TAKAKA MARBLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 21, 19 October 1917, Page 3

TAKAKA MARBLE

GREAT INDUSTRY,PROJECTED,

"Trio/SB specimens can be praised as much "as you like," 'said Mr. P. Or. Morgan (Director of. the-Geological Survey) after he'liad seen the recent exhibition of Takaka marble in the vestibule of Parliament 'Buildings. "Very fine.'. . . Keally beautiful. .. . Very handsome," ran the comment of the Government Arohitect (Mr. Campbell) He specially praised tho dark varieties. "I think this dark marble of Takaka is better Than any of St. Anne's (Belgium) that I have seen," he remarked. "If the supplies are equal to those specimens there should be a great market." He indicated that a satisfactory export trade should be practicable. The' admiration of the Minister ■ of Public Works is to be' expressed in solid form, for he has stated that dark marble of Takaka will be used for interior decorative purposes in (he new Parliament Buildings. The display was also warmly praised by the Prime Minister. N "lf sufficient quantity is available," said Mr. Massey, "there 'is no doubt that this will be the beginning of a great industry—an industry of great importance to this country." He indicated that he appreciated the value of the export factor. The specimens—all showing an unusual depth' of translucence in the polished crvsttil < surface—ranged from creamy white with various subdued tints of green and pink, to dove grey, and on to blacS, with a dainty tracery of white to relieve the sbmbreness. The markings on orae of the 6labs suggested seascapes and skyserapes, and others presented the -semblance of dusters of roses, after the Doulton designs. . ■ It is very unusual to .have such a wide range of colouration and-markings in one locality. .' Therefore .it..is believed that Takaka- Valley may be proved unique in the whole world, from that viewpoint. The company which is working the Takaka quarries anticipates that it will be able to supply New Zealand's needs economically, and have an unlimited quantity for export. The reef containing the dark varieties has'been traced for miles, and-the deposits are easily accessible. '. ; , Referring to the value of colour, Mr. 11. T. Baker (Director of the Technological Museum, Sydney) remarks in his book, "Building Stones of Australia":-. "In the case of marbles, colour plays a very important part, and requires care and attention, for the. market value of a stone is often influenced by its colour, without regaTd to its strength and durability." It is claimed for the Takaka marble that it has strength as well as beauty. Strangely, this wealth of dark marble was overlooked, during long years. The adjacent mountainous masses of lighter marble have been the subject of various reports, at intervals, but .the long dark reef—far more valuable than the white and grey—was not particularly noticed. Surface fragments of dark stone caused a little discussion occasionally, but the extent, ofj the mother reef was not discovered till last year, according to the statements of those who exhibited the specimens at Parliament Buildings.