IMPORTANT COLONIAL INDUSTRY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3783, 30 August 1883, Page 3

IMPORTANT COLONIAL INDUSTRY.

AVellington, This day. Mr J. C. Crawford, formerly R.M. here, Avrites from London to the Colonial Secretary respecting the establishment of Avhat promises to be an important colonial industry. He states that he saAA' a merchant in London Avho was connected Avith the constructian of granite docks in Bombay, avlio said for making cement for the AVorks they had to import large quantities of pumice from Aden, aud pumice cement Avas the strongest made for the Avorks under Avater. Mr CraAvford continued if the pumice should prove to bo a valuable clement in making cement, the North Island of New Zealand lias an inexhaustible quantity. He referred the subject to Dr Faiji, (lE., an authority on the matter of cement, and the latter suggests that samples of the pumice as usually obtained, limestones 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 HaAvke's Bay, also in the AA r aikato river, and probably in the Thames. Iv AVanganui the pumice floats doAvn the river, and a cargo could easily be secured. The North Island, ho asserts, has a monopoly of the article. The chief item of cost in producing the cement Avould be fuel, and tho fuel should be coke. Dr Faiji Avas Avilling to report on the adaptability of samples Avhich may be sent him, his fee being tAventy-fivc guineas, in addition to the expenses of analysis, from two to three guineas.