KING COUNTRY INDURTRIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 149, 22 April 1909, Page 5

KING COUNTRY INDURTRIES.

UHHstiis the Linestoa*. In a district provided by Nature with such a bountiful supply of limestone it Is not surprising that une of the Hist industries established in this aortion of the King Country should have been tine burning. Te Kuiti, as the railway centre of the limestone hett, was naturally selected as the scene of operations, and about ten years sge> kilns were erected, and time horning operations commenced on the property now occupied by the works of Messrs Wilson and Co. The kilns were carried on by Mr C. J Johnson, for a considerable time, the output being chiefly lime for agricultural purposes. The business was acquired from Mr Johnson by Messrs Wilson and Co. about five years ago, and since that •toe operations at Te Kuiti have been gradually increased until at the present time the works have developed into a large undertaking. Conveniently situated abutting the railway, about a mite from the town, the limeworks occupy an ideal position for working, while thai supply of stone is so great thai f« years to come quarrying operations can be carried on within a few yarde of the tine. Originally the chief eatpat from the works was lime for . aptoattmai purposes, hut while this tmsMdK) is still in great demand, there la Hso a very large output of Metal far road making and concrete atoffc, screenings for footpaths, and duelled carbonate of time f.r agricul-tare*-purposes. The plant at the- works la of a very complete and up-to-date character. Fewer is obtained from a 50H.P. Suction Gas Engine, which drives the crushers, and (he air compressor used in connection with the boring machine in the quarry, and pomps water from the river to 4WO gallon concrete tank. The targe crusher from which the output of me tat. aad spauts for burning in the kitns have been obtained, has just been supplemented by a smaller machine which can turn out liner crushed metal, and. if necessary, put through the spaut from the larger machine. From quarry to crusher connection is established by means of a complete system of tram tines, the machine being fed with stone by tip tracks from the line above the crusher. An extensive demand for crushed carbonate of lime, for agricultural purpose*, has set in during the last twelve or eighteen months, 1 and the demand promises to increase

raptdly. Shipments have been recently sent, not only to many portions of • the Auckland province, including Rotorua. Waihi, Whangaret. Henderson, and the East' Coast, but also to Taranaki. and districts along the Main TVonk line. The commodity, which h

almost as fine as flour, ha* hitherto been obtained by screening through very fine seives. but in view of the gjewring demand it is intended to insist a special plant for grinding the alone. A machine for the purpose is now in course of erection, and if the trials prove satisfactory, it will be permanently installed at the works. The production of burnt lime in the most economical manner has been a problem which has claimed the attention of the management for a considerable time, and recently experiments have been conducted to this end on a somewhat extensive scale A special kiln, having attached to it a gas producing plant, has been erected, the intention being to use the gas to burn tjta lime. The experiments, *© far, fceye not been attended with complete •access, but the important matter of gas production has been thoroughly satisfactory, and with attention to one Mr two matters of detail the manager focon&fent that the project will be carried out successfully. That there i* every reason to inspire the proprietors to mast** the initial difficulties may be gathered from the fact that by utilising gas Instead of coal for lime burning, the output will be incre-taed by from 50 to 70 per cent at a 50 per cent less cost. An additional incentive lies in the fact that the gas can be utilised for power throughout the works. The proprietors are certainly to he complimented on their enterprise, and as the experiments have practically ted to success already, congratulations nay also be extended to them. The proprietors are fortunate in possessing in Mr J. P. Walsh a manager who combines a wide experience with • spirit of enterprise and energy. Mr Walsh has been in charge of the works for several years,and und r his supervision most of the improvements noticeable at the works have been carried out.