TARANAKI IRONSAND

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 11

TARANAKI IRONSAND

AT PATEA 1. ON DON COMPANY INTERESTED DIRECT SHIPMENTS PROPOSED

At the December meeting of the Patea Harbour Beard two cablegrams fiom the, London office of the pro moters of the Anglo-American Steel Company were read and both entailed a long explanation of the proper se quenee, of events by the chairman (Mr. A. T. Christensen). Early in 1929 inquiries were instituted by the promoters of the company as to the practicability ,of using Taranaki iron-sand ior the manufacture of steel. The Patea Harbour Board had given assistance to the extent- of forwarding to London samples of the sand and in return had received samples of the steel manufactured. At the time the board .entered into a live-year agreement with the promoters. giving, them the right to rise the Patea concessions of ironsand conditional .upon the manufacture, in the fifth year, of SQO tons of iron or steel. Mr. Christensen said that the agreement was due to expire in October, 1934, and the; company, suddenly realising this fact, had cabled asking for an extension of the term until March, 1935.

Yesterday a letter was received from the company stating that plant for the jkpiiparation of ironsand ores for shipdirect to Sheffield is to be installed immediately at Patea. The company forwarded a questionnaire from the firm that will instal the machinery. The letter stated that it was the company’s intention that each shipment should be of a minimum of from 1000 to 5000 tons of ore. As a canal adjoined the end of the company’s new works at Sheffield, the company thought there was a possibility of boats making the complete voyage from Patea to Sheffield. The company was depending on the ores from Patea for immediate production use at Sheffield, it was statedThe chairman (Mr Christensen) said a reply would be sent to the company giving as much as possible of the information asked for. It would be necessary to point out again that the shipments from Patea could not exceed 200 tons per trip.

It was suggested, that it would be advisable for the company either to send out an engineer from London, to obtain -first-hand information, or to obtain a report from a New Zealand authority. The chairman said these suggestions would be embodied in -the reply. Other members of the board present were Messrs S. Blake, IV. Back, G. H.; Meuli, A. Pearce, W. H. Watkins and W. H. Scutheombe.

HARBOUR LIGHTS. At its last meeting the board decided to place the electric lights on: the end of the walls for the guidance of shipping, but at yesterday’s meet-, ing the chairman reported that as the approval of captains using the port had not been received the work had not been carried further. The plans had been submitted bw him to the said the harbourmaster (CapPfein W. E. Barnes), but they had said ‘ that they had been unable to get the lights for years and did not want them now. The scheme would not assist him personally, he said. _ It was for the benefit of shipping that the board had considered the question of providing the lights, said the chairman. If the lights were not necessary the board did not wish to go to the expense of installing thenu but it was not going to be dictated to bv the captains or anyone else. Mr. Blake said it had not been possible formerly to use the electric light, and it wasj only now that the installation could be made at a reasonable cost. He thought the matter was now one for the shipping company, said the chairman. Further negotiations were left in the hands of the chairman, who was given power to act.

BOAT SHED ON RIVERI Application was received from Mr. E. (J. Gilbert for a boat shed on the left bank of the river a short distance above the traffic bridge. The matter was left with the chairman and harbourmaster, with power to act. The Patea Freezing Company wrote expressing a desire to renew the Glasgow lease on the same terms and conditions as at present. The lease would expire on October 10. It was decided to grant a renewal, subject to the board’s power to do so. The report of the harbourmaster Stated that conditions for shipping tearing February were fair, the bar jihving been unworkable on seven days. There were 17 arrivals and 16 departures, only two ships operating after February* 13. The heavy flood on February 22 and 23 silted* up the lower reaches of the river and berths, but the 'flood cleared many of the snags from the river. He could find no leakage through the eastern wall, but was not certain about the western wall, which he was watching.

DAMAGE TO LIFEBOAT. During the floods the lifeboat was missing from the davits. At about half-tide the tackles were overhauled down to the water, and the. falls were thrown down on the rocks from the top pins showing that the beat had been lowered. It came ashore at Waverley beach minus one thwart, stern sheets, pars and rowlocks, but appeared to have received little damage. 'Die approach to the dredge wharf had .subsided owing to the scour and it would require to be opened up so that concrete could be put in. The signal station was in good order. Tlie dredge was due for survey' next month but owing to the silting of the rivet it was suggested that an extension of time should be asked for. Referring to the damage to the lifeboat, the chairman expressed the opinion that the expen.se of getting the .boat back to Patea and effecting rJfJjpairs was not warranted. He suggested that the boat, which was very old, should be sold. lb w'as decided to obtain quotations for the cost of a new boat. Mr. Meuli mentioned the possibility of procuring a launch and. members

agreed that if n suitable launch could be obtained it would be advisable to purchase one. No action was taken, however. Exports through the port for January, with the figures for January, 1934, in parentheses, totalled 2379 tons (2249 tons), the approximate value being £139,820 (£135,5(50). Imports for January totalled 225 tons (257 tons).