TAKAKA MARBLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23129, 30 August 1938, Page 7

TAKAKA MARBLE

TUNNELLING IN PROGRESS

QUARRYING TO BEGIN SOON

USE IN PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

[by TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NELSON, Monday

Marble to be used in the completion of Parliament Buildings in Wellington is now being sought in the Takaka district, where extensive marble deposits exist. It was from this area that the handsome grey marble adorning the completed section of the buildings was taken. It appears that activity will soon begin in quarrying for new stone with which to carry on the work on the proposed additional buildings. Tunnels have been recently driven into the marble near the top of tho Takaka Hill, which for 10 miles shows outcrops of fine grey marble. It is stated that soon construction will be commenced of a road into one of the quarries where tunnelling is in progress, and that from this site will be quarried all the marble to be used in facing the new additions to Parliament Buildings, and —where polished marble

is necessary—for interior work. The

area is well above the old quarry which supplied marble for the existing building in Wellington. The Takaka marble deposits are said to be among the most extensive in the world. For many miles along the road over the Takaka Hill marble crops rise above the grass and scrub in weird formations, which have been one of the most interesting scenic features of the routo for many years. Geologists say that some of the funnel-shaped sink-holes which abound in the district lead to extensive subterranean cavern systems. Men who have been let down into some of them by ropes have wandered for hours in these underground caves. The site which will be selected by tho Public Works Department for quarrying will be only a few chains from the main road over the Takaka Hill, assuring satisfactory transport arrangements.

It is claimed that there is enough marble of high quality in this area to build all future public buildings in New Zealand for many-years, and "that it is proposed, in addition to using this stone for Parliament, to use it for facing the block of buildings which the Government plans to erect to house the Conservatorium of Music and the administrative offices for the Broadcasting Department. NEW GUINEA TIMBER PROPOSALS FOR MILLING AREA TO BE THROWN OPEN [from our own correspondent] CANBERRA, August 22 Efforts are being made by the New Guinea Administration to develop a timber milling industry on the New Guinea mainland. The experiment, which was formally launched to-day, follows an investigation of the timber resources of the territory and the subsequent appointment of a small forestry staff. The survey revealed that the territory contained large areas of valuable timber.

It was announced recently that the Administration had decided to throw open ■ a large area of forest in the Bulolo Valley for milling. The area is estimated to contain 50.000.000 super feet of commercially useful hoop and Klinkii pines, and a smaller quantity of cedar and secondary timbers. COUNTRY STOCK SALES DEMAND AT TAUPIRI The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports a small yard in if of cattle at Taupiri, consisting of store and honer cows. These met with good competition, prices realised fully maintaining recenl quotations. Killable cows, £1 12s (id to £1 lTs (id; heavy stores, £4 to £-1 8s; heavy boners, £3 7s (id to £3 r_'s (id; medium, £2 los to £3 os; others, from ft 10s. Only a very small yarding of dairy cattle was offered, quality being ordinary. The demand was quite satisfactory, late rates heing well maintained. Good quality dairy cows, £S 10s to £!»; medium quality, £7 15s to £8 7s (id; backward and inferior, £5 Jos to £0 .'Os. A small yarding of fat pigs came forward, these meeting with good competition, prices easily maintaining recent quotations in other centres. An average yarding of store pigs met with very keen competition, high prices being realised in this section of the yarding, with a total clearance. Medium baconers. £3 11s to £3 ISs. light, £3 os to £3 12s; heavy porkers, £2 l-1s to £3 2s; buttermilk pigs nnd medium porkers, £2 (is to £2 12s; light porkers, £1 ISs to £2 ss; large stores. 37s to 41s; medium, 32s to 3<is; light, 27s to 31s; slips 22s to 2<>s; best weaners. 17s to 21s (id; others, 10s to 15s. OHINEWAI OFFERING Wright, Stephenson and Company, Limited, advise a fair entry at Ohinewai. There was quite a good demand for all classes of cattle. Heavy prime bullocks made up to £l3; medium weights, £lO 10s to £ll 15s; lighter, down to £!>. The quality of fat cows was only fair. Heavy rows. £S 10s to £!( 17s Gd: medium quality, £(i to £7 H)s; lighter. £4 12s to £5 Ids. Honer cows met with a ready sale up to £5 os; average sorts, £3 to £4 ss; culls, down to '.' os; two-year steers, C 5 15s to C 7 !'s, according to size and condition. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Limited, reports only a small yarding of fat and store cattle, values throughout heing on a par with recent quotations A small yarding of dairy cattle was not in keen' demand. However, vendors met the market. Medium fat bullocks, £lO to £ll Is; light fat cows, £5 5s to £({ 7s (id; others, £1 15s to £5 '2s (id; heavy stores, £1 to £t 12s (id; stores. C 3 to £4; boners. 25s to £2 ss; medium quality dairy heifers. £7 10s to £S 15s.

CLEARANCE AT KAURI [[•ROM OUI! UVN CORRESPONDENT]

WHANG AI! EI, Monday

The North Auckland Farmers' Co-opera-tive Limited, reports holding a clearing sale on behalf of Mr W. Carter, of Kauri. The sale was held in had weather, and there was a fair attendance, bidding for sundries being very brisk. Most of the cows were in milk and' did not make big money. Prices were as follows: —Dairy cows, to calve, £(i His to £!> ss; cows in milk, best quality, £5 5s to £(! Ids; medium, £1 15s to £5 7s (id; vearling Jersey bull, £1; heifer calves. 15s to 30s; JerscN steer calves, 12s to '2ls.

KIOREROA CLEARANCE [from ouu own correspondent]

WHANG Alt EI. Monday

Walter Wakelin reports a clearing sale on account ot Mr. L. P. Ford, of Kioreroa. The cattle came forward in only fair condition and. in spite of the fact that they comprised mostly lnte culvers, sold fairly well. Dairy cows, close to profit, made from £(> 1()s to £R- more backward sorts, £5 5s to £(>; poor conditioned. £ 1 5s to £5 'is (id; dairy heifers, close up. ,C(> os to £7; backward, to £5 10s: one two-year-old Jersey bull made nine guineas: small yearling Jersey heifers. £'2 to £■•_> ss; yearling Jersey bulls, to £'-2; empty two-year heifers, to i:3 10s.

ATTENDANCE AT KAMO [from our own correspondent]

WHANGAREI. Monday

Walter Wakelin reports a successful sale at Kamo, where a hirs?e entry of both dairy cattle and pigs was submitted to a largo attendance of buyers. Competition was keen throughout, and a total clearance resulted. The sale of pips was easily the best of the season, the v large entry meeting with an exceptionally good market. Best Jersey cows, close to profit, made from £0 to £(); medium, £<l to £5 15s; good quality Jersey heiferß, £0 to £7 10s; Shorthorn dairy heifers, £5 10s to £7; cows and heifers, in milk, £4 to £7 10s; food quality Jersey heifers, £3 to £3 15s; two-year empty Shorthorn heifers. £2 10s to £3 10s; yearling Jersey bulls, £3 10s; two-year-olds, £0 10s; light fat cows, £5 to £5 15s; store cows, £3 to £4; boner cows, £1 10s to £3 10s; a pen of fat and forward wethers realised 25s Od. Pigs: Heavy porkers, £2 16s to £3 3s; largo uteres, £2 to £2 19s 6d; medium, 32s to 3Ss; slips, 24b to 3Ss; weaners. lis to 2Gs ad; breeding lows, £3 10s to £8 fie.