MR. SMITH’S LECTURE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4884, 16 November 1876, Page 7

MR. SMITH’S LECTURE.

Pursuant to announcement, Mr, E. M. Smith delivered a lecture on the 23rd October in the Provincial Hall, on the practicability of smelting the New Zealand iron sand commercially. There was a very fair attendance, Mr. Travers occupying the chair. On the platform were samples of the Taranaki iron smelted, and some steel manufactured from the sand on the ground of the Titanic Steel and Iron Company. The lecturer also had a black board on the platform, and a drawing on canvas, representin" the Titanic Company’s charcoal blast furnace ; also some samples of the timber growing on the ground. Mr. Smith commenced his lecture by giving a description of tbe mode in which the iron ore was smelted, and of the comparative qualities of ores found in different countries, quoting largely from different authorities, with the object of showing that the New Zealand ore was capable of being worked at a cost quite as small, if not smaller, than that found in England, America, and Sweden. It being admitted that the Swedish ore was very much superior to the English, that found in New Zealand was proportionately superior to the Swedish. He had satisfied himself by repeated experiments of the value of this sand, and referred his hearers, for corroboration of what he stated, to the practical men to he found in Wellington, mentioning Mr. Moody, who, to his own knowledge, had been the means of starting two iron companies in England. The steel could be sold in the English market for £l6 per ton, and it could be manufactured here for £6 per ton. He (the lecturer) was of a different opinion on this point to Mr. Moody, who estimated that the cost would he £8 per ton ; but even at that there would he a large profit margin, as the furnace was capable of smelting 100 tons per week. He then proceeded to' point out what he termed the advantages of the company. They possessed a lease of _BJ miles of beach, containing an inexhaustible supply of iron sand (the richest in the world), a splendid furnace —a complete plant in fact. Taking the iron in its rough state to be worth ss. per ton, he estimated the value of the iron deposit on the company’s lancl as being £1,000,000. Then there was the timber on the land, and the valne of the land itself at present rates was £2 per acre. Taking these things into consideration, he thought the company should be congratulated on their prospects. He gave them authorities to show that the Taranaki iron sand possessed four qualities which were never found combined in the ore of other countries, that was to say, when converted into steel, it was, as stated by the leading cutlers of England, remarkable for brilliancy of polish, keeness of edge, elasticity, and strength. He concluded his lecture by expressing a hope that the company would go earnestly to work, and that the public would awake to a full sense of the importance of developing the* immense resources of the country. Mr.- Travers thought it would he interesting to the meeting and the public to receive information from Mr. Smith as to the quantity of the material used in the production of the pigs of iron, and the cost thereof.. Mr. Smith said he had received a telegram from Mr. Chilman, stating that he had sent an estimate; but of course that could only arrive by post. In reply to Mr. O’Neill, he stated that Mr. Chilman based his calculations on the statements of the steel and iron manufacturers in England as to this iron sand. Mr. Danes asked Mr. Smith to give them an estimate of the cost of producing 100 tons of pig iron ready for shipping, in order that it might be sent Home, so as to get at its real commercial value.

Mr. Smith replied that he - could as easily have produced 100 tons as three tons—the amount he had successfully smelted. He ex-' plained also that it took some time before the furnace was in order, until, in fact, it had been blown in about three weeks. One hundred tons could be produced and ready for shipment within one month. An to the information asked for by Mr. Danks, he should take an early opportunity of waiting upon that gentleman and giving him information which he believed would satisfy him perfectly, and induce him to invest money in the company. He pointed out that it would be useless for Rim to make a statement as to the cost, because it would only be regarded as the opinion of one individual, and not perhaps he received with belief; hut he hoped to be able to prove to. them shortly that his belief in the iron sand of Taranaki was based on substantial grounds. (Applause.) Mr. Travers remarked that whatever the quality of the sand, it could not be worked without money in the first instance, and people in this colony and elsewhere had a tendency to want to do what would cost a pound with a penny; and having subscribed tbe penny, were generally in a hurry to get dividends. A vote of thanks was .given to Mr._ Smith for his lecture, which was very entertaining, the subject being one of great interest throughout the colony at the present time, and Mr. Smith handled it in a pleasant and thoroughly practical manner.