LIME WORKS AT ROSS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1917, Page 4

LIME WORKS AT ROSS.

MEETING AT GREYMOUTH

A meeting of the shareholders and intending shareholders in the Ross Lime Company was held at the To fan Hall, Greymoutli, on Saturday, when there were present:—Messrs M. Maloney (chair), R. Allison, P. Ryder, D. Shannalian, J.' Fitzgerald, G. Broughton, J. I). Lynch, T. E. Coates, and Upjohn, The Chairman in opening the meeting, moved that one shareholder be allowed one vote, irrespective of the number of shares he shall hold. Air Ryder seconded the motion, as he was in accord with the one man one vote system. The motion was carried.

The Chairman continuing, said that as early as possible there should be an election of directors. He explained the feeling of numerous settlers, who were of the opinion that there should be a permanent directorate, which should be as democratic as possible. Mr Coates explained to the meeting that the company was registered as a limited company and the work should he gone on with at once. He gave the meeting an account of what had already been accomplished. The company, lie stated, had been held np by the antagonism of some people in the south ; but this had row been overcome.

A letter was read regarding the absence of Mr Grimmond, and a telegram from southern farmers who were prevented from attending owing to the weather conditions was read.

Reference was made to the position of Mr B. Ward who in July last had declined to act on the provisional directorate as he would be placed in a false position, being also a member of the Land Board. He had attended the lime meetings only as a representative of the Westland County Council in the interest of the farmers of Westland.

The Chairman hoped Mr Ward’s name would appear on the directorate when the shareholders electecl same. Mr Ward had shown himsell to be a straightforward and farseeing man, and he always worked in the interests of the small farmer and the district generally. (Applause.) MR UPJOHN’S REPORT. Report 011 visit of inspection to the Canterbury, Otago, and Southland districts and lime kilns by A. Upjohn of Ross. In all districts visited both forms of lime are used, viz, carbonate of lime (limestone) and burnt or quicklime. Carbonate of lime (limestone) requires to be finely ground or pulverised with machinery before it is of use for application to the land. It is produced from all lime works in this state and sent out in bags, iod each being charged for the bags and 8d credit given if bags are returned in good order. It is applied to the land by means of a lime distributor or in some cases where ‘light applications are given the ordinary manure drill is used.

Burnt, quick or caustic lime is supplied'in two forms:— 1. 111 the shell or lumpy state as it is drawn irom the kiln and is known as unground burnt or shell lime.

2. Ground fine by machinery after being drawn from the kiln and is known as ground burnt (quick or caustic) lime. • The shell or unground burnt lime is supplied loose in trucks or in bags. Two shillings per ton is charged lor bagging and bags supplied in similar conditions as for carbonate of lime. It is applied to the land by carting out and distributing in small heaps and left for some Gme for the air to slack, and is then broad casted over the field by scattering with a shovel. The ground burnt (quick, caustic) lime is supplied from the kiln and supplied to the laud in a similar manner as the carbonate of lime. * Carbonate of lime sells at 16s to

17s 6d per ton. The unground burnt or shell lime, loose in trucks, at 17s 6d per ton. and in bags at 19s 6cl per ton. The ground burnt lime sells at 22s 6d per ton. Opinions differ as to tlie merits and demerits of the carbonate and burnt lime, some farmers declaring for the carbonate and others for the burnt.

Although 11 cwt of quick or burnt lime is equal to 1 ton of carbonate, and extra cartage is thus envolved when applying the carbonate in equal proportion to the burnt lime, mere is no doubt, judging by the recent increase of carbonate crushing plants erected in Otago and Southland, that there is a growing demand for the carbonate of lime. The non-caustic nature of the carbonate is much in its favour for distributing as against the caustic nature of the burnt lime.

Both forms of lime have proved

profitable, the carbonate for light lands and the burnt for heavy lands.

In reference to the application to the land of the burnt lime in its two forms —unground in the shell or lumpy state and ground fine for distributing with a lime distributor, I gather this: The ground lime is greatly in favour, although on the average it cost 5s per ton more than the shell lime loose in trucks or 3s per ton more if bagged. The time and labour saved in handling, in cartage and in applying to the land more than repay the initial cost. The lime is more eveulv distributed on the land, the work is not so laborious, and the inclement weather conditions can be met more safely and with less trouble. Lime distributors range in price from £2O to £27, according to size. If it is decided that ground burnt lime be supplied, I recommend that

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the Farmer’s Co-operative Lime Company purchase two of these machines and hire them out to farmers, or that farmers, in the district, combine and purchase one on the Co-operative System for their own use.

All managers recommend that coal kilns be built in the solid as it is much stronger than in the open air. They take less bricks and are not troubled with weather conditions.

Provision is made in the carbonate of lime and the ground burnt lime, crushing or pulverising plants to facilitate bagging and weighing operations. Plans obtained of kilns recommended by the managers of Makeraeo and J. G. Ward’s Company and Milburn lime kilns. Also obtained catalogues of crushing and pulverising plants, with prices.

SUB-REPORT VROM <i. MIT,XU, FARMER

lu reference to your enquiry about, results obtained by me re carbonate of lime, I very much prefer the above form compared with the burnt lime, j The chief reason is that results are just as good; in fact probably better in the long run. I may say that 3 have had considerable experience in the use of lime of all kinds, especially shell lime, as of course no other form was available until of late. 1 have been using the ground carbonate for about live years with results which equal in every way the burnt lime, and then apart from results obtained, the handling of the latter is so much more pleasant in every way, and the bags do not burst. Another reason why I prefer the carbonate is because it can be readily mixed with any kind of manure without injurious results. The quantity, applied by me is anything from half a ton to one ton per acre. I find this quite sufficient. Its immediate effect upon grass and turnips is quite visible. Last year 1 sowed 30 tons of carbonate on a paddock of drilled turnips, and left a piece nnlimed, but with exactly similar treatment as far as manure and seeds were concerned. The difference | could be seen in the sliaws when the turnips came to maturity. ft is also splendid tor top dressing grass, as it washes readily down about the roots and stimulates growth, whereas I have often noticed when using burnt lime in a similar manner that a great deal of it cakes into little hard lumps which cannot do the same good as if in a fine state of division. I would not think of going back to burnt lime, and in my opinion any farmer who gives the carbonate a fair trial will be satisfied with the results. Mr Ryder was of tlie opinion that Mr Upjohn hart gained some very valuable information. Mr Wheeler proposed, and Mr Ryder seconded, a motion that Mr Alison be (recommended to the directors as engineer to the company, to lay out the works site next week. Mr Alison stated that lie was piepared to assist to the best of his abilities. He did not want the appointment as engineer but would do his share and impart his knowledge as a consulting engineer. This concluded the badness of the meeting.