OUR OWN IRON.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160711, 26 July 1920, Page 7

OUR OWN IRON.

AMPLE NiTvV ZEALAND DEPOSITS, AN INDUSTRY OF THE FUTURE. “The practical production of iron would be a national benefit to the Dominion,” said Mr George Fraser, in the course of some interesting remarks on the possibilities of the iron_ industry in New Zealand. He explained that many attempts had been made to successfully treat the tronsand which lies ip. thousands of tons along the beaches of the west coast of the North Island. The latest development was at New Plymouth, where a substantial blast furnace had been erectedand after repeated trials some 200 tons of pig iron had been produced and sold to various ironfonndera throughout the Dominion. Although it was good iron it had more characteristics for steel making than toward the soft-grey iron that suits foundry purposes. Eventually the furnace had to shut down, and the result of the enterprise - wont to prove that tho ironsand, with its high percentage of titanium—some 9 per cent.— would not lend itself to successful treatment in a blast furnace. Mr Fraser explained that the titanic acid in time congested the furnace, thus becoming a stumbling-block to continuous running, which is essential to economical working. He was of opinion that the ironsand lent itself to steel manufacture more than to a soft-grey iron. Of the quality of tho Heel there was no doubt, some yery fine cutlery and other articles having been turned out of New Zealand ironsand steel. “The ironsand,” continued Mr Fraser, “has a prospect of being successfully brought into practical use by the application of the modern electric furnace, assisted by cheap hydro-electric power. Tho meaning of cheap power will be apparent when it is known that for a small electric furnace plant of a capacity or output of say ten to twelve tons a day would require three thousand to four ''thousand horse-power. The thing that favours this kind of reduction for ironsand is the high temperature obtained by electricity, and the clearing of the furnace contents at short intervals of, the operations, which tends to the ridding of the titanic acid and so keeps the furnace clean for continued operation.” Hie ironsand Mr Fraser therefore looks upon as a “steel proposition, and thinks the future of New Zealand in the matter" of tho making of suitable grey iron for foundry purposes lies iu the limonite ores of the Nelson district. There there are millions of tons of high grade ore in sight, with huge quantities of limestone on the spot and, excellent coal withui a few miles for producing first-class coke for blast furnace fuel. “Nature has gifted New Zealand with the very best means for producing the iron that we require, remarked Mr Fraser, ‘ and! with the high prices ruling for iron the present affords the opportunity of developing this Industry profitably. I am led to understand that there is every prospect of the production of iron in the near future as an established and it is deserving of every assistance.