TAIPO: A NEW EXPLOSIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10007, 19 December 1895, Page 5

TAIPO: A NEW EXPLOSIVE.

Dprlno the nineteenth contury science has given birth to many inventions that have tended to advance the interests of the commercial world, but in the instance of tho Taipo explosive, it may bo safely said that it not only does so, bub that, looked upon from a sanitary point of view, its introduction into New Zealand must be hailed by the mining community us a friend indeed. An explosive, cheap, safe, powerful, and free from noxious fumes, has long been desired, and it cannot be a matter of surprise in this ago of enlightenment that a genius should arise who would solve tho problem. The patents for this invention are tho property of a Melbourne company, tho chairman of which is the Honorable J. A. Wallace, M.L.C., ono of tho wealthiest and largest mining proprietors in Victoria, and from which company a powerful and influential Auckland syndicate have secured the Now Zealand patents. To demonstrate that the explosive would fulfil all that is claimed for it a large number of gentlemen met yesterday afternoon at Mr, Pascoe'a quarries, Kyber Pass Road, at the invitation of fcho provisional directors, in order to witness an exhibition test of the explosive, amongst) those present boing Colonel Burton, Professor Black, Messrs. James Russell, Soyinour Thome George, E. M. Corbett, W. Fallon, J. J. Macky, Horace Buntings, and othor wellknown citizens, lioforo proceeding to fire tho various shots tho compound was placed on an anvil and sub- 1 jected to the most sovere concussion ' under the hammer, from which test it emerged most successfully. Several pellets of the compound were then tried to ascertain if they would withstand friction, and a quantity of the explosive ignited to provo that it was free from noxious fumes, in both of which tests it scored triumphantly. Several test shot* were then tired, and in tho opinion of Professor Black and Mr. Fallon, as woll as other experts present, its power was fully demonstrated. lb is reckoned by those competent to judge that it will savo at least '23 per cent, in the cost of blasting. A company is in course of formation, and the prospoctus will bo shortly placod before tho public.