NAURU-OCEAN ISLAND PHOSPHATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3500, 12 April 1921, Page 11

NAURU-OCEAN ISLAND PHOSPHATE.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ' SHIPMENTS. The preliminary negotiations have been completed, and the following terms and i conditions approved for all shipments ot I phosphate rock from Nauru and Ocean j Islands up to and including June 30, 1921 j (says the Journal of Agriculture) : 'ihe price of the phosphate delivered at j Auckland, Wellington, Eytt-eiton, or Fort Chalmers, and Bluff will be £4 5s per ton of 22401 b, covering the cost of freight and : insurance (f.p.a.) to port of discharge. ! Any insurance against war or other special risks shall be paid by the buyers. This price applies only to cargoes of Irom about 4000 to 6000 tons. Buyers to pay harbour improvement rate or any similar rate which may bo imposed by the Government or ; local authority. This flat rate has been decided upon (in substitution for sale at per unit) consequent upon the fatt that the commissioners make their sales ex islands at a fiat rate f.o.b. The phosphate will be guaranteed to con- | tain phosphoric acid equivalent to a minimum of 80 per cant, o-t tribasic phosphate of lime (calculated on the normal condition : as delivered). Should the percentage of moisture in the moisture sample exceed 5 per cent, an allowance to be made at the j rate of 6d per ton for drying. Buyers to receive a minimum weight of j 500 tons per weather working day in terms of the charter-party. Demurrage shall be paid by the buyers at the rate of per net register ton per day. Despatch-money earned will be for sellers’ account, but buyers will be paid their overtime expenses. Railway weights at port of discharge to be j accepted. j Payment is to be made in Auckland to Messrs Henderson and M’Farlane, the officially appointed agents for New Zealand, as follows: —Three-fourths invoice value on arrival of the vessel, balance on adjustment of weights, . . j It must he understood that this price refers to sales up to Juno 30 only, and that, largely in consequence of the condi- . tion of the freight market, and/'a pos- j si ble variation in f.o.b. cost, the c.i.f. price may be varied aa from July 1 onv,'turds. GRINDING OF THE PHOSPHATE ROCK. The phosphate rock is quarried on the islands, and there reduced where necessary by rock-breakers to a convenient size for handling. It is shipped in bulk, and an average cargo as delivered in New Zealand into trucks varies from fine dust to pieces about the size of a man’s fist. In this form the phosphate is unsuitable for use as a fertiliser It has first to be ground, and it has then two main uses: it is either converted into superphosphate or applied directly to the soil alone or in mixtures. For successful employment as a fertiliser in its raw state the phosphate must be very finely ground, much more so than is necessary for conversion to super, and the district must be. a suitable one for its use, an adequate rainfall being essential. Iho standard of fineness is usually indicated by the percentage of any given quantity winch will pass through a 100-mesh sieve. For successful employment in top-dressing, or for other direct application to the soil, at least SO per cent, should p. ass through a 100-mesh sieve, while the higher the centage above that the more success ul will be the result obtained. Available particulars in regard to the use of ground phosphate rock as a fertiliser may be obtained from the department. * The phosphate rock quarried is of varying degree of hardness, but it may be said that in any shipment received there will be a, considerable proportion of bard rock and a plant suitable for reducing tins will be neoess&ry. The -department h-36 nia-ae many inquiries with a view to having" avail able for reference particulars of suitable plants from the manufacturers of which any one desiring to erect works could ob tain estimates and other information. ihe complete plants consist of a crusher of the rock-breaker type and a grinding mill, together with elevators and screens tor silt in?. In addition, the necessary power to drive the plant would have to be Provided and there would, of course, be the binding It is probably safe to say that one of the plants'described could not be put un complete and ready for working under £12,00(1 unless there was cheap power available, and a substantial building was dispensed witn. The New Zealand Phosphate Commissioner recently made inquiries in America and England in regard to grinding plants. He reports that he has been favourably impressed by the particulars of two types * of pi mts brought under his notice, and considers that either should prove eminently suitable. They both employ (he “principle cf the .air separation for sifting the ground rock, instead of screens or sieves, and the necessary fineness should therefore be ensured. , A number of inquiries have reached the department regarding a smaller plant of a more portable type, suitable for associations of farmers wishing to deal with a comparatively small quantity. A plant which has been successfully employed in grinding the harden class of limestone has been brought under notice,, and as soon .as the necessary raw material can be obtained the department will arrange to give it a practical trial in order to determine whether it would grind phosphate rock to the necessary fineness. * It must be pointed out, however, that small quantifies of rock will necessarily cost more than the price quoted for single shipments of from 4COO to 6000 tons." delivered at. one of the main ports Tf arrangements have, to be made for delivering in smaller lots there must be an addition to the price consequent upon extra handling charges. EH DEG. The latest reports from the United Kingdom, America, and Australia regarding the ’ prices of hides indicate a continued weakening of values. The opinion is expressed by authoritative journals that the low prices now being paid for hides will (form the basis of the future values of leather. With the present chaotic, conditions throughout the world it is anticipated that a rise in prices is much further away than at first appeared when the decline in the market commenced.