ONEKAKA IRON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23124, 24 August 1938, Page 16

ONEKAKA IRON

EXTENT OF DEPOSITS POSSIBLE OVER-ESTIMATE STATEMENT BY MINISTER PROGRESS OF SURVEYS t , [by ieleghaph—phess association] CHEISTCHURCH, Tuefeday "At the moment it looks as if Mr. Mackintosh Bell's estimates of tho extent of the ore deposits were excessive," said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when asked to-day to comment on a report indicating that the available Ore deposits At Onokakn, whore it is proposed to establish tho State iron and steel works, aro woll below the original estimates. It will bo many months, according to tho Minister, before any definite estimate call bo made of tho extent of the deposits. The report referred to tho Minister was published in the Motueka StarTimes, and said: —"Although no official announcement can yet be made Jm respect, to the density of tho Onekmka iron ore deposits, it is understood tfpat tests recently carried out in Wellington disclosed a much more satisfactory position than was anticipated a few weeks ago. .J.t was then reported that tunnelling operations had not brought the results expected, and that the Onekaka deposits were yet to be proved. Lengthy Investigation "From inquiries made, it appears that the deposits at Onekaka are Of a somewhat scattered nature, but. oil the Parapara block they are very much better.- From what can be learned, it is believed that the rough estimate of 68,000,000 tons of iron ore previously made is very, wide of the mark, and even a third of that quantity would perhaps bo an optimistic estimate." Deferring to this report, Mr. Sullivan said: —"It is as yet too early to draw definite conclusions. The work of investigation is proceeding as rapidly as possible, and it is probable that many months, will elapse before anything definite can bo "said as to the extent of tho deposits. At tho moment it looks as if Mr. Mackintosh Bell's estimates ■were excessive, but exploratory work has not been carried sufficiently far to warrant my saying more at this stage. ' Basis of Government's Action Deports of the investigation made when Mr. James Mackintosh Bell was director of tho Xew Zealand Geological Survey were those on which the Government based its estimates in deciding to launch the State iron and steel industry at Onekaka. Until the surveys now being undertaken over the wliolo area, the details supplied in those reports were the only reliable official data available. At present more than 100 men are •working two shifts daily in carrying out an'exhaustive survey the area to prove it thoroughly. Nine tunnels are being.driven at intervals into the Onekaka block on the site of tho old quarries along the contour linos, and a similar scheme is being undertaken at Parapara, a few miles to tho seaward. Once tracks aro opened, an exadjacent area will be surveyed and tunnelled for the first time.