TARANAKI PIG IRON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17158, 10 November 1917, Page 8

TARANAKI PIG IRON

TESTS AT WELLINGTON AND DUNEDIN. HIGHLY SATISFACTORY RESULTS. Some of the iron recently smelted at tho Now Zealand Iron Ore Smelting Company's works at Moturoa was sent to Dunedin and Wellington to be tested for practical purposes. At Wellington the tests were made at Robertson and Co.'s foundry in the presence of Mr H. Okey, M.P., tho Wellington Harbour Board engineer, representatives of foundries and of the press. Messrs J. V. Heskett (the company's metallurgist) and F. Smallbone (the company's engineer) were also present. Three trials were made, one of pure Taranaki pig, one of half Taranaki pig and half selected scrap iron, and • one of ono part Taranaki pig and throe parts Bcrap. Bars for testing were cast, one of each of the three being for the Public Works Department for testing. Casting of a commercial character were made, bnt were untestable for working until they i had cooled. Samples of pure Taranr.ki I pig were chilled and then drilled, and were found by Robertsons to be very satisfectorj when holes were drilled. Th.-y expect them to be amenable when turning up in the lathe. Messrs Robertson find Co. are satisfied with tho tests so far a? they have gone and predict a goo.i market at present prices of pie if sufficient deliveries can be made. The Taranaki pig

pore when run through the cupola flowed out freely and when set was close grained like- Australian iron.. Fears of_ its being too hard to work are not justified in Messrs Robertson's opinion, providing the bulk is up to sample. Two tons of tho hard white iron and a ton of mottled were sent to Messrs Reid and Gray, of Dunedin. who have telegraphed a) report to Wansranui stating: "Pig iron from you is first-class quality and equal, if not superior, to the best imported brands of foundry iron."