ONEHUNGA IRON WORKS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7359, 11 July 1889, Page 2

ONEHUNGA IRON WORKS.

By A. G. WRITTEN FOR THS WEKKIA' PRESS. To a colony separated by a 1000 miles of sea from the nearest mainland there Is no manufacturing industry so important as the production and manufacture of iron. Millions and millions of pounds have been sent out of the colony to buy rails and rolling stock, needed for the making, and maintaining of our public works ; which vast sums of money should have fostered reproductive industries in New Zealand. The value of machinery and other iron goods imported from year to year by companies and private individuals, is enormous for our population. In these circumstances, it is satisfactory to know that our local iron-workers are continually and successfully increasing their efforts to compete with foreign manufacturers. The difficulties which have been met with in trying to establish extensive iron-works in the colony may be shown by an account of the ironworks, situated on three acres of land between Onehunga Railway station and Harbour, six miles from Auckland. They were started about seven years ago with the object of smelting Iron from tbe black titaniferous sand, of which there are hills on hills outside the Manukau Heads, skirting the ocean beach of the West Coast, An American patent right had been purchased for separating the iron dust, a trial furnace was erected, and several tons of excellent iron were produced, but at a heavy cost. Under another manager more furnaces and machinery were erected. For a time the works were carried on; but the result was far from satisfactory. Another change of managers made things no better; so the works were stopped. Over a year ago the iron-works were again started, this time, under a manager and staff of workmen from New South "Wales, who have kept hard at work and turnout a thoroughly good article at a cost that leaves a margin of profit. The output of rod, bar, and plate iron of various sizes totals about sixty tons a week. The supply of these sorts "b now equal to the demand; so, machinery and other appliances are being completed for rolling, and, corrugating galvanised iron, for which there is an extensive and ever increasing demand. Men experienced in this branch of manufacture have been engaged and one expected to arrive in a few weeks; and the machinery now at work for rolling the plates is the . first south of the Line. No iron sand or other ore has been smelted since; the works came under the ! present management, and the supply of ' old iron seejns practically inexhaustible, i It is, however, intended to erect smelting ! furnace for the black sand and other iron . ore as soon as the works for making galvanised iron are in full swing. The mana--1 ger, Mr Hughes, considers there is no I difficulty in reducing ore from the sand, s There will always be plenty slag to weight ; the iron-dust while being subjected to the blast. " . -....,,_ It ii'desirable that there should be added to the works machinery for the drawing of wire, and for the nianufacture of girders such as are required in erecting large , brklges. The demand for fencing wire is practically inexhaustible, and for want of machinery to make large girders the Company's hands have been tied, so that they : tender for iron work like that of i the Duked-tt Exhibition building. They will, however, soon be able to execute all orders of that scrt. . ■' .. .. ' * A kiln attached to the iron-works sup* * plies fire bricks, not only for the Com- ■ pany*s requirements, which are considerable, seeing that nine furnaces are kept ' Groins: day and night, but also supplies tne ' market with tn article which it Is difficult * to get eisewhereof the same quality. On tha works there are altogether about sixty hands employed, and when the , whole of the galvanising machinery is in operation the number will be considerably ' increased.