PROPOSED LIME WORKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1917, Page 3

PROPOSED LIME WORKS.

.Meeting of CommitteeA meeting of the committee, appointed at a recent conference of farriers and local body representatives to go into the question of details in regard to the establishment of works for the production of agricultural lime met ufr the Bjrough Council Chamber?, Grer mouth, on Wednesday afternoon. Present ; Messrs B. Bc-tts (Chairman) W. Auld, J. Ryatl, P. Ryder, E. A.

Cories, A. H» Wheeler,B. Ward. Mr A. McTaggari, M.S A., Government Agriculturalist, Mr Dalgleisb, Fields Insptcror, and Mr Dickson, Engineer Public Works were also in attendance. Mr McTaggart’s Report. Mr McTaggari said since their last meeting be had endeavoured to look into the question of selecting a deposit and site and try to decide the best place to open lime works. This was a b gger problem than it looked on the surface. He could have done with more time, spent an ex-ra week, and , .. u fn

even then it would be very difficult to put one’s fingers on a certain spot, and say this is where the works should be, This was a most varied field, and the difficulties were probably not apparent to the lay mind. They had locked into the Ross deposits, which were situated in very remote ‘ parts, in de< p jungle, and presented considerable engineering difficulties. ALsrsome searching they found the real limestone situated on a ridge between Coal Creek and Hodeon Creek and out of reach. This deposit whs out of tbe question and could be set asiie. Continuing, Mr MoTaggart said he wes inclined to think that the best deposit, taking everything inio consideration, was the

one close to Greymoatb, near Trig A.C. He quoted Dr Henderson’s report oa this particular deposit, showing 88.42 per cant of lime. It was reported to have burned successfully, was about 20 chains from the nearest road and about 2000 ft above sea level. Tbe Chairman : Canid yon toll us if it is oa Crown properly. Mr McTaggart said he was net sure. He had not had time to go into this phase of the question, but believed it to be on private property. Tbe question of getting tho land would have to be looked into very carefnlly. They could make, probably, a more detailed examination. A sample of the store was submitted to the meeting. Mr MoTaggart concluded in stating his recommendation was that a sample of the lime be obtained and tested as to its qualities for burning, and that ths

outorop be further tested and defined. If the deposit selected was not suitable for burning they could then consider the question of putting in crushers only. In reply to a question, Mr MoTaggart said he was of opinion that the Greymouth quarries contained too much sand for profitable working. The Omoto deposits, he believed, could not be worked without d-mger to dwellings in the proximity. He could not congratulate them on the value of limestone on this coast. The good stone was iu remote pi ness and the inferior stone more accessible and could ba woiked.

After a lengthy discussion, it was re* solved, on tbe motion of Mr Coates, seconded by Mr Wheeler, that Messrs McTaggart ar.d Dickson be not hurried in tbeir report and that they be given further time to complete their investigations,