(Enclosure.)

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1745, 11 September 1883, Page 3

(Enclosure.)

' We 'hrfe indebted to the courtesy of the Colonial Secretary for a copy of the "following corrcßpondcnco respecting the -(establishment of what promises to be .an important colonial industry in the Notth Island of New Zealaud : s '•Reform Club, Pall Mall, S.W., "London, Juiy 12, 1883. 11 Sir, — Some time ago I was informed by a merchant in the city that he had been connected with the foimatiou of the Granite Docks at Bombay. For the purpose of making concrete for these docks, he imported large quantities of pumice from Aden, and he w.is given to /^understand that the pumice cement made '■fe^he strongest cement known for woi ks iViihder .water. My informant was not an / engineer, and was unable to inform me at to how the pumice was treated, but he. believed that it was mixed with lime from Madras. I have been unable to obtain any further information as to the works at Bombay, although I havetiied hard to get it. If pumice should prove to be a valuable element in the making of cement, I need not tell you that we have inexhaustible quantities in the North Island, from which wo could not only supply our own wants, but those of Australia also. I have been leferred on this sulijeet to Dr Faija, C E , 4. Great Queen -sticet, Westminister, a*3 an authority in the matter of cement, and rliave had sohie com creation with him. He suggests that samples of pumice, as usually obtained, should be sent to him for experiment, as also samples of limestone, which could be comenicntly obtained for mixing. Pumice is a silicate of alumina and lime, but differs in quality, some samples being more calcaieous than otheis. I am given to understand that consideiablo quantities of pnnucc are brought to this country from the Rhine for cement-making purposes. Dr Faija also recommends that samples ot estuaiy mud should be sent to him for examination. These, I suppose, would only be valuable when calcareous : such as might bo found at Napier, and elsewhere, wheic calcaieous locks arc found. Supposing that we rind oui pumice good for the purpose of making cement, the question arises wheie the works should be situated for the manufacture. The gieat supply of pumice would be found in Wanganui River, and in the Eabt Coast iners falling into Hawkes Bay ; also in the Waikato, and probably in the Thames, the latter bi-inir a river which I have not seen. In the Wanganui River, pumice floats down the stream in Mich quantities that I should think a cargo would soon be collected by simply putting out nets from the side of a vessel. Should the supply run short, it would be easy to ha\ c a working party at the source of the liver shovelling in pumice. It would reach the township in two or three days. Whether the limestone of thedistiict could be delivered cheaply at the township, I cannotsay. Itis a matter for consideiation. The amount of labour required is not much. The chief item of outlay seems to be cost of fuel, and that the fuel should be coke and not coal. Therefoie, itis possible that the manufacture should be established at a central point such as Wellington, carrying there the pumice and limestone, and possibly getting the supply of coke from the gas works. Tins would be the most convenient an angement for general distribution, and for export trade ; but it is a mitter of calculation for which I have not the data. I have asked Dr Faija for a statcmeut of the fees which he charges, but have not yet received it. Should I obtain it, I will forward it to you.— l have, &c, "(S'g ne d) JvmesC. Crawford. " The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, " Wellington." f