WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20474, 20 July 1936, Page 3

WAIMATE

STONE FOR OAMARU SUPPLY FROM GORGE With the stone urgently required for protective work on the waterfront at Oamaru, where high seas recently caused considerable erosion, seven men are engaged in quarrying stone from the Waimate Gorge. The work was commenced in March, when stone was required for work at Rangitata, but the emergency at Oamaru has created a demand which the Waimate quarry cannot fulfil quickly enough, and supplies are also being drawn from Little River, Banks Peninsula. The quarry is situated near the Gorge Road and adjacent to the railway about two miles from Arno. The men are working at present on an almost precipitous side of a hill, and although the work has been proceeding for some months and some thousands of tons of rock have been removed apparently little impression has been made on the hill. “The stone is the hardest and heaviest I have ever had experience with,” stated Mr J. W. Lamont, the foreman, in conversation with a “Timaru Herald” reporter. Weighing 25cwt. to a cubic yard it is difficulty to quarry and the workmen have trouble owing to the drills sticking in the hard flinty material. It is interesting to note that this is the third occasion that quarrying in the gorge has been attempted, and this time it was started as an experiment for the works at Rangitata. The protective works at Oamaru require the stone in large blocks, and the heaviest blocks quarried range from three to seven tons. The geological conformation of the stone is in practically horizontal layers, with the intervening surfaces as smooth as glass. There are also vertical divisions, giving the appearance of huge cubes of rocks buried in the hill. OBITUARY MRS ALFRED J. S. JONES The sudden death of Mrs Alfred J. S. Jones, of High Street, Waimate, which occurred late on Thursday afternoon, caused widespread regret in Waimate, where she had resided for almost 30 years. Mrs Jones was born ini 1871, at Parramatta, New South Wales, and was the daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Scheggia. In 1898 she married Mr Alf Jones in Sydney, and the couple came to New Zealand, settling in Waimate, "where Mr Jones established a butchery business. Though Mrs Jones did not take a prominent part in public activities, she was well-known in the district for her philantrophy and was always to the fore in the affairs of St. Patrick’s parish. Mrs Jones was one of the foundation members of the St. Patrick’s Tennis Club and later vice-president. She leaves a husband, and five children, Blanche (Sister Rita in St. Joseph’s Convent, Paeroa), Elva, Rita, Cecil and Rangl. The funeral, which took place on Saturday morning, was one of the largest seen in Waimate for some time, more than 70 cars following the bier to the Waimate cemetery. Rev. Father Ginisty was the celebrant at Requiem Mass and also officiated at the graveside. The pall bearers were: Messrs Cecil and Rang! Jones, Des. and Mat. Cooney, Geo. Collett and A. Harris. Wreaths were forwards by Mrs A. Cox and family, Mr and Mrs E. J. Rawstorn, Miss E. Stevens and family, Mr and Mrs J. W. Halliday, Mr and Mrs N. L. Knell, Mr and Mrs Fred Jones, Mr Powell and family, MT and Mrs R. Kirk and Mrs Learning, Mrs Taaffe, Mr and Mrs A. Scott, Mr J. Wright, John Crawford, Mr and Mrs G. Collett, Staff of Jones and Sons, Miss Cook, manager and staff Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., Miss R. Greig, St. Patrick’s Tennis Club, Mr J. Neale and family, Mrs Taine and Miss Gascoyne, Mr and Mrs W. Taaffe, Mrs McPherson and family, Mr and Mrs A. S. Jones, Mr and Mrs T. Seaton and Mr and Mrs R. F. Algie.

Mr S. H. Mayne, F.S.M.C., F. 1.0. (London), representing Procters, the Premier Opticians, Christchurch, will be visiting Waimate, on Friday 24 th July from 9 ao.m. to 2.30 p.m„ when he may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Royal Hotel. Appointments can now be made by ringing th: Royal Hotel, ’phone 15