AUCKLAND BUILDING STONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4731, 15 January 1877, Page 4

AUCKLAND BUILDING STONE.

We understand there ia a fair.: prospect of freestone from. Auckland being employed in the erection of the new Law Courts about to be built in Melbourne. 'Che Victorian Gov eminent have • decided that ftuch. offices shall be erected, and have called for samples of stone and the prices at which it could be eupplied. An old Aucklander now in Melbourne, having learned sometime ago of .the steps likely to be taken by the Victorian Government in the matter, had taken the precaution to write to a friend in Auckland to obtain for him a sample of the freestone found in the neighbourhood of. VVnangape, on the Waikato Kiver. . This sample Lad reached Melbourne only a few days before the advertisement appeared cailiug for samples ofatone, &c.. To secure the employment of Victorian stone, if possible, only. 15 days', notice was given. .However, the sample of the , VVhangape freestone was dressed to the required dimensions, and formed oue of the 13 samples of etone sent in. After examination, a few of the besS of these samples were selected to further test by pressure, chemical analysis, &c, before a decision is arrived at. Tlie Whaugape stone is amongst the few selected for liual trials, aud it ia said to be spoken highly of."-. Should this stone be selected as the best, it is probable that a largo export trade in building stone will soon ba established. The foundations of the new Law Courts arealrsadylaid ia bluestoue ; and the board appointed to report ou the present Parliament Uousehave recommended that a buui of £180,000 be expended at once on the front, and to be entirely oii freestone. The same kind of 'stone ehosen for the Law Courts' wiJl probably be chosen for Parliament House, 'lien the Melbourne Corporation is about to.erect a.new Public Market at a cost of £70,000, and the architect of a Banking Institution is at present lookiug out for a. suitable stone for*a new Baukuuilding in Collins-street." All these buildings will probably be constructed bf the same kind of stone; and should the Whacgape stone be selected, Poro Waikato will soon be once more a stirring place, as the great balk of the stone will have to be brought down the river in barges towed by steamers, -and shipped for Melbourne from Port YVaikatu. , The quantity-of stone required, for the Law Courts is estimated at iroin 20,000 to 30,000 tons. . We commend the subject to the attention of our local builders, for if the Whongape stone is of such a quality as to commend itself to the Melbourne people, surely' soma attention .might be given to it by the Auckland build* - ers and architects. - - - : '•• ■■;•■■