N.Z. BUILDING STONE.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17449, 11 October 1928, Page 4

N.Z. BUILDING STONE.

WHY ARE THEY UNDERRATED?

“Sydney sandstone ought never to have been imported into New Zealand,” said Dr. P. Marshall, ol' the Department of Scientific and Industrial liesearch, when addressing a gathering of Wellington architects on Thursday, “because wo have satisfactory stones for our own uses here. The theory that our stones are unsatisfactory is caused by the use, in big buildings, of stones which should never have been recommended. Indeed, we have some very fine stone.”

Vitrous tuft, which was quite soft, had twice the crushing strength and absorbed less than half as much water as Oamaru stone, as well as being impervious to the action af acid, was ono of the best stones which we possessed, according to Dr. Marshall, and could be quarried as cheaply as anv other stone. Yet it had only been used in limited quantities. It had not been used in Britain because it did not exist there, but the Colosseum at Rome had been built of it. though of a very inferior variety.

When he boiled a specimen of it for four hours in sulphuric acid it lost only .5 per cent, in weight, and when treated the same wav, but with hydrochloric acid, it diminished in weight by only .6 per cent. Sydney sandstone lost three times as much weight, as well as coherency when under such tests.

“Nelson Cathedral will be the most beautiful building in New Zealand. ’ said Dr. Marshall, who explained that it was being constructed of Takaka marble a. material which forms a portion of the Dominion building. Referring to the white marble, which is to be nsecl for the Massey Memorial, bo said that the stone used was of excellent purity, and would give a fine gleam of light, owing to the surface cleavage.

At tho conclusion of the lecture, which was illustrated by specimens of the materials referred to, several of those present expressed their appreciation of the address.