NEW ZEALAND TITANIC STEEL AND IRON COMPANY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4411, 10 May 1875, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TITANIC STEEL AND IRON COMPANY.

(From the Taranaki Herald.)

The works of this company at the Henui are gradually approaching completion. The furnace is finished, as is also the casting-house, and in a few months, when the engine has been erected, we hope to have to record that the smelting of the iron-sand has proved a success. On Wednesday last, during the stay of the s.s. Taranaki, Mr. Fraser (of Messrs. Fraser and Tinne, Auckland), and Mr. Weaver (the chief engineer connected with Avon Waterworks in Canterbury) came on shore for the purpose of seeing the progress made in the works, and after they had been shown over the place and had thoroughly examined the furnace, both expressed themselves in the highest terms of commendation at the workmanship, and considered that the cupola was built in a thoroughly substantial manner. Mr. Jack, the engineer in charge, first took them into the casting-house, a brick building, 36ft. by 40ft., with wall 18ft. high. This is roofed in with corrugated iron. This house is built ou to the furnace, but there are openings left on each side to let the smoke and heat out when casting. The party next inspected the furnace, the stack of which is 45ft. high. It is circular, and at the bottom measures 30ft. in circumferance, whilst at the top it is about 15Jft., being a slope at the rate of sJin. to the foot to the charging hole. At the foot of the furnace are four arches. The one in the casting-house is 14ft. wide, and the same in height at the outside, gradually contracting as it runs in for about 4ft. to the inner part, where it is sft. Thera are three blast holes one at the back, near where the engine-house will be, and one on either side. The brickwork of the outside case is five feet six inches at the part round the crucible, diminishing gradually till it reaches the top, where it is four feet.