A New Industry.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 230, 31 August 1883, Page 3

A New Industry.

(BY TELEGRAPH.) V (UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellingtoh, August 30. Mr J. 0. Crawford, formerly R.M. here, writes from London to the Colonial Secretary respecting the establish* ment of what promises to be an important colonial industry. He states that he saw a merchant m London who was long connected with the construction of granite blocks m Bombay, who said that for making cement 'for the works they had to import large quant?, vies of <jpnmice from Aden, and pumice cement. was ; the strongest made for works tinder water , Mr Crawford continned :, H pumice should prove to be a valuable element m making cement, the North Island of New Zealand has an inexhaustible quantity . He referred the subject to Dr. Faija, C. E., an authority on matter or cement, and the latter sug> gests that samples of pumice as usually obtained m limestone samples and samples of estuary mud be sent to him for experiment. Mr Crawford states that a great supply of pumice is found m the ' Wanganui river and m the East 'Coast rivers m Hawke's Bay, and also m the Waikato river and probably m the Thames. In Wanganui pumice floats down the river and a cargo could ekaily be secured. The North Island, he asserts, has a monopoly of those articles. The ch jet item of cost m producing the cement would* be fuel, which should be colce. , Dr. Faiga was will* ing to report on the adaptability of any ; samples which may be sent to him, his \ lee being 25 guineas, m addition to expenses of analysis, from 2 to 3 guineas.