OXFORD CEMENT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2132, 23 December 1880, Page 3

OXFORD CEMENT.

A meeting of those interested in the development of the cement deposits at Oxford was held on Wednesday, 22nd, at the offices of Messrs Draper, Charters and Co. A previous meeting had boen oonvened for the same purpose, but had failed through paucity of attendance, and this was an adjournment of the one held a few daya back. There was a very fair attendance. On tho motion of Mr R. Allan, Mr J. P. Jameson took the chair.

Tho Chairman said that they had] come there that day to hear the information which might be laid before them as to the extent and quality of the deposit. Messrs Draper and Charters had advertised that particulars of the tests employed, and the results of such test;, of tho extent and estimated value of the property to be acquired, with its chalk and clay deposits, and the probable costs of working plant, &0., would be submitted to tho meeting. He would therefore call upon Mr Charters to give them any information he had.

Mr Charters said, as Mr Ingram, the owner of the property, was there, he might be asked to state what he know about the matter.

Mr Ingram said that the chalk had been accideatly discovered, and it was estimated that the seam waa some two or three hundred feet thick. They had gone through about twenty feet of ohalk all the way, and he might say that it was easily worked, being on the side of a hill. There was also in close contiguity to the ohalk large deposits of clays, itc., on the property; there were two streams of water and also bush. The chalk, he might siy, was not, so far as they could discover, found anywhere else. The analyses of the chalk and clays had been made, and was before the meeting. Mr Charters read the analysis made by Dr. Hector of the ohalk found on Mr Ingram's proporty, which has already been made public. Mr Ingram stated that ho had seen Dr. Hector, who had told him that tho clay found in Oxford was similar to that found at Heathcote.

Mr Charters read a statement of estimated cost per ton of production of cement from Oxford chalk, which he stated to be £2 lis 63, whilst tho price of Portland cement here was about £5. He would now read an analysis of a specimen of Oxford cement made by Mr Skey. [Read.] Mr Charters then read a comparative analysis of Portland and Oxford cement, which showed that the latter compared very favorably with the Portland cement analysis. He would now read the report of Messrs Lambert and Walkden. ["Read. J Mr Ingram had just come from Melbourne, and had heard of a plant which h»d been imported for the purpose of making cement from blue stone, which had proved a failure. The plant, which was complete, was offered to Messrs Ingram and White for £BOO.

The Chairman said that the reports and analyses read were most satisfactory, and no doubt Messrs Ingram and White were prepared to make some offer to the gentlemen present as to the acquiring of the property by a company. Mr Ingram he might say' was ready to answer any question. In reply to Mr Allan, Mr Ingram said that so far as they could trace it the seam of chalk ran through some fifty aores. The Chairman said that he might say that the Hon. E. Biohardson had called at the office and stated his willingness to act as a director if a company were started. Mr T. 8. Lambert said that as he had been over the property ho would be willing to answer any questions. Mr Charters read the proposed prospectus, which stated that Messrs Ingram and White offered to lease thoir right in the property for twenty-one years, at a royalty of 2s per ton, with a right to purchase for £7500, and £2OOO for the buildings, sawmills, timber, &o. Mr B. Allan thought it would be premature for them to launch a prospectus before they had ascertained all the facts. They all wished the enterprise success, and therefore they ought to float the company successfully. With the exception of Messrs Lambert and Ingram none of the gentlemen present had been on the property, and it was therefore necessary that a sub-committee should be appointed to investigate the whole matter, and report to a future meeting as to the cost of production of the cement, the quantity and quality of the ingredients on the property for cement manufacture, and the proper prioe to pay Messrs Ingram and White. He should, therefore, move the following resolution—- " That a sub-committee, consistirg of the Hon. E. Bichardson, Professor Biokerton, Messrs J. P. Jameson, Thos. Pavitt, W. Pratt, and 8. P. Andrews, be appointed to inquire into the whole question of tho manufacture of cement from the materials at Oxford, and, when the report is ready, to convene a meeting to receive the same." Mr Charters seconded the motion, Mr McHaffie urged the [necessity of the sub-committee taking care to see whether there was a deposit of coal close to the property. Again, it was well known that several combinations of clay with chalk, &c, would make cement, but it probably would not be equal to the best. There was only one combination which would produce the proper and best cement, capable of competing with the Portland cement. It must be remembered that only the best cement could hope to compete and keep out the English article. On the suggestion of Mr Charters the reso- ' lution was amended by giving the sub-com-mitteo power to add to their number. Mr 8. P. Andrews thought that the subcommittee were tied down somewhat to the cement materials to be found at Oxford. Now there might be 90 per cent, of the necessary materials at the Oxford locality and 10 per cant, of what was necessary in another. Therefore he thought it was necessary to give tho sub-committee power to make enquiries all round.

The Chairman said he took it the powers of the sub-committee would include this.

The motion was then put and carried, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.