NITRATES FROM AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1926, Page 3

NITRATES FROM AIR

WESTERN SOUNDS PROJECT. DUNEDIN. Feb. 2.

Mr J. Orchiston, originator of the scheme for obtaining water-power at the Western Sounds for the production of air nitrates, is now visiting Dunedin. Air Orchiston said that he had just returned from the Sounds, where Air C. E. Jenkins. Surveying Engineer of the Public AVorks Department, is taking levels for the construction of a big tunnel to connect lake Alaiiapouri with Deep Cove, which is in Smith Sound. The water rights oi the whole of Smith Sound are acquired by the syndicate. Smith Sound is the inner area that is reached; by way of Thompson ■uid Doubtful Sounds. The Development Company, which is to take up the work of the syndicate, will he registered in a lew days from now. It is anticipated that there will be no ditfi•ulty about raising the required capisince most of the shares are al-■e-‘dv applied for. , and the outside vorbl i- interested. Within fortv-eiglit hours oi the license being gazetted, a cablegram was received from London asking toi full particulars to be cabled. The enquiry was no doubt inaoired by the tact that

the Norwegian Aerial Nitrogen Comonnv has iust raid a 17 nor cent, dividend. after making ample provision toi depreciation, endowments, and other charges. The Norwegians obtain their limestone from the Baltic, and convey it from the Port of Skein 86 miles to t ic works by four syst'eins of transporttwo bv rail and two by stenmei. ; thev can stand those charges and pay 17 per cent, the New Zealand Company must surelv be in a good position, seeincr that it lias at its command unlimited 'supplies of marble, winch is analysed to contain from 98 to M.2 ner cent' of carbonate of lime, and hearing also in mind that the company has a deep-water access, only a few yards from the works. . Power is, of course, the primary object of the company, but this is to be had in practically immeasurable qnnntities. The next object is the extraction of nitrate from the air.