KAOLIN CLAY

Grey River Argus, Volume 07, 7 January 1908, Page 1

KAOLIN CLAY

Since the discovery of a deposit 'of .exceptionally, fine' kaolin clay by Mi S. Hill, Government Valuer, on ihe Smart road, three mies from New Plymouth", some montnhns ago every conceivable test as to the commercial utility of the product has been made. Mr Hill, as is known, submitted samples to the Government Analyst, who certified that it was equal to the best English kaolin, and samples submitted to pottery. fxrois_ at Home have (been certified to be of unique quality. ■Mr \V. Jemisen, now retired, but formerly engaged in ihe moulding and j pottery business, was so struck with the value of the deposit, its extreme pliability and purity, that Ke has sine© devoted the whole of h : s time to experiments with it. For somt 1 time past Mr Jemison has been using . a kiln at Mount Cook for the purpose of baking articles moulded by him out of the ksolvn. v A "Times" reporter who visited the exhibition of articles made from this clay found that in colour, texture and appearance they were excellent. It considered that when the goods, which include . firebricks, drain-ipipes, edgings, tiles and innumerable other useful and 01Tiamiental articles, are burnt in a kiln that does not contain ordinary bricks (as at Mount Cook) the results will far exceed those already obtained. Mr Foster, of the firm of T. and H. Boote, potters, of. Burslem, England, specially journeyed to New Zealand to see the clay deposit, pronouncing most favourably on it. The particular excellence- of the clay is in its extreme pliaißlity and snow white colour, and the variety of colours possible to introduce into articles . made from it is very great. It is claimed that these articles are of great durability, and they are certainly susceptile of a very fine imperishaible glaze. There is an unlimited -supply of the clay, which is close to the railway line and quite near to New Plymouth. — N.Z. Times.