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1895. NEW ZEALAND.
THE IRON-ORES OF NEW ZEALAND (LETTERS FROM MESSRS. SIEMENS AND OTHERS WITH REFERENCE TO).
Laid on the Table by Leave of the House.
26th June, 1895. Deab Sib, — Be Iron-ores of New Zealand. Herewith please find copy of letters from Messrs. Siemens, England; also, copy of letter from F. Lawry, Esq., M.H.E., to the Minister of Mines, New Zealand. Mr. S. Hesketh (Messrs. Hesketh and Eichmond) having previously had some conversation with you on the subject himself, and explained, desires me to write to you hoping you will strengthen and co-operate with Mr. Lawry on the lines of his letter to the Minister of Mines, requesting the Government to allow the use of the ironsand of New Zealand, or some foreshore where it abounds, to be afterwards chosen by expert knowledge of the requirements of ironworks on a large or adequate scale to the colony. The views of capitalists ready to proceed with this industry are that £200,000 may be employed, and is available if required. Their first questions are—What deposits of the ironsand are available and where? what Government proofs have we of such being open and available? and, also, is the £1 per ton bonus to encourage this industry sanctioned by the authority of the Government ? If so, will the Government extend the bonus to cover 20,000 tons of iron produced from New Zealand iron-ores? If so, we do not require any such bonus or any part of it until 2,000 tons have been produced, and not until it is satisfactorily proved the industry is established on a sound and profitable basis. The weight of your influence and co-operation will oblige, urging the matter to prompt reply from the Government. I am, &c, W. F. Massey, Esq., M.H.E. Alfeed S. Minett.
Sib, — Auckland, 14th June, 1895. I have the honour to enclose with this a certified copy of a letter received from Mr. Frederick Siemens re the New Zealand ironsand, and I think you will agree with me in the belief that it is a most interesting and highly important document. I am informed by the recipient of Mr. Siemens's letter that a large sum of money is available for the development of the iron industry in New Zealand if encouragement and due facilities for so doing are granted by the New Zealand Government. So far as I can learn from conversation with the interested parties, they require a bonus of, say, £1 per ton on 20,000 tons of iron manufactured from the raw material in New Zealand, but would not require any such bonus or any part of it until 2,000 tons had been produced, and not until it was satisfactorily proved that they had established the industry of producing iron upon a sound and profitable basis. I am further informed that it will be necessary to the success of the undertaking for the Government to set aside a large area of " some " foreshore where the ironsand abounds, for the sole use of those who undertake the works, and to grant an extended lease of the same for the purpose indicated. I may say that the matter has been represented to me by Mr. S. Hesketh (Hesketh and Bichmond), and he appears to be fully satisfied with the bona fides of the affair. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Mines, Wellington. F. Lawby.
10, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, London, S.W., Deab Sib, — 10th January, 1895. Following my letter of the 22nd November last, I have the pleasure to inform you that I have examined the samples of ironsand, artificial iron-ore, &c, you were good enough to send me. I am already well acquainted with the black ironsand you refer to, but yours, containing only 2 to 4 per cent, titanium, is better as an iron-ore than any I have yet seen.