CARBONISATION OF SLACK COALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20828, 21 September 1929, Page 20

CARBONISATION OF SLACK COALS.

ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW WORKS. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, September 20. Tbe site for the works to be established in Waikato for tbe carbonisation of slack coals has been selected on the property of the Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., at Rotowaro, and the erection of the buildings required to house the plant will be undertaken soon after the arrival of certain English and German industrial experts in November. Mr W. D, Holgate, chairman of the Waikato Carbonisation, Ltd., which is financed by four coal companies interested in the Waikato coalfield, stated that the location of works at Rotowaro would permit the efficient handling of all slack produced in the Taupiri Company’s mine. The balance of the slack required to keep the.plant in operation would be conveyed from the Pukemiro mine and the Renown mine at Waikokowai by an aerial tramway, for the construction of which quotations were now being obtained in Great Britain. A consulting engineer representing Fuel Industries, Ltd., London, had left England, and was proceeding via Canada to New Zealand. He was due to arrive at Auckland by the Aorangi on November 5, and would bring with him specifications for the requisite buildings and plgnt. A start would immediately be made with the preparation of the foundations, and the visiting engineer would supervise the work of erection and installation of the Lurgi distillation plant. The first section of the plant would, arrive from Germany early in the new year, and a representative of the German Metal Bank Company would come to New Zealand to direct the work of installation. The plant should be in working order within 12 months. Until a substantial market is .built up for the product of the new works, it is proposed to operate the plant with one shift a day. This will require the employment of 40 men.