OUR STONE QUARRY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 142, 23 March 1872, Page 3

OUR STONE QUARRY.

Yesterday’s Dail>/ Southern Crons says :

“The liberal offer made by the City Council of 15 per cent, more for local flagging than would be paid for imported stone, and an immediate order for 20,000 feet for city pavements, should induce some of our capitalists or local artizans to make an effort to work the excellent stone

bat is known to exist in this province,

There are tour sources from which stone can tie obtained that are worthy of attentention, Mangawai, Raglan, Hape Creek, and Mangapai. The quarry at Mangawai

is the most easily accessible from Auckland, the distance from town being small, and, as the stone crops out on the beach, it could be shipped without expense for carting. The Hon. Henry Chamberlin has liberally offered to permit the Council to quarry stone upon his land at Raglan free of charge. This stone is of excellent qualitjg and a large block of it may be seen at our publishing office. The stone which is now being quarried at Ilape Creek, and extensively used at the Thames, is hut little known in Auckland. Mr John Copland, of the Thames Hotel, has a small sample of it, which he will, no doubt, he glad to show anyone interested in the subject. It is a kind of soft granite, and is of a grey colour. The Mangapai stone is of a good quality, but difficult of access, Wc believe it can he quarried free of charge if a road is constructed from the quarry to the place of shipment, a distance of a few miles. With all these places to choose from, it will really be discreditable to Auckland enterprise if a large sum is permitted to go out of the province for stone that might be obtained within our own boundaries, and be made to yield a handsome profit upon the small capital involved.” We think with our contemporary that so large a sum of money ought not to be allowed to go away from us. We are not aware whether the stone from the Ilape Creek would be suitable for the purpose required, but should it be so, there is no doubt but that it could be quarried and delivered in Auckland at as small a cost, if not a much less cost, than stone from any of the quarries mentioned above. This is a subject that ought to be taken in hand at once if wc wish to develop a local industry, and if properly done, may lead to great results in the future working of the stone.