LIME FOR FARMERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1917, Page 4

LIME FOR FARMERS.

ROSS DEPOSIT INSPECTED.

THE PROPOSITION HIGHLY ' approved.

Yesterday the town of Ross enjoyed a friendly invasion from a number of farmers and bthers from the north interested in the limestone development in. the neighborhood of the southern boroughAmong those present were Messrs T. Brook (Chief Commissioner of Crown hands); H. Dickson (Resrdent Engineer), R. Allison (Brunner lime works), A. H- Wheeler (Rotomanu), P- Ryder (Inchbonnie),B, Ward, McGmgan and Jamieson (Arahnra), T. E. Coates (Gre-ymouth), Dalgleish (Eields Division), Evans (Westland Cham - her of Commerce), O. E. Bor ton (Hokitika), A. W. Upjohn, T. \\ - Bruce, A, Peebles, ML- Ihustrom and T. Houlahan (Ross). On arrival at Ross. Mr A. WUpjohn took charge of the party, and immediately after a substantial luncheon at Mr .G. Adamson’s hostelry the party set out for the limestone deposit. The area applied for by the proposed West Coast Fa.miSts’ Co-operative Dime Producing Coy. Ed-, is situated within tbh borough of Ross just across Donlielly-s creek in the vicinity of the locality where Coal and Hunter creeks junction with the main stream. The location is abo.ut a mile and a half from the Ross railway-station, and is conspicuous from the town by reason of a readily visible slip on which is ; situated a Government trig-station. There is a dray road to the Donnelly’s creek crossing which is easily fordable,. and once across visitors, are within a, stone S throw of the valuable deposit 'which is going to play so useful a part in the productivity and value of the Westland and Grey County lauds—if not, also, Inangahua County lands. For many years the crying need of our West Coast farmers has beep cheap lime. It is to supply this want that the present Company is being formed The Ross limestone deposit is credited with being the best in the district, and the tests have shown ft to be smoug the highest in the dominion. The tests taken from eight different locations within the area ranged from 84-8 to 96-1 per cent, giving an average of 92/6$ per cent. The Government expert who went into ; the value of various limestone de- ; posits 011 the. Coast came to the conclusion that the best site was : (first) “below the trig-station near i Donnelly’s creek, Ross,” or, “at Connelly’s (Hunter’s) creek, near Donnelly’s creek, Ross.” In amplifying this definite decision Mr McTaggart (Government Agriculturist) went on to say: “ The Ross site undoubtedly is the best for the production, of burnt Upie, afid indeed for ground limestone, if required, on account of its high, quality.” Yesterday the party inspected the two sites indicated by Mr McTsggart and came t 0 tsi e conclusion that below the trig station would be. preferable for first operations because in that vicinity the main body of stone is laid bare, and suggests a quantity of stone which will supply all demands for generations, to. come. It seems to be a most bountiful supply and the wonder is that for so long this valuable deposit has remained nnexploited. About three hours were spent yesterday in profitably exploring the faces under Mr Upjolnv’s guidance. Rough tracks were cut and access was not unduly difficult, Prospecting drives were inspected, and con - elusions formed as to the genera* stability of the country. In-one of these drives a fine deposit of naturally crushed lime was seen. This, was tested by ,the acid and gave good results. The w h 9* e impression left upou the, party was that the deposit was of the greatest value to the district both in quantity and quality. The fullest satisfaction was expressed oir these points, whereupon Messrs Allison and Dickson went into, the practical side of discussing methods of working, kiln site and other necessary details. The particulars could not be got out in full details till further lines are cleared to enable grades and fall- to by. ascertained ip order to decide whether it will he possible to convey the stone to the kiln by shoots or by tram. Mr Allison also arranged for a supply of stone to be sent to Brunnerton for a burning test, while Mr Dioksoiuwill require time for a survey for road route and other means of access to the outcrops.

COUGHS AND COLDS VAN- v QUISHED. BY BAXTER’S PRESERVER. You obtain tr preparation of assured efficacy when you purchase a bottle 6f Baxter’s Lung Preserver. It is not a new Untried' article,'but one that'has bCeii doing'good for over half a oentury. Keep a bottle always in the house during this trying weather. A dose in time may ward of $ bad pqW. You can build tip tire strength of the lungs and system hy a course of Baxter’s Rung Preserver. Got a big 1/IQ bottk to-day. Any store or eheiil ist can supply you.

