WESTLAND LITHOGRAPHIC STONE.

West Coast Times, Issue 3233, 4 February 1876, Page 3

WESTLAND LITHOGRAPHIC STONE.

The Melbourne Argus, commenting on the discovery of iithdgr&phic stone by Messr* Arthur tad Dbhfef kjr in Westland, observes : — The deposit is df peculiar limeatone liSuaJly called " lithographic stone," which is so extensively us^ed in the multiplication of writing and drawings. At present the world is mainly supplied with this material from Kilheim and Solenbofen neafr Pappenh^ini, on tbe Danube, in Bavaria, although it has been found in France, England, Canada, the West Indies, &c. It has also been found in Australia, but not, so far aa we can learn, of firstrate quality. The Westland 'deposit seems to be all that can be desired. It has been tested, and pronounced excellent by many gentlemen well qualified to pronounce &h opinion on sucn & subject. The officers of the New Zealand Geological Survey report that it is fine-grained, quite devoid of crystalline strucliife^aria homogeneous as to its xjojnposftioh. It tonsistfl, they pay, of from 70.73 per cent, to 87.87 per cent, of carbonate 'Qf Mine, the remainder being clay an& silicV I?he Chief Surveyor of Hpkitika sags it wijl do admirably, that ii is superior in quality, though inferior iii edlbr, to foreign stone. The Dunedin Survey officers pronounce it harder and cleaner in grain than Crerman etone. The officers 'of 'our .own Lands Department report favorably upon it, and the chief lithographer to the Department of Mraeß says thttt ,ft "take! Both oHSflc and ink remarkably well, and gives fine impressions. A large area or Tana 1 lias been secured for the prose'c&tion 'of this proposed new industry ; and it is the intention of Messrs Arthur and Doherty to invite Melbourne capitalists tfo aid them in their enterprise.