1883-1884.] 2^1 



Carlingford. Starting from the Great Northern Terminus at 

 seven on Tuesday morning, a rapid run brought the party to 

 Bessbrook, where, through the kindness of the manager of the 

 line, the express was stopped, allowing the party to alight. 

 Proceeding in two brakes toward the town, a halt was called at 

 the polishing works of the Bessbrook Granite Company, where 

 a short time was profitably spent examining the various pro- 

 cesses necessary to produce that beautiful and enduring polish 

 of which the Newry granites are so susceptible. Examples of 

 granites from the various quarries of the company were shown, 

 varying slightly in shade and texture, but all equally durable 

 and effective. Immediately on leaving the polishing works, 

 the extensive mills and factories of the Bessbrook Linen Com- 

 pany came into view, and the town, with its regular and tidy 

 streets and handsome buildings constituting a model which 

 other parts of Ireland might copy with advantage. On the kind 

 invitation of Mr. Flynn, the manager of the granite works, the 

 party breakfasted at his charming residence, Sunnyside. Again 

 mounting the vehicles, the road was taken to the granite 

 quarries, a short distance off. The extensive nature of these 

 works can only be estimated by a visit. Thousands of tons are 

 annually sent out, much of which is dressed and despatched 

 suitably packed to all parts. The bottom of the quarry is 

 reached by a substantial stair, and it is here that the magnitude 

 of the work is more thoroughly realised, and the immense 

 labour necessary to win the material estimated. The raising 

 of the stone is mostly done by wedges, a tedious and expensive 

 process, but the only one securing the fracture and scantling 

 desired. Powerful cranes raise the blocks to the surface, whence 

 they are removed to the adjoining workshops. The supply is 

 practically inexhaustible, and any size of block desired can be 

 quarried. The smaller pieces are manufactured into paving 

 setts, a department which, with the others, gives employment 

 to several hundreds of hands. Again setting out, and passing 

 through the village of Camlough, near which other quarries 

 belonging to the same company were seen, the road — rather 



