CANTERBURY MARBLE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1235, 18 February 1878, Page 3

CANTERBURY MARBLE.

Some apeeimens of marble from the Malvern quarry, belonging to the Canterbury Marble Co., attracted considerable attention on Saturday last iu the shop of Mr Ellisdon, chemist, High street. The specimens consisted of two polished columns—one Imperial red, the other grey, —and some small blocks of each kind, polished and in the rough, Mr Hickmott, manager of the company, had smoothed and polished the stones in about an hour. Their solidity and beauty was the subject of general remark, and it was stated that, with proper appliances, Mr Hickmott could have put on a much higher polish. Samples of the two kinds of marble were sent to England some months ago, and the consignee has stated that he took them to different workers of marble, who told him that the Imperial red kind was worth from twenty-five to thirty shillings per cubic foot. A worker in marble at Melbourne, to whom samples were sent, expressed a hope that the quarry would be in working order quickly, as he would then be in a position to order any quantity. He stated that, being unable to get marble of those kinds and quality in Melbourne, he had been obliged to send to Italy and England, and had imported about 800 tons during the last two years to carry out his contracts for different Government buildings in Melbourne. At the quarry, blocks of the grey marble are at present being taken out weighing from 8 to 10 tons, and blocks of the Imperial also nearly equal to them in size are obtained. The quarry is 8 miles from the Whitecliffs station. Six miles of the road are already formed, but the other two miles are of such a nature as to render the spit very difficult of access. If this short distance was formed, the company would be able to land blocks of any size at the railway station, and as the 200 feet already stripped at the quarry show marble the whole way down, the supply may be considered as largo. The company have applied to the North Rakaia Road Board to assist them in the expense of completing the road. It may be mentioned that Mr Hickmott is preparing columns of both kinds of the marble for Messrs Lightband, Allan and Co.’s new buildings in Hereford street. Two mantelpieces of the grey atone are also being prepared for a resident in this city. Slabs of the different specimens are in course of preparation, to be sent to various New Zealand and Australia.

An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders is called for the 28th instant, to consider the advisableness of extending the operations of the company.