NEW ZEALAND IRON.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13939, 24 July 1917, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND IRON.

THE PARAPARA DEPOSITS. COMMENTS BY DOMINION'S COMMISSION. "There are many deposits of iron ore throughout the islands of New Zealand,' states the final report of the Dominions Royal Commission, "but tho only one of any real magnitude is at Parapara, on the west coast of the South Island, Its contents have been variously estimated, but the total is undoubtedly very large, The ore is of good quality, suitable for foundry purposes and for making basic steel, but the requirements of the New Zealand market would not at present justify the outlay necessary for conversion into steel. It was suggested to us.that a market could be found for the ore in Japan, and we are of opinion that, it would be in the interests of New Zealand that it should be exported to 'as many markets as possible in order that its quality should be thoroughly tested, It would be welcomed in tho United Kingdom, but we fear that the cost of freight would render shipment there impossible.

• "New Zealand has an asset of great potential value in the ironsands on the West Coast, The metallic iron contained is virtually free from deleterious ingredients, and the supply is practically inexhaustible, But to convey it to any distanco in the present form would be very costly, whilst its conversion would in all probability involve treatment in electric furnaces. This asset is essentially so valuable that it is not likely to remain permanently neglected." The report adds that towards the end of 1916 a beginning was made with the utilisation of the ironsands of Taranald for the production of iron and steel. The statement of the report that the Pnrapara deposit of irou ore is "the only one of real magnitude" in New Zealand is sweeping in view of the limited amount of prospecting work that has been undertaken in coneetion with the known irou deposits. There is a bed of iron ore about sixty feet thick on the west side-of Mount Peel, in Canterbury, for'instance. Samples of the ore have been shown to contain 5l! per cent, of metallic iron, and the de. posit has been traced for n distance .'of three mllos. An.extensive deposit of iron oreC (limonito and glaucouitc.) occurs on'the western slopes of Mount Royal, in Otago. It contains about 37 per cent of metal, and has tocon stated by experts to be important-as regards both quality and position,