THE PROVISIONAL pmECTQftS MEET. On returning to town, Coronation Hall was placed at the disposal of the visitors where a meeting of directors was held, Mr. Wheeler being voted to. the ; chair, . ‘ ' ■ The prospects of the company were discussed, every satisfaction being expressed nft the outlook of working the deposit cheaply and producing the pro-

duct at a Very law rate. - ] • Ytr- Coates, (hon- secretary) explained that tho Company was not out for profks. The object was to give, the farmers cheap lime. He hoped they would he able lOf do ifc for less than £\ per ton. The niote farmers they copld get inter- , ested in the company the hotter, so itlmt the community of interest would bo as wide as possible. They did not look for dividends. The buyers of the lime would, derive the dividends by getting the product as cheap as thqv could possibly produce it. Those who PUt their money into the company to purchase and erect'the plant would receive not more 'than 6 per cent, on their investment. , That was a low rate of interest certainly, so fchat ’theve «;as no exploitation in that proposal. : The fundamentnl ohject was cheap lime, and that he felt sure would be appreciated by the farmers, vvho he hoped lyould. co-operate,, and by taking a few shares each show their earnestness to assist |n the one and only object ill view. These remarks were endorsed and %«P* pleinegtecl'hy theCimirmaft, 'Mr. Ward : Mr. llrcce and Mr. tjpjehn. Mf, Evaim was. invited to. speak on behalf of the YYestkml Chamber of Commerce. £o said there was not ,!.vcy W #oh * Q : scheme in. Hokitika, o.v op. the part; pf the Chamber, It was quite the either 1 way, they wished to. see the project. «uc- > cess.tuUy launched. The Chamber’s : letter to the Heard was in .support of . granting tho company an adequate area [ for their operations, but not to see. a large area locked up to the exclusion ot ' others if later o n other views prevailed in the management: of the. Company- a 4. ‘ j felt sure tho. proposal as put forward 5 j would have very general support' i | throughout the district. , ■ j Reference was made to the application . J now before the Land hoard,. and the

Chief Commissioner was invited 'to explain the position. Ip doing so Mr. Brook said the hoard could not deal with fhe application till the Company was constituted. It was still unborn. YVlien' incorporated the Board would deal wifli tlie application of the Company on its merits. There had been some informal discussion, the first of which lin'd got into the press. The views expressed on that occasion were to the effect thaf members thought that the lime should bo sold to. all farmers , at current market rates in the district, and he gathered that that was now proposed. There, could not bo any objection to allowing the shareholders the per centage mentioned on their investment, as without that monetary help the industry could not bo established.

After hearing Mr. Brook, Mr. Upjohn moved and Mr .Bruce seconded that the directors arc prepared to accept a grant on the suggested condition put forward, namely that the lime be sold to all farmers af the current market rates of the district. \

In response to an invitation, Mr. Allison spoke highly in regard to flic proposed situation of file works, and their size. He thought they might begin with a twenty-five ton kiln, as the demand at the season of the year, when lime would he first available would not be so heavy ,as later on. The kiln should be built well o.ut from the hill to ensure a good draught for burning. The question of timber fuel could be considered. As regards transport a motor service tvoulcj pnfbably be' tho ’most economical, but that could be gone into later. Figuring out tho working roughly it was probable they would be able to supply lime to their customers at Ids per fon. Mr. Dickson supported Mr Allison’s demands jn regard fo, the proposed works and their, location, and a vote of thanks was accorded the two gentlemen for'their attendance and the information supplied. They'will visit Ross again ip about a week’s time to go into file full dotails of a working scheme. Mr. Linstroni proposed, Mr. T. Houla ban seconded, and Mr. Bruce supported a vote of thanks to the visitors and wished the enterprise all success. Mr, Bruce apologised for the absence of tlio Mayor of Ross now in Wellington. The visitors returned north by the afternoon train. COMPANY FLOTATION. It is understood the prospectus for the proposed Company is np\v in the printers hands And. gs. soon fis! possible registration of tlift Company \yill lie proceeded with, «n\t flotation operations Undertaken- A h.vad.y a large number of shapes bepu \uiclor\vriflep,' so allotments ami constitution of the' Company is not likely '(0. be vifidnly'delayed. The capital of the ComPAUy "is tp '' be £fi.opp, in '£ shares, the whole of which "111 hg open 'to the public. A half crown wfill bo payable pn application, and a. similar am.oil.Qt on jiilotpiehb, and thereoften a shilling g month will be farmers into the Company as possiblecalled up. The aim is to get as many The project was viewed most favourably by all the gentlemen who went over tho ground yesterday. It was found that the stone can be easily and readily got, and that tho installation of a working plant is not going to be a 1 costly matter. The farmers present ivere all agreed 'that the undertaking warranted the widest support. Mr. Wheeler and others spoke of the value of lime for fodder production, and considered that the general application of l.ime to the West Coast lands would give very surprising results. With those assurances, and it he working propects of the Company as promising, nothing should stand in the way of making the Undertaking a very pronounced success and a great' factor 'in: addjng to the future. advancement of the pastoral, prospeet|'of thp' West * /