ROAD METAL QUARRIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2800, 17 January 1888, Page 2

ROAD METAL QUARRIES.

' Tenui District.

The Engineer's Report. The County Engineer makes the following report on the above subject: Masterton, January 16,1888. Sir:—l have the honor to report •..." that I have concluded a satisfactory . ' search for stone along that section of. the Masterton to Wainiate road lying between the old Mangapakeha . bridge and the point [A where the ■', private track branches off towards the . , lea Station. I have- discovered four,,. reefs of considerable extent at intervals ' along this length which will enable •■• its metalling to be performed at a ~ reasonable cost. I forward specisjp!' for your inspection of stone fromlhe.v different reefs .numbered 1 to 4 res- ffi „ pectively, which represents theorder in'?:? which they lie. travelling from the bridge towards Tenui; these may be' . taken as fair averages of the quality ' in each case. Generally the class of stone is good, and is in all respects superior to anything yet discovered in the shape of rock, on the Masterton side of Tenui. The samples have been taken of necessity, from the exterior surface of the reefs but from past experience there is no reason to suppose that the quality will deteriorate as the quarries become opened out. Nos 1 and 2 lie within the property recently acquired by Messrs O'Connor : , Bros, and Nos 8 and 4 are on the property of Messrs Elder. The respective distances of the stone from theformed road are as follows, No 1, 80 chains; No 2, 3 chains; No 3, 40 chains; No4.2ochains. I am &c, C. E. Bremner County Engineer^ Fernridge Coal & Limestone,

Visit of Mr Mackay. 1 W A representative of this office accom- ■ panied Mr Mackay, the Government geologist, to the Fernridge yesterday afternoou for the purpose of showing him the locality where indications of coal have recently beer/ noticed,- Mr Mackay made a careful survey of the surroundings, and within a chain of the spot discovered three formations representing differentgeological periods. .There was One formation in the vicinity which he regarded as moro likely to prove of value for coal than the one to which his attention had been specially drawn. He was of the opinion that it would be worth while to sink a trial , . shaft on this formation. Reconsidered that fifty feet of sinking would test the ,-. existence of a coal measure, though of ; course the size of it would be uncjfr lain, The deposit already foaJR would do for household purposes, but would be worthless for engines. He had been called upon to inspect inferiorcoaltoit downSoutb. Mr Mackay also drew the attention of our reporter to a valuable deposit of limestone .in -.s jf this locality, which, he declared, would • * he of special importance to the future . agricultural development of thesis-. trict, as it was superior to the Maurice-. , ! ville lime for such purposes. This limestone is light red in color, and contains shells of pipis, and other. " well-known fish visible to the naked eye. Mr Mackay informed our reporter that he was not at liberty to : .express definite opinions on the country and surroundings, till his ~' official report. to:. the head of the department h.ad been made.