ONEKAKA IRON

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1939, Page 10

ONEKAKA IRON

SUCCESS OF PROJECT DOUBTED

Doubts whether iron ore exists in Ouekaka in deposits of sufficient bulk to allow economic working are becoming evident from test borings which have been in progress lor some time.

Bovings so far have tailed, it. is understood, to locate other than scattered pockets of ore. Tunnels will be driven shortly in the hope of tinding deposits of economic quantities. Much work lias been done in the formation of tracks into the area containing the deposits, which lie in thehills well back from the old ironworks beside the Takaka-Collingwood road. In Takaka. where the announcement of the Government’s development plan was received with enthusiasm the feeling of optimism regarding the future of the scheme is becoming tinged with doubt. Many residents arc frankly pessimistic, and others are still hopeful of a partial fulfilment of the original plan.

Hie original works, which have not been in production for several years, ate. falling into a stale of disrepair. '1 he pig-iron retort, with its attendant feeding sb cd and machinery, stands gaunt at the back of the works, and from it the aerial ore-conveyer line stretches hack into the hills, a few' beepers, ted with rust, hanging motionless. About the yard lie rusting containers, and an overhead pig-iron conveyor which formerly carried the product to road iiansport, stands with many of its moulds lying about the ground.

In contrast to the dismal look of the works, the workers’ hutments, in orderly array, are neat and cleaulcoking. They stand in three rows, and' a metalled road runs between two of the row's. A larger building serves as a dining and recreation room. They are, however, some distance from the orc workings. In the past the tvorking of iron in Gnekaka has had a hard battle for existence. Present, prospects suggest that the Government’s project is

hardly likely to meet wit Ji any greater success. The legislation under which the Government is acting is the Iron and Steel Industry Act, passed by Parliament last year. It provides for the establishment, of an iron and steel industry in New Zealand as an absolute State mono|()ly, and lhe Minister of Finance is authorised Io borrow up to C5.00(1.000, for this purpose on the

security of the public revenues. The Ac! also provides for the appointment of mu more ilmn three full-time com-'-missicners to administer the undertaking. So far. only an acting com- 1 missioner. Hr (I. A. I'a-.ru". has been' appointed. i