A NEW INDUSTRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1035, 30 August 1883, Page 2

A NEW INDUSTRY.

[by telegraph.] Wellington, To-day. Mr J. 0. Crawford, fomerly R. M. here, writes from London to the Colonial Secre* tary respecting the establishment of what promises to be an important colonial industry. He state ha saw a merchant in Loudon who was connected with the construction of granite works in Bombay, who said that for making cement for the works they had to import large quantities of pumice from Aden, and pumice cement was the strongest made for works under water. Mr Crawford continued:— “ Pumice should prove to be a valuable element in making cement. The North Island of New Zealand has an inexhaustible quantity. ” He referred the subject to Dr Faya, 0. E., an authority on the matter of cement, and the latter suggests that samples of pumice as it is usually obtained, limestone samples and samples of estuary mud be sent to him for experiment. Mr Crawford states that a great supply of pumice is found in the Wanganui river and in the East Coast rivers in Hawke's Bay ; also in the Waikato river, and probably in the Thames. In the Wanganui the pumice floats down the river, and a cargo could easily be secured. The North Island, ho asserts, has a monopoly of the article. The chief item of the coat in producing the cement would be fuel, and the fuel should be coke. Dr Faya was willing to report on ■ the adaptability of the samples which may be sent him, his fee being 15 guineas in addition jto the ex* penses of analysis, from 2 to -3 guineas.