MANUFACTURE OF CEMENT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2399, 24 November 1880, Page 3

MANUFACTURE OF CEMENT.

It will be perceived from an advertisement elsewhere that a good inducement is being held out to those who desire to start the manufacture of Portland cement in New Zealand. The Public Works department invite tenders for the supply of 100 tons of Portland cement manufactured in the colony. The specifications state that “ the contract includes the supply and delivery of 100 tons of Portland cement at any public wharf or railway station at the undermentioned places, viz., Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Lyttelton, Dunedin or Port Chalmers, and Invercargill. The cement shall be manufactured in the colony of New Zealand, and of such materials as are found therein. The cement shall be packed in such casks and in sucli manner as Portland cement is usually imported, or in any other approved manner, in secure cases or boxes, as will insure its transport without waste or loss. The casks or cases shall he of such a size that five of them will hold one ton of cement, or 32101 b. It shall bo subjected to such tests as are usually applied to prove the goodness of Portland cement, and amongst these will be the. following, which it must pass successfully, or it will be to rejection, viz.: —The cement shall weigh at least 1101 b per imperial straked bushel. It must be finely ground, and he able to pass through a No. 50 sieve, leaving a residue of not more than 10 per cent. When mixed up neat imd immersed in water, it shall, after seven days’ immersion, he capable of resisting a tensile strain of 2001 b to the square inch. Delivery shall he made in quantities of not less than 50 casks or cases at one time, of which due notice shall he given to the District or Resident Engineer. Should these pass the necessary tests, payment for that delivery will be made in full, from Wellington, as soon after receipt of Engineer’s certificate as practicable; and cement that does not satisfy the required tests will be rejected, and must be at once removed by the contractor. In calling for tenders for the above, the Government has in view the encouragement of local manufactures, and it is expected that tenders will be at such a rate as will justify the Government in accepting one of them. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. The-time of delivery will extend over eighteen months ; but the contractor may deliver the cement as soon as he likes within that time, subject to the foregoing conditions.”