Ml ARSENIC MINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1918, Page 1

Ml ARSENIC MINE.

A QUEENSLAND MONOPOLY

sydneat, jnn. 25

Arsenic, before the war cost £2O per ton. To-day tlio price of tlic drug is £7O per ton. The Queensland Government, which is strongly committed to State enterprises as a means of pulling down prices unjustifiably swollen, is attacking the arsenic monopoly. The Government has set apart an area of 150 acres in the Stanthorpe district for the purpose of mining, and mining operations are to he commenced immediately. “There are rich deposits of arsenic in the Stantliorpe district,” said the -Queensland Minister of Mines, “and the non-fulfillment, of lease conditions has caused the Government to step in. As soon as the’ Government Geologist is available, probably next "week,- he will take to the district' 'a sufficient number of men to start the mine. The lodes contain from 20 to 25 per cent, of arsenic, and one particularly good lode carries 35 per cent.” There are said to he the richest arsenic deposits in the State, and this will be the first mine worked solely for arsenic. So the experiment will he watched with close interest. Mr. D. H’oolihaii, a New Zealander, who has recently been a mine manager in North Queensland, has been appointed manager of the now'■arsenic mine, and will proceed immediately to Stanthorpe to co-operate with the geologist in getting operations under way. The Minister states that already ho has an inquiry from Melbourne lor a supply of from 20 to 25‘tons of arsenic per month at a fixed price. It is not stated whether this arsenic is required for ordinary commercial purposes or whether the Queensland Government in selling it at pre-war prices, will make any stipulation about the selling price of the manufactured article. Otherwise it will be making a gift-of £SO per ton to some enterprising firm.