62 T. H. HOUGHTON. 



Most of the lime produced here is burned in "intermitt- 

 ent" kilns of the D type, which are somewhat primitive 

 when compared with the more modern type of kiln operating 

 in other countries. Recently, however, two modern pro- 

 ducer-gas continuous kilns have been erected, and probably 

 as the demand for lime increases the wasteful D kiln will 

 be replaced by others more up-to-date. 



Up till 1914 each year showed a small progressive gain 

 in the amount of lime manufactured, increasing from 18,000 

 tons in 1908 to 36,207 tons in 1914. Since then, however, 

 owing to war conditions, building operations have been 

 considerably curtailed and the lime industry has suffered — 

 the production in 1916 totalling only 26,500 tons. 



With a return to normal conditions, entailing an increased 

 •demand for lime for building, agricultural and chemical 

 purposes, an increased production is assured. 



Marble. 



A display of New South Wales marbles was made at the 

 Franco-British Exhibition in London in 1908, and was 

 awarded the Grand Prize, while at the Panama Pacific 

 International Exposition at San Francisco in 1915 a similar 

 exhibit was awarded "Medal of Honour," in both cases the 

 juror speaking in the highest terms of our marbles. 



While there is no question as to the general excellence 

 of our coloured marbles, including all shades of red, pink, 

 blue, grey, dove, ivory, black, etc., and handsome breccias, 

 unfortunately the deposits of white marble so far exploited 

 have been either too coarse or not sufficiently uniform in 

 texture for sculptural and monumental work, and do not 

 compare favourably with Carrara, Grecian or American 

 white marbles. 



Although attention has been directed to these deposits 

 since the early days of the State, it is only within the 

 past few years that determined efforts have been made to 



