A NEW INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18541, 29 April 1922, Page 4

A NEW INDUSTRY

THE NOAKAKA IRON WORKS. A PROMISING REPORT, (From Opr Own Reporter.) NASEBY, April 28. For the past 18 months the Onakaka Iron and Steel Company has been engaged establishing the iron industry between Tabaka and Collingwood. The company has erected quite a number of houses for the accommodation of the staff and workmen, and it was claimed that, its blast furnace has been constructed in accordance with the most • modern practice. It was further claimed that the company would be able to produce pig iron, suitable in quantity and quality for the requirements of the whole dominion, and equal to Scottish pig iron. The Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Mines), who visited the locality three weeks ago, undertook to instruct the Inspecting Engineer of Minos to inspect (he works, and the Minister la-day received a telegram from that officer stating- that the furnace had commenced to run pig iron yesterday, and that the iron produced was of the required softness; that it was grey in colour, and that it was a marketable product. Each tapping was improving, and the results appeared to be satisfactory. 'Hie coke used for the purpose of this blast was obtained partly from Australia, and partly from Wellington. It is the intention of the Mines Department to have the iron analysed. The Inspecting Engineer is watching the experiments daily, and will remain at the works until Sunday next, when he will submit a further report to the Minister. In 1920 the bonus payable under tho Iron and Steel Industries Act of 1910 was revived, with a view to stimulating interest in the industry, and it is the intention of the company to so conduct its operations that, it will be able to claim the bonus provided for .by the, Statute. It is understood that a great deal of the capital of the company has been found by the ironmasters of tho dominion.