THE IRON SAND INDUSTRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1614, 20 July 1887, Page 3

THE IRON SAND INDUSTRY

Notwithstanding the temporary delay caused by the bulging of the Hunui furnace, the result obtained by Mr Hipkins may be oonslddered a comrueroial success. Mr Hipkius saw on Tuesday that the briokwork on the lntorlor of the furnace was unsatisfactory on account of the Greymouth bricks being used for tho walls instead of the English articles. The Greymouth bricks were put m near the hearth, an Stourbridge were not obtainable. When the latter arrived from Auckland they were used m the upper parts or tho furnace near where the charging took place. On aocount of the great heat that has been generated, tho iron banda that enolrole the <xterior of the furnace have ex panded— ulx of them breaking. This latter cironms'ance Mr Hipkins doe* uot regard with any degree of alarm, aa it is an Indication that the furnace was becoming of the proper heat to smelt. Last Wednesday the following tele^rnra was | received by a New Plymouth representative of a syndicate of Chriatohurob capitalists : - (i Please send by first steamer sample of all qualities of pig iron now being made at New Plymouth. If cat.lsfactory, can readily obtain monetary assistance" Tho Committee of the Ironsand Association met on Thursday morning. After a lengthened dlscusakn, occupying over an hour, m the course of which the finanoial aspect of the enterprise was thoroughly gone into, it was resolved to get the aooountu m and adjourn the meeting to await Mr Hipkins report, so that there may be some data as to what extent the furnaoe has been damaged, and what cost it would involve to continue smelting operation* m the present furnaoe, or to construct two of smaller dimensions. In the mean time Mr Ulpkina waa instructed to seleot some eamp'es from the metal on han<*, which are to be forwarded by first opportunity to Ohristchurch, m response to the above telegram.