TARANAKI IRONSAND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 4

TARANAKI IRONSAND.

I HARBOUR BOARD REPLIES TO . CRITICISM. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.} New Plymouth, Jiil.y 21. The London correspondent of several New. Zealand papers recently forwarded an interview with a Mr. T. Donne, who is represented as a geutlemau who has perfected a process for the successful treatment of Taranoki ironsand, and possessing considerable wealth, a biff proportion of whicli lio is prepared to put into works for treatment of ironsand deposits at New Plymouth. He' alleges that for several years ho has been baulked bv the New Plymouth Harbour 15:> in! in the matter of scouring un option or lease of ironsand deposits, and generally badly treated by tho board. ' The Taranaki "Daily News" interviewed Mr. J. B. Connott (chairman of llio board) on the matter to-day. Ho stated that the board had never had a single communication from Mr. Donne, but had from an associate of his, Mr. A. W. G. Dauncey. : Tho board's correspondence with tho latter shows that tho particular loaves he required had been ill the hands of the Public Trustee, acting n.s executor for Sir Alfred C'ndinan. and now were in the hands of tI:o Pnrapara Ore Company. The l>oard wa.s iKiworles.s lo interfere with these leases, which had five years to run, with right of renewal for another twenty years, <■<> long as the conditions were complied with, which had been the cai-e up till new, the Ptirnpar.i Company having recenlly ercotcd plant and buildings for the -meltim: «f ivunsand, Tlie board, howcer, liad oilier leasos containing deposits • considered equal to, if not better, Uuu the. present one?, njid STr. Dauncey had been' supplied with all particulars, nud invited lo tender for fhem. The board, so far, kid liof; received any acknowledgment. The chairman characterised the statement's in tho interview as untrue and misleading, (lie board's great desire being to f.ioililate and see tho ironsand industry established.