Gisborne’s Backbone.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 199, 22 September 1888, Page 2

Gisborne’s Backbone.

UNDEVELOPED RESOURCES: A CHAT WITH THE STONEMASONS. A few months back there were great reports about the stone that had been discovered st Gisborne, or rather to the north ot Gisborne. So much was said just at the time that one would have thought no one in New Zealand could have helped hearing of our stone. However, like the nine days’ wonder, the talk soon subsided, and little more was heard on the subject, except a little chirp now and again. But there are some practical people in the district, and instead of the matter being lost sight of there has been a quiet and steady movement towards developing the stone industry. The work has been going on for some time, and on the vacant section near Messrs Sandlant Bros’ workshop two patient toilers can be seen working away at their trade of stonemasons.

Curiosity tempted us to step across the other afternoon, and sea the progress of an industry that until lately was unknown in Gisborne. “ This is a new line to see in Gisborne,” observed our reporter, to one who was chipping away at a block ot crude material. Yes, he replied ; the Gisborne people don’t know what resources they have undeveloped —they are only just beginning to find it out. Close by was an old identity, Mr W. Knights, busily engaged on a piece of stone that had been transformed from a plain, dirty-looking block into a shapely mould.

Well, what have you got here, Mr Knights ? —you look busy. Mr K : That is a baptismal fount which we are making for the English Church, Who’s stone, is it ? Mr Tutchen’s. Look at that, said Mr K, (rubbing his finger across the smooth surface). What nicer material could you ask for than that ?

It does look nice; they ought to be satl’fied with that when it is finished, especially with the knowledge that it is done in the district.

Mr K said they ought to, but he seemed too modest to say much about hie own work. After a word or two more with him, our reporter started a conversation with the other mason, whose name he had not the pleasure of knowing.

He said the stone he was operating upon was also Tutchen’s, but with what he was using he intended to use some from Mr Barker’s place, which would go well in contrast with the other. On being asked which he thought was the best he said that depended on what it was being used for—both were good in their place. What do you think of the local stone as compared with that obtained elsewhere ? ,• This is the best I have seen in New Zealt A —it cannot be beaten. “ As good as the Oamaru stone ? Yes, better; I have worked a great deal of the Omaru stone, and I prefer this. From what place did you come, it it is a fair question ? I came from Napier. What kind of stone is generally used in the big towns ? Most of the larger places have their own stone. In Napier they have not got their own stone, and they use a great deal ot Oamaru stuff. Couldn’t Gisborne open up a trade with Napier? There is no reason why they shouldn't. 1 Is there plenty of the material here ? Phew ! there’s enough in those hills to last for three or four generations to come. On being further interrogated, he said he could not give an opinion of the stone from Mr Gannon’s place, as he had not given it a trial. He simply bad to go by the architect’s directions, which defined what atone was to be used. The stone he was using (Mr Tutchen’s) would meet with a ready sale almost anywhere in New Zealand, only it had one fault—that was to the mason. There is a hard bar running through some of it, which makes it hard to work sometimes. Other, wise it could compete anywhere. That seems rather tiresome work you are doing, we observed. Oh, not at all—it’s just child's play when you get into the way of it. Yes, when you do 1 It’s the kind of thing some of you young fellows ought to be working at—learning a trade, instead of walking about. This seemed a hard knock for somebody, but our reporter was unabashed, and proceeded—

Yes, boys think of nothing but offices now-a-days; now ought to be a good time for putting apprentices to your trade 1 No, I would not advise any hoy to try and learn in Gieborne. He ought to go to one ot the larger towns, and when be has learned he can take a job anywhere in the world where masons are employed. You have the material here, and you ought to develop it. In reply to further questions, the mason said he expected he would be kept employeq here tor some time. Besides what he was doing, he expected to have the front of Mr Whinray’s new place to do, and, with other jobs, that would keep him going for some time.