Correspondence

Progress, Volume XI, Issue 8, 1 April 1916, Page 603

Correspondence

To the Editor, " Progress.’ Sir, In congratulating you upon the fine article on New Zealand Marble appearing in the February number of your interesting and most instructive paper, I would respectfully draw your attention to one glaring inaccuracy which rather detracts from the value of an otherwise admirable and well handled subject,—l refer to the comparison drawn between lona Marble and the marble from Kairuru, Takaka Hills. lona Marble, (as it is termed) is really a rich green serpentine, somewhat similar to, but more beautifully variegated than the Ringborg Green Serpentine, owned and worked by the Nya Marmoribanks Aktiebouget, Novrkoping Sweden, or to the American "Verdi Antco” Serpentine, but really most like the famous decorative Serpentine termed Green Mexican Onyx. The nearest approach to lona marble in New Zealand is the Serpentine worked by the Greenstone Coy., near Kumara, on the West Coast, and another point of similarity exists, in that, both Nephryte and Serpentine are found in lona. There is therefore, not the slightest similarity between Takaka Hills Marble and lona Green Serpenand they come under an entirely different classification. The lona variegated Serpentine is entirely used for ornamental and decorative purposes. There is but one quarry in the island of lona, and it was originally opened by myself only ten years ago, for the late Duke of Argyll, I was afterwards manager at the quarries for the lona Marble Coy. Ltd., whose present address is, 36 Southampton Street, Strand, London, W.C., and their quarry manager’s address is Mr. W. Edgar, The Quarries, lona, Argyll/ Scotland, to whom you may refer for confirmation of my statement. Several of the Wellington architects have seen a sample of lona Marble, which I brought out direct from lona Quarries six years ago, and Mr. Charlesworth may still have a small Continued on next page.

polished piece in his office. It is surely, extremely absurd to say that a beautiful white, grey or blue marble is infinitely superior in quality and colour to a beautiful green serpentine. Where no similarity exists, there can be no comparison. I am, Sir, Yours respectfully, William H. B. Vass.