THE CEMENT CONTRACT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2247, 11 May 1881, Page 2

THE CEMENT CONTRACT.

Mr Atkinson who obtained the contract for Colonial cement from the Government is Mr D oimus Atkinson, brother of Major Atkinson. The " New Zealand Times" gives the following description tion of his process, which is patented : First the lirueatono is quarried, and converted into lime by the usual slaking process. The powder lime is then mixed with water—sou water is best for the purpose—and formed into blocks ready for roasting. The latter are then submitted to fervent heat,under which the white stone is convorted into a dirty brown clinker. This is cement before grinding. The clinker is then ground into an impalp&bly fine powder, and so becomes the cement of commerce. Submitted to searching analyeia the cement is proved to huve almost exactly the same constituents as the cements of England and Germany. The products of Mr Atkinson's skill, research, and ingenuity have been closely examined by Mr Blackett, en-gineer-in-chief of the colony, and Mr Oliver, the Minister of Works. Both gentlemen are eminently practical in this direction. i»nd both accord unqi ulified commendation to the specimens.