A NEW INDUSTRY.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18242, 16 July 1931, Page 3

A NEW INDUSTRY.

MIRANDA LIME WORKS. Influence upon Thames. PRODUCT RAILED FROM HERE. HARBOUR BOARD'S AGREEMENT. | For some time past negotiations have been iu progress between the Thames Harbour Board and a firm which is desirous of commencing lime manufacturing at Miranda, in connection with the sh.pping of its product through the port of Thames. These have now been brought to a satisfactory, conclusion. An agreement has been signed between the Thames Harbour Board and Messrs Tate and Hodge, contractors, who propose to commence an agricultural lime plant at Miranda. This ensures that all the lime manufactured at Miranda will pass over the wharves controlled by the Board to supply the district from Tauranga northwards, and from Rotorua to the coast. The terms agreed upon are satisfactory to both parties, and the revenue should be in the vicinity of £750 per annum, a minimum of £3OO per annum having been guaranteed. The Board has to grant the contractors the use of the western half of the new goods shed at Burke Street wharf for storage purposes and the use of the railway siding to Thames North station. All the lime manufactured for this area will be carried by ra-.1, the agreement stipulating that no contract for road cartage will be entered into. The lime for the country north of Thames to Kereta will come over the wharf, whilst that for Paeroa and district will be waterborne from Miranda and landed at either Burke Street or Kopu wharves. All lime for south of Paeroa w.(ll be railed from Thames. An estimate of the quantity of lime to be passed over the wharves is 20,000 tons, and this will give considerable employment locally. It is understood that the product will be marketed at a very reasonable rate, and in a district such as this, which needs line for its soil, should prove a great boon to local farmers. The lime is to be manufactured at Miranda from the huge deposits of shell which exist there. It is understood that the plant is being assembled immediately, and it is expected that the first shipment should reach Thames some time in November. Another factor in the situation is that the operations of the works will lead to a largely increased railway traffic from Thames.