COLONIAL CEMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12620, 1 October 1901, Page 2

COLONIAL CEMENT.

■ At a meeting of the Linwood Borough Council last evening, Councillor Brunt moved the following motion, of which, he had given notice: —“That the minute pas- 1 sed Oct. 20, 1890, binding the Council,to... use colonial cement if the price is noo greater than imported cement, should be rescinded.” He said that there had been various reports as to the unsatisfactory, manner in -which some of the concrete work put down lately was standing.;' The minute was a very old one, and he thought it wa-s only right that the Council should have the option of procuring the best cement possible for its work. Mr H. Otley, in seconding the motion, said they only wished to have the option of procuring the very best material in the market, not that there was any chance of getting English cement at anything like (he price of colonial at the present time. The motion,was carried. Messrs T. W. Horsley and Co. wrote: As we have noti received any complaint from your Council regarding the quality of thecement supplied by us during the last year, ■we were much surprised to read in the “ Lyttelton Times ” of Sept. S that colonial cement had proved so unsatisfactory. As this public statement will certainly seriously injure our business if allowed to pass unchallenged, we respectfully ask if the remarks made apply to the cement supplied by us. If not, then we ask you in fairness, to a very important colonial industry, to let it be as publicly known'that you are satisfied with the strength . and setting qualities of Wilson's Auckland Portland cement. ■ The agent of the Milburn Lime and Cement Company wrote: —I am in receipt of a communication from the Town Clerk, Linwood, to the effect that seme of the' channelling in which our cement was used is not satisfactory. I regret this exceedingly, and' can only attribute it to the fact that we were hard pressed last season to fill our contracts, and that in some - cases the cement may have been sent out too green. Whatever the cause, my company is desirous that the Council should not lose in any way, and will at once put any work that is not right in good order, at their own expense, and to the satisfaction of the Council. I should like to point out to the Council that they must 'have used equal, to about 2200 casks of colonial cement -during the past two or three years, and that with this exception, the work done has been highly satisfactory,' while the saving, as compared with using imported cement, had been quite £l5O. I may also say that my company has now increased kiln power of the latest and moat improved type, and will be able to supply a fully matured cement of the highest quality, in any quantities. I should like to pub the work in hand at once','and shall! be glad to meet anyone the Council may’ appoint, and arrange details. •

The Weeks' Committee,- in its report upon a letter received from 'Mr' March; as to. faulty chann’eEihg, repeated/ that the Council had the offer, of the Milburn Company to; reinstate any cement work that -was not satisfactory, and 1 tihs Commltte® reccmmendr ed that the Council should 1 accept this offer, ■and that the Mayor,, the Chairman; of the Works Ccmmiittee and l the Surrey or he a sub-c'cmarj'ttes to arrange for the satisfac-; tory carrying out of tto proposed, repairs. The Mayer 'bid he had been waited upon by the agents of both companies, who considered that it was unlaid’to have- published anything as to the -unsatisfactory state of the- ■work, in the manner in which it had been done, as it had materially interfered with their businesses. ...

Councillor Qtley moved that the offer of the Milbuni Cement Company to reinstate the channelling should to ■accepted. There was ii-o doubt that some cl the Miljmrn ceuitcfc supplied) hast season had been bad, but the company was doing,, all it possibly could to remedy the delects. This was soooncrid and) cairrkd.jj ; , ■ ■,•",, With referer.ee to the letter from Messrs Horsley and 1 , Go.', several Councillors bora testimony to tho fact that, the i Auckland cement had always given satisfaction.; , A motcon was; moved to the effect that the Auckland! commit was net the cement complained of. Several 1 Councillors objected to giving one cement company a cheap advertisement at tha expense of the ■ether, as they were both thriving colonial industrials. Other, .Councillors expressed the 'opinion that having to a certain extent damaged Messrs Horsley ■and Go's trade, they had a perfect right to do what they could to males 1 amends. • One Councillor / said they were in an ■awkward position, and advised that the ■letter should be received, and that the matter should be referred ho a few of the wisest •heads to decide what was best to be, done undler the; circumstances.' Several Councillors appeared vepy anxious to do justice to the Auckland cement, and' favoured sending a letter to Mr Horsley, stating that no complaints had 1 been made as to the quality supplied! by him, but they objected

to such a motion being reported in tha newspapers. An amendmlmt to the effect! that the letter should be received, wasTost, and the motion declaring that the Auckland article .was not the cement complained of* was' carried. At a later stage tie Council accepted the! ■ leiicfef of'Messrs Wilson and Co. for thfl supply of three-fourths of the cement required for the present year, at 15s per casld ydth 5 per cent discount, and that of Messrs. E? -jßeieSs;|and Sons foiva' quarter of ther requirement of English cement alt 13s per cask.