THE PARAPARA.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 12019, 21 August 1907, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PARAPARA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) \Vellington, August 20 A publication of 104 pages entitled "Tho (.oology of the Parapara Subdivision, Karamoa — Nelson" was presented to Parliament to-day. It i i of particular interest to the Nelson distrie% and of more than ordinMry interest fri the Colony as a whole. At tho outset, Dr. Bell, the director of th;i Geological survey, states that "Economic interest in tlia Karamoa division centres around The deposit of iron ore situated on tho shores of Parapara Inlet. This groat mineral feature is by no means thn only one 01 utilitarian value in 1 10 arM iind others may be enumerated aa j: .llinvs: — (1) The coal Roams, for !'m; most part of unknown lateral cxt f nr, pxposed in the extensivo beJs df older tertiary strata; (2) the metalliferous veins occurring in several parts of the disrict. Among these may be mentioned ovartz" reefs in the Golden Ridge and Gulden Blocks mine, near WestWaognnui Inlet, and the formerly very valuable Johnston's United roef, near t.io Slate river; (3) the alluvial gold Gelds situated priucipally in the valley of the Aorere river and formerly of much greater importance that at present. The amount of land available in the Parapara subdivision for agricultural purposes is apparently very limited. The open Alpine country on the top | of the mountain ridges has been found well suited for sheep of the hardier breeds, both the wool and the mutton from these high altitudes are superior to the lowland products. Ib seem.3 hardly likely that for many years to come it will be found profitable to clear for grazing purposes the rugged thickly - -wooded slopes intervening between the Alpine country and the lowlands, even where tne disintegration of the underlying strata yields a fertile soil, while the barren granite areas will probably always remain unutilised. On the Pikikirana Range, however, several thousand acres of limestone land have been cleared, ■ and form excellent sheep country. A great variety of mining operations Lias been carried out in the Parapara subdivision f ro m time to time. Alluvial goldmining has-long b?en conducted, whilst auriferous veins have bcc-ji successfully worked in soversl ins auces, and there have t>cen dfsultory attempts to mine both coal and iron. A' great deal of space is devoted iecounting what has been duno in f c district in the way of goldmining, and the history of the mideavor to establish iron ore works is also set oat in detail. The bulk of the information contained in the bulletin is of a highly technical character, Speaking of the distribution of the ore, the Government Geologist. Dr. Bell, says the Parapara iron ore deposits are at once of va3t economic value, and of great scientific interest. All of the large deposits are intimately associated with the ancient complex crystalline carbonates of the Aorere series. _ By far the most important of the iron ore bodies occur on the complex carbonate belt stretching irregularly southward from Parapara. lnlet along the Onakaka Ridge to and beyond the southern limits of the subdivision. Along this belt there are four distinct deposits. The largest and most northerly deposit is that occurring in the valley of Wash bourn CJn ek, between Parapara Inlet and tha -north and Tukuruae stream on the south, in tho area which the .-uifchori have called Washbourn lilock. The second deposit is that situated between the Tukuruae stream on tho north and the OnaU.ika on the south, in the area k'iown as Tukuruaa Block, The third deposit appears on the Onakaka i.'iJ^o between the Onakaka river and fehe Parlwhakaho stream i:i the area designated tho.Onakakn, Hlock; while tho fourth, and much smallest deposit of the four, appears on tho rugged country gouth of the Pariwhakaho, Washbourn, Tukuruae and Onakaka Blocks. These were specially demarcated for tho purpose of studying in detail the iron deposits contained in each. Tho two most northerly represent areas of one mila and a half square, while the Onakaka Block is two miles from north to south, and one mile and a half from east to west. In addition to the four iron ore deposits just mentioned there are several small and unimportant deposits occurring in the old Glengyle Sluicing claim, in Fletcher Creek, on the track from Bainham. to the Castle,?, and elsewhere. Tho moat important statement is, however, contained in the following general paragraph, which should instil hope in the hearts of those who have bean battling with fortune for years:— "lt seems remarkable that deposits of iron ore of such, immensity, of such high average quality, and of such easy accessibility should have remained so long ud worked. The day surely cannot be far distant when these enormous deposits will be mined on a scale commensurate with their great proportions. - Exposed as they are are on the surface, they possess every facility for cheap and easy winning, while their close proximity to the sea. coast at once affords every oportumty for their exportation in the crude state, or as pig-iron. The actual winning of ore could be undertaken with little difficulty or . expense by simply quarrying on the open cut system. In the Mesabi section of the Lake Superior region, in the U.S.A., where somewhat simillar conditions prevail, the actual cost of mining is estimated at 80 cants, or 3s 4d per ton. In New Zealand the average cost should not greatly exceed this amount, and mining operations might be conducted even more economically. It will probably be found expedient to convert the ore into pig-iron before exportation. There are several suitable spots for the location of blast furnaces, which would command the orel from the Onakaka and Tukuruae Blocks, and that from Washbourn Block. One of the best positions for locating a plant to deal w'ith'tbe Onakaka and Tukuruas ore is on the spacious flat near the mouth of the Onakaka stream, while an equally desirable site for the erection of reduction works for ore drawn from the Washbourn Block would be obtained near the shores of Parapara Inlet

Tho mosb suitable spot for constructing a wharf for shipping the ore, or its products, from Washbourn's Block, and for landing the materials requisite for mining and metallurgical operat : ons, lies a little to the north of Tukuru3 Point. Though there is buff little shelter here, no storm is sufficiently strong to affect large vessels, owing to the general tranquility of Golden Bay, which ia sheltered by the Cape Farewell Spit. O'ving to the gradually shelving nature of the coast line, the length of the jetty required to accommodate large vessels would be a bout 67 chains. This length would givo a depth of 30ft of water at the lowest state of the tide. The sp3Cial map facing this page -shows the exact position of the proposed wharf. The iron ore is of high grade, and well suited for tho mauufacturo of iron and steel.

Apart altogether from this report, your correspondent learns that the Public Trustee, who is administering the estate of the late Sir Alfred Cadman, is expecting a cable message from London announcing that £500,000 hag been raised at Home to work the iron ore deposits at Parapara. A sum of £100,000 for the same purpose has been underwritten in the Colony. The Public Trustee is sntish'ed that the whole of the requisite capital will be obtained.