A NEW STONE

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1911, 23 May 1928, Page 5

A NEW STONE

GOOD FOR BUILDING FOUND IN THE WAIKATO A GEOLOGIST’,* REPORT New Zealand is not particularly rich in stone suitable lor building purpose,-', the North Island being worse off than the South Island in. this respect-. Hence the- discovery in the Waikato by Dr. R. .Marshal)' of a building i tone of splendid quality is of more than passing interest. Perhaps discovery is not quite the; right word as the stone he lias been resting has been used in. the past loi" building purposes on a, small «ca-le, hut its good qualities seem to have been forgot ten and no extensive use has been made of it. The tests and observations carried out by Dr. Marshall have been in respect to a. rock of volcanic origin, known as vitrie tuff, occurring in tho Hinuera Bailey and oilier localities in the Waikato.

Tests and observations show that this rook meets the greatest, want in Hie building trade in New Zealand ar it is soft, easy 10, work, and agreeable in the tint, on the one hand while on the other it has perfect resistance to weather action, *s reaily accessible and can he quarried easily and cheaply . The, rock is of volcanic origin.