“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30588, 3 November 1964, Page 12

“The Press” In 1864

November 3, 1864. ENQUIRY INTO BUILDING STONES— We understand that Mr Doyne, Dr. Haast, and Mr Speechley have made an offer to the Provincial Government to undertake jointly a minute enquiry into the properties of all the building stones in the province, with the object of ascertaining the qualifications of e«.ch sort of stone as a building material, especially as regards its durability and power of resistance to the influence of weather. The Government have, we believe, received the proposal with favor, and will probably agree to the small expenditure which will be necessary to enable these gentlemen to carry out their enquiry, which they propose to undertake

without remuneration for the general benefit of the province. It need not be said that the offer is a very public spirited one, and that a report from such a committee would be of the utmost value. Mr Doyne will supply the experiments for testing the structural capabilities of the stones. Dr. Haast will pursue the enquiry into the geological and chemical character, whilst Mr Speechley will deal with the facilities each stone may afford for decorative architecture, both a* to capability of being worked and ■>s to color. Such we hear, are the objects which are in view, and we need hardly express a hope that these gentlemen who have offered to place their professional information and experience at the service of the

public will be met in the same liberal spirit, and that the builders and quarry masters will afford them every facility for pursuing their enquiry with expedition. THE LYSTER TROUPE. —The members of this company gave a concert on Tuesday evening in the Town Hall at Lyttelton, which is their last appearance in Canterbury. The programme comprised selections from Lucrezia Borgia and the Barber of Seville, concluding with ballads and miscellaneous music. The room, which is a wretched one for the purposes of a concert, was only partially filled, owing in part to the high prices charged for admission, and there was nothing in the performance to call for any particular notice.