REFRACTORY ORE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 121, 16 February 1926, Page 6

REFRACTORY ORE

NEW INDUSTRY NEAR THAMES “GREATER VALUE THAN GOLD” “Dominion” Special. Auckland, February 15. A new industry is about to be commenced within a few miles of Thames. Its promoters say that they have found something of greater value than gold, in the grade of the refractory ore in the vicinity of Tapu and Puru, on the Thames coast. A wealthy German syndicate is said to be behind the venture, and within the next twelve months it is expected that concentration works will be erected and employment given to a very large number of men. It is known that in pre-war years a German scientist prospected the country between 1 apu and Puru thoroughly, and it is believed that negotiations’were almost completed for the sale of a valuable property when the outbreak of war put an end to the business. At the conclusion of the war the Government placed a five years’ prohibition on German enterprise in the Dominion. This ended last year, and almost within twenty-four hours of its expiry a keen agent made his headquarters in Thames. It lias taken twelve months to prospect and investigate the possibilities of the country and it is reported that a definite decision to proceed with the venture has been reached. Nothing has been left to chance. With German thoroughness evdry foot of ground has been tested, and the results are said to have exceeded the most sanguine expecta tions The preliminaries have beenpractically completed, and everything is ready to 'make a start within the next six rr.onths. , . The country under review is said to contain Huge deposits of Rad, zinc, and copper ore. Samples recently sent to Europe returned values representing £33 to £3B a ton. . Details of what is contemplated lit the near future are difficult to obtain, but from various interested sources it is learned that arrangements have been made for a number of German steamers to transport the ore, which will be loaded from lighters at the scene of operations. The first steamer is expected within six months. By this time next year it is expected that concentration works will be erected and ore treated on the spot. Ihe new industry should give employment to a large number of men.