THE BUXTON LIME KILNS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1889, 10 July 1888, Page 3

THE BUXTON LIME KILNS.

Another important point m the history tnd progress of the Mount Somers district was reached yesterday, namely, the formal opening of the Baxton lime kilns. In response to an invitation from the proprietor, Mr A. E. Peaohe, a large number or people assembled to take part m the inaugural oeremony. A substantial luncheon wa» provided, and laid out on a long table that bad been placed la the home erected for the storage of lime. Lunch having been disposed of, an adjournment was made to the vaulted and roomy drawing chamber at the base of the kilns. Hera Mr O. J. Harper, representing the County Council, briefly addressed thoie assembled, and m doing bo congratulated Mr Peache on the pluok and energy he had shown m establishing suoh an important industry m the district, an industry which be hoped would fl lurish, and prove of great benefit tj the district and a source of profit to Mr Peache, who had shown a rare amount of pluok and expended a large amount of capital m order to develop whit he (Mr Harper) trusted would prove a valuable aud highly bone fioial industry.

Mr Andrew Maofarlane endorsed the remarks that had fallen from Mr Harper, and sinoerely trusted Mr Peaobe would be treooaped his outlay. 1( the farmers were •live to their own Interest they would use lime on their land, and he felt sure thst its application would have a beneficial effect. He wished Mr Peache every ■access, and congratulated htm on having done so muoh to develop the resouross of the district.

Laity cheers, were then given for Mr Peaohe, and wishes expressed for the inccees of the Baxton Llaie Kilns.

Mr Peaohe, In responding, said he had for years entertained the idea of using the large deposits of limestone m the district,

bat he knew it would be no use to start the industry of lime bnrnlng till good facilities wers afforded of getting the stone to the kilos and the lime aw»y to the market. The tramway now afforded those facilities, and he took the opportunity of thanking the residents m the district for the support they had given the tramway when its construction was first mooted.

Three oheers were then given foe the ocntraotor, Mr Stocks.

Mr Stooks, In responding, said the kilns they were then opening were equal to any other kilns m New Zealand. At present there were thousands of torn of lime annually used, and he thought the mcoens of the Buxton kilns could be looked upon as already assured. - Mr Petohe then applied a lighted torch to the kindling wood that had been laid 'at the bottom of the kiln, and those who had oongcegated within the chamber quickly beat a hasty retreat to a oooler and olearer atmosphere. A "weQ drap" had bean taken prevloui to viewing the kilo, and another was afterwards taken to slake the thirst that the Inangoral proceedings had caused, and aleo to again bid success to the enterprise of Mr Peaohe.

Now for a word or two about the situation, and construction of the kilna. The kilos have been designed on the principle of the|celebrated Buiton Kilns, Id Derbyshire, England, and they are exceedingly substantial In construction. They are oval m shape, 3ft 91n by 3ft at the bottom, and 30ft In depth, but widen oat to 9ft In diameter at about 20ft from the bottom, again converging to about 7ft at the top. There are two kilns, with a capacity of aboqfc 50 tons eaoh, and all the masonry ii of the moit nolld desorip tlon« From the drawing chamber at the bottom of the kilns there Is a tramway two chains m length leading to a screening house, and adjoining the ecreenirg home there is a store room 30ft by 16ft At the end of the •tore house a short loop Hoe cames In from, the main tramway line, bo that the l!me can be put direct from the fl >or of the ■tore house Into the tram tracks. The tource of supply from whence the stone for Urn© burning is taken is neat to the celebrated Mount Somera gives, distant $0, chains from the kilns and connected therewith by a tramway which has been constructed at an easy gradient over the hill. This tram line goes on from the kilns to s point where it connects with the ooal pit tramway from whence the coal for burniDg the lime is brought, All the necessary plant is now In full working order for taming out 1000 bags of lime 6r week, and It Is gratifying to learn that r Peaone expects to meet with a sufficient demand to keep the kilns constantly and pretty fully charged. He anticipates being able to dellveT lime at the kiln Sit al>out lfis per ton, and this reasonable figure should plaoe the lima within reach not only of the building trade but of the agriculturists as well, To burr a ton of lime it will take on an average about 12owt of brown ooal, and this will also help to make Mr K. F. Wright's coal pit and tramway venture a Saying concern. A large amount of aildlng stone it npw coming down the line, and the stone quarries, together with the manufacture of lime, and the output gt coal for lime burning, manufacturing, and domestic purposes, are likely to develop Into a most important industry, and give employment to a large number of hands. Tbe ontputof ooal alone has already largtly exoeeded Mr Wright's first anticipations, and it is almost daily increasing. Both Mr Wright and tfr Peache are deserving of a very great deal of credit and support for the enterprise they have sjjowri m oqnneotion with the coal, stone, lime, and the tramway, and while affording direct and indirect employment to a aonilderable number of hands, besides on the one hand giving oheap fuel and on the other cheap limp, they have done a good deal towards patting tbe Mount Somers railway line In the happy position of beoomlngone of the belt paying branob MOM (n $a QQlonv,