isbn=9780958339056}}

In 1883, stones found in Alford Forest were identified as diamonds, leading to a brief "diamond rush" in the area, but the "diamonds" were eventually shown to be worthless crystals.John Wilson. [http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/canterbury-region/2 "Canterbury region – Geology"], Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 17 May 2011 (accessed 2012-08-24).The Australian handbook (incorporating New Zealand, Fiji, and New Guinea) (Gordon and Gotch, 1888), Vol. 19, p. 475. [https://books.google.com/books?id=fwUwAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22alford+forest%22+diamonds&pg=RA1-PA475 Excerpts available] at Google Books.