Hull — On the Different Varieties of Irish Paving-Setts. 99 



Chester, and Wigan, and for several of the approaches to railway 

 stations where there is heavy traffic. 



Arkloiv, Co. Wieklow. — These quarries, which belong to Mr. 

 Parnell, M.P., produce three separate varieties of stone. From 

 the samples I have received they may be described as belonging 

 to the whinstone class. 



No. I. is a coarse-grained crystalline diorite, or greenstone, of a 

 dark-green colour, consisting of felspar, hornblende, and some 

 magnetite. It occurs in the form of a dyke penetrating the Silu- 

 rian slate along the banks of the Aughrim river, about a mile 

 above Wooden Bridge Inn. The rock breaks with a rough surface, 

 and shapes well into setts. 



No. II. is a coarsely- crystalline felstone of a dark-blue colour, 

 with a little pyrites in distinct crystals. It breaks with a rough 

 surface, and is lighter than No. I. 



No. III. may be described as a compact felstone of a bluish 

 colour, with even fracture. Setts from this rock would be liable to 

 wear with a smooth surface, on which account it is, in my opinion, 

 inferior to Nos. I. and II. 



The stones from the Arklow district are now being largely used 

 in the city of Dublin ; and I understand from Mr. Parke Neville, 

 the Borough Engineer, that the price paid under last contract was 

 24s. per ton delivered at Harcourt-street Station or on the Quays. 



In off ering these few remarks on the nature and sources of Irish 

 paving-stones, I have no intention of personally recommending any 

 special stone to public favour ; but only of affording data on which 

 selections may be made for special purposes and localities. It will 

 be gathered from what I have stated that, in my opinion, different 

 varieties of stone have their own special uses ; and that, in provid- 

 ing for the requirements of a large city, certain varieties may be 

 more usefully employed in one part than another, according to the 

 nature and amount of the traffic. 



