Buiatrr.—On the Building Materials of Otago. 137 
stone dresses as easily as an ordinary sandstone, and has a handsome ap- 
pearance with any kind of work, smooth, dressed, chisselled, or picked. 
Although the chalky feel of its surface is a symptom of weakness, the class 
to which it belongs is a durable one, and it is therefore entitled to a fair 
trial. The steps at Larnach Castle are made of the Harbour Cove tuffa, 
in one length of eight feet. Although thus placed in the most trying situa- 
tion, the stone is wearing remarkably well, and Captain Hutton says that 
soft trachyte is often as durable as basalt or bluestone. 
Freestones. 
The freestones of Otago are naturally subdivided into three classes :— 
arbles, 
2nd. Limestones, 
8rd. Sandstones. 
As some of the trachytes and tuffas just described might well be classed 
under the head of freestones, so, on the other hand might the marble and 
crystalline limestones be included with the hardstones. It is, however, less 
confusing to let each be considered with the other members of its own 
family, although its character accords better with a stranger. 
Marbles. 
The marbles of Otago are still, practically speaking, unknown and 
untouched ; the information collected about them is meagre in the extreme, 
and the few known deposits have not yet been utilized. 
A grey variegated marble exists at the Horse Range in considerable 
quantities ; it has all the characteristics of a true marble, and seems equal 
in every respect to the imported samples of the same variety. It has not, 
however, been worked, and there is little known as to the extent of the 
seam. 
Dr. Hector reports the existence of marble of various colours and con- 
sistency in several localities on the West Coast. In no case, however, did 
he find the rock in situ; the specimens were always taken from large 
isolated blocks and boulders. They comprise pure white and the common 
variety of colours, with others of a rarer description, such as white and 
green specked with brown and lead coloured mica. The white is stated to 
be suitable for statuary ; the samples in the museum shew the grain to be 
rather coarse and crystalline for this purpose. But, in all probability, this 
defect will not exist in stone from solid rock, should such be discovered. 
From a geological point of view, the localities just mentioned, as well as the 
carboniferous formations, are calculated to produce marbles of all kinds, so 
I trust they will ere long be thoroughly explored. 
A connecting link between marble and limestone is found at ‘ Crooked 
Arm”’ in the stone called Cipollino. It has all the appearance of coarse 
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