RESOURCES OF MOUNT SOMERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1802, 29 March 1888, Page 4

RESOURCES OF MOUNT SOMERS.

The minerals of the Mount Somera district are steadily coming forward, and the extension of the railway to that place, and the construction of the tramway from thence up the Gorge to the stone quarries and coal pit will, no 'doubt, prove remunerative, even from a simply interest-paying point of view ; while the wages earned by the labor employed m the development of the various natural products of the disirict will, m the not distant future, represent a large and fruitful expenditure of capital Which must add to its importance And to its wealth, besides assisting the general revenue by the increased railway returns. The first thing noticeable after leaving Mount Somers township, on the tramway line, is the contract now being carried out by Mr William Stocks of Christchurch, who has about a dozen men engaged m building a large double lime kiln for Mr A. E. Peache, ot the Mount Sonfers station. The work so far has progressed satisfactorily, a large excavation having been made m the hill side over 80 feet m depth, the shingle taken from this having been used for the formation of a solid foundation for buildings, etc., and partly for filling for the tramway. A branch from the main line passes up the hillside and over the brow, and will be carried on from this to the quarry from which the limestone is to be taken, this line also serving for the carriage of the building stone, now being used m the contract, from the quarries higher up the gorge. The lime-kiln will be very strongly built, the outer walls consisting of rubble masonry of Mount Somers stone the next wall of red bricks, which are being made and burnt on the ground by Mr Stocks, and this again lined with bricks of white fireclay to be procured from Springfield. With the exception of the last-named, it will be seen that all the materials are found on the ground, Nature being very liberal, as regards building materials of superior quality m this district. The kilns will have a tram line running right into them and will be arched over, with ' a furnace mouth on each side so that the lime, when ready for use after burning, can be loaded right into the tramtrucks for delivery at the Mount Somers railway station. Mr Stock now has a number of men employed at this contract, and with favorable weather will make good progress, but m the event of wet weather continuing long, it is vßry doubtful if the shingle m the excavation would not cave m at once, as the face of over thirty feet is almost perpendicular. In the event of this happening, the work would probably have to be left over till next summer. About three miles above the lime kilns the stone quarry is reached, and here also Mr Stock -has a number of men at work getting out the splendid white stone ; the larger blocks being intended for shipment to Melbourne — where it is becoming well known as a first-class building stone, far superior to any quarried m Australia — and the smaller portions being taken to the site of the lime kilns for use m the building of these, A block of stone from the quarry, which was brought down to Mount Somers this week, may be taken as a! sample of the sort of stuff available from this part of the district. It measured 14 feet x 5 feet x 2 feet, or a total of 140 cubic feet, and weighed about eight tons, this piece being one of fourteen blocks ordered for Melbourne. The New 'Zealand Stone Company of Oam aru are now erecting plant, cranes, etc., on a 20-acre section close to Mr Stock's quarry, they having removed their plant, men, etc., from the pink stone quarry on the Lion W. B. Peters' land on the opposite side of the Ashburton river, fiudingthewhite stoneof a more suitable nature for the Melbourne market, while it is also available m larger blocks, besides having the advantage of the tramway for its carriage right from the quarry to Mount Somers. This Company have secured the ser?ices of some skilled stone operatives from Oamaru, who, under the direction of Mr Gordon, purpose getting out the stone by sheering or cutting out m blocks with, picks, this being considered a better and more economical method than that formerly practised m the quarries. If the question of freight can be arranged on a satisfactory basis, there can be no doubt that the Mount Somers quarries will be largely drawn on by Australian builders^ as the stone is of such good coloty. density, and strength, and is also available m blocks of any size required; for large buildings. About, three railes or bo above the quarries the tramline runs into the coal pits, from whence a steady, output of superior brown coal is. now beingv delivered, the demand for which will certainly increase as the winter.comes on, and the value of this, fuel becomes better known amongst the Ashburton townspeople and the, settlers m the county. Altogether the mineral resources of Mount Somers are of a very extensive nature, and it is pleasing to bo able to record that they are being steadily developed m a manner which promises well for the future progress and prosperity of the district.