Lime.

Limestones fit for burning into lime are found in many places near the sea board of Otago, and also at Lake Wakatipu; all, except the marble of Horse Range, belonging to the Oamaru formation.

In the interior also stalactites and stalagmitic incrustations are found in the caves in the mica schist rocks, and near Clyde a travertine, that has been deposited by a small stream running from the schists, is burnt for lime.

Several analyses of these limestones will be found in the "New Zealand Exhibition Jurors Reports and Awards, App. a, p. 448." But it is not necessary for me to reproduce them here, especially as I have not been able to identify the localities of many of them.

The great increase in the use of concrete for building has made the manufacture of Portland cement a very important industry, which it would be highly advantageous to introduce if possible into the Province. Portland cement is said to be manufactured from pure carbonate of lime (chalk) ground under water, with the mud from rivers running through a limestone district. If this latter is necessary, it appears to me that of all the rivers in the Province, those near Oamaru are most likely to furnish the best material, and probably the neighborhood of Kakanui mouth, would be found a suitable place for establishing this industry.

The Hampden boulders (septaria) would, no doubt, also furnish an inferior cement, but I think that the supply of the material would be found very limited.