NEW ZEALAND IRONSANDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3110, 14 June 1917, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND IRONSANDS

ACCOUNT OF EXPERIMENTS. Two important papers wero read at the meeting of tho Technological Section of tho Philosophical Society last night. Tho first was an account by' Mr. J. M. Chambers of au attempt.mado by a syndicate to produce iron on a commercial scale from New Zealand ironsands. The works for this purpose woro erected at Onchunga and completed early in ISSii. Tho sand was obtained from tho Mnuukau Heads, whilst both charcoal and Waikato coal wero used. Some excellent iron was produced, but tho product was uncertain, and tho process was not continued long enough to establish it on a firm basis. About was spent,' after which tho shareholders wearied of the attempt. It was bolioved by tho late Mr. John Chambers and othors associated with him ffiiat they woro on tho eve of, success' when the attempt was abandoned. 'J.'ho author of tho paper, Mr. J. 3f. Chambers, is tho one remaining survivor of all the persons connected with tho venture. After a full discussion a voto of thanks wns passed to Mr. Chambers for his paper, and a strong recommendation I passed recommending tho publication of tho paper in. "Tho Transactions of tho New Zealand Institute" as a record of an early attempt on a commercial scalo to utilise tho natural resources of Now Zealand. Tho paper was accompanied by specifications, drawings, analyses, and other documents ronected with tho work, which should bo preserved .for future reference. A second paper was read by Mr. Cull describing experiments of his own upon tho reduction of Now Zealand ironsands. Tho experiments wero undertaken with a view to utilising tho inferior coals of New Zeiiland. The method finally evolved comprises tho use of powdered fuel for amolting the ore combined with electricity for refining._ By. this process a good quality of pig iron was obtained, and it was considered '"hat tho results warranted further expenditure upon a larger furnace. Samples of tho pig iron produced were exhibited. Mr. Cull waa thanked for his paper, and a, recommendation made in favour of printing the, paper in the "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," as a record cf a valuable series of experiments designed with a view Io utilising the country's Tosourees.