SALE OF IRON AND STEEL ROLLING PLANT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 41

SALE OF IRON AND STEEL ROLLING PLANT.

Mr Wm. M'Larty, a nienibsr of the Natal Legislature, and promoter of the first iron and steel works in Soubh Africa, is now on a visit to Dunedin. He was accompanied by Mr J. A. Anderson, manager of the company, and a practical ironworker of 29 years' experience in England and the United States. The object of. Mr Anderson's visit with Mr M'Larty was to look at a plant, which at one time was set up at Onehunga, and is now lying idle at Burnside, and they were authorised, if satisfied after inspection that the plant would answer the African company's requirements, to complete a purchase if terms suited. The purchase, has been completed, and Mr M'Larty has let a contract to Mr Allan Johnston to load up the plant and ship it to Durban by the Federal line. The first part is to leave next Wednesday by the steamship Haversham Grange, and the- remainder will be- shipped by the- next steamer about the middle of October. Mr Anderson left last week" for Sydney, there to join the .American boat and proceed to the United States, where he is to make further purchases to complete the works. The mill is to be set up at Zurrfontein, 18 miles from Johannesburg,, on the Pretoria line. The buildings th-ere are now in course of erection, the railway connection is made, and Mr M'Larty expects the Transvaal Iron and Steel Company to roll -its 'first iron in the month of MaTch. Many of the leading Johannesburg business men are interested in the enterprise, including Sir George. Farrar and Mr Dundas Simpson, and the Anglo-French Mining Company has identified itself with the scheme. Mr M'Larty has every hope that this will be the birth of a very important industry in South Africa.