TARANAKI IRONSAND.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13381, 2 April 1912, Page 3

TARANAKI IRONSAND.

NEW WORKS AT MOTUROA

A few weeks ago (says the "Dominion") a nlant was sot down at Motn-

voa by the Parapara Iron Ore Company in close proximity to the oil wells, in order to deal with experiments to prodiicc rnetalM which, will stand severe tests, and which will rival platinum and other allied metals in general efficacy. A number of these experiments have already been carried out by Messrs. ■1. C. Smith (second son of the late Mr. E. M. Smith, M.H.R.), and W. Tweedale, a practical smelter, aud, it is understood, with every success. The r.uccessful treatment is said to have been largely .duo to petroleum, but very little- information on the subject can at present be obtained from the two principals, whose reticence is not unur:.tural. Developments have reached the stage that the Parapara Company have deposited a sum of £2000 with the New "Plymouth Harbour Board as a guarantee in connection with the i bond they undertook when they puri chased the ironsand interests owned by lira trustee* of the late Alfred Cadman's estate. The new plant, which is now erected, was manufactured in Christchurch. It comprises a 50 h.p. gas siu.tioii engine, gas producing plant, brick making machine, and a blower ■uul Kir-o'UM- 0} tSie latest design. There ),-■■ also a laboratory and assay plant attached. Th-> sands are to be exhaustively (esied for all their known and \oc to be proved values. Taking a (wrprohensne view of what has been accomplished in the past, there ap- | pears to he no r-ason why further imj pod ant developments in the treatment j of tli'j .sand should not now be attained. i The cxnerimo!'T.;;l work of the Para--1 nfira Company's staff at Moturoa will 1 !>» w::tchod with interest throughout I New Zealand. I It is no'c generally known that the I P'»s cibl« devolunment of Ti'.nmki iron- | r-nt! dates back a period of 0-1 years, ! when Mr. John Perry, a carnonter and !•: pioneer of ihe province, made an atj tonmt to Kniolt the sand hv erecting a i small furnace on thn banks of a creek I which nri into the Huatoki Kiver. Mr. IVrry »ns encouraged in the work by ihei tii-en Govi»rnr>r, Sir George (Jrey, ] v.'h"» iTpmised Jiim a lease of an iron- ■ .-•••md be;\r-[i area if his experiment was I •■.uccH>^i'nl. Great difficulty was exj i>-»j'ipnc(vl by Mr. l*orry in t-arryiiig out ■ JJ:e v.-oj-k. owing to the fineness of the. ! vnd. v-hiVh made its way to the bot- ! t^.v- i.S tlr.1 furnace before the' lire : (-mid operate upon it wiih sufficient ' < ':-f:ki:;g |;u.»oi'. but small quantities of ivnh v. ere- nroduccd and forged into ! \r.r:'v,is i-.rtii-Ks bv'Mr. Wood, a black- | smith. Such was the genesis of what there is reason +0 believe will one day h» one of New Zealand's biggest iuclirs- , tries. .