185 (198)
2150/1
Q.-West of the New Territory?
A.—No, I know the Sai Kung line district.
The Chairman.-There is no limestone there, it is all shell lime.
A. There is no stone lime done there at all.
Mr. Shelton Hooper. Here is an analysis of some stone sample, I have got from the place I have just quoted, Kwei Chung. The analyst says this stone is a coarse green marble, and its cleanness of texture prevents its use to any large extent for lime making, &c. (Quotes). There is an analysis of the stone and lime. I would like to shew it to you, and ask you for any remarks you might have.
A.This is almost pure marble. I dont profess to be a chemist to any extent, but I see that the calciate carbon is very high in this sample.
lime.
Q.-There is another analysis of the lime itself,-one is of the stone, and the other the
A.-I know this. There was an experiment sometime ago. That low grade' limestone was got, good enough for cement, and they made lime of that, but it was so difficult to slake that lime that it would be utterly impracticable here. You can't sit down and slake lime for a week on a building.
Mr. Fung Wa Chun.-You say there was some objection to bringing limestone here. What is the objection?
A-I dont know. would put any money Warren and Company.
The only thing I know is that there never has been anyone who into it. I have tried to get one or two contractors to combine with. Warren and Company can get the stone, but the West River men won't come down to Hongkong, and the Hongkong men won't go there. They are very conservative.
The Chairman. Might it not be that the people who are engaged in the shell lime business dont want those people to start?
A. That may be. At the same time, they cannot supply the demand at the present
moment.
-But they are probably doing very well for themselves?
A.They have put up the price a great deal.
Q-But so far as you know, it might be possible to work it profitably ?
A. Yes.
Q.-You dont see any reason why it should not be worked profitably ?
A.—I would not like to say that. I dont understand the Chinese method of doing business.
Q.-The objection might be a real one, that there is no money in it?