ONEHUNGA SMELTING WORKS.

Southland Times, Issue 1692, 21 January 1873, Page 3

ONEHUNGA SMELTING WORKS.

I . . ! The Southern Cross of December 31 contains the following particulars of the successful smelting of iron sand, referred to in recent telegrams : — We hare on several occasions called attention to the satisfactory progress being made at- the smelting works : at Onehunga by Messrs Element, Calder, Satton, and others, who have been lately making a series of 'experiment* on the iron sand of the locality. The raw material is procurable in any quantity at the Manukau Heads and all along the West Coast. The sand which the company are now testing is procured at a spot about twelve miles from the works, and ia brought in boats almost to the very doors of the furnace, which is on the site of Messrs Price and Co.'s late foundry. Ifc is there stored to be used as required. A reporter from this office visited the works yesterday, and he thus describes Vhat was done in his presence. About 8 cwt of the sand was put into the furnace (which hus been recently constructed especially for the purpose, and was at the same time red hot.). Prior to being put into the furnace it was mixed with certain fluxes, the component parts of which form the great secret of the company, and will not be disclosed, at all events until after the rights of the inventors shall have been secured by patent, which has been already applied for. Having been thus mixed and thrown into the furnace, the same was left to boil for about an hour and a half, when it was quite liquified. By further manipulation about 5 cwt was made into balls of malleable iron, which only requires the application of the steam hammer and rolling mill to be converted into bar iron suitable for any of the various purposes for which iron is used. These balls in the state they come from the furnace are worth about £20 per ton, and when made into bars would be worth double that amount. The remainder was run off as cast steel in a liquid state fr-»m the furnace. There appeared to be no hitch whatever as the works proceeded, and our reporter remained on the ground until the business of the day was concluded, which was at a somewhat earlier hour than usual, the men having a holiday from yesterday evening until after the races are over, and well they have deserved it. They and their enterprising employers have proved beyond a doubt that the iron siud of the province can be easily utilised and made into an article which will fetch a lucrative price in any market in the world, aud will be as good a thing as an'-ther golofield — possibly better, as the return is sure, and the fact can be proved to demonstration by anyone who will pay a visit to the works whilst the interesting operation is going on. Oiher furnaces will shortly be erected, in addi tion to that which has been recently put up by the gentlemen above-named, on a plan of their own, and they feel confident that they can supply the public with any kind of iron required. The value of the discovery is obvious and requires little comment. To those w.ho have brought this undertaking to such a successful issue, in spite of many difficulties, it must be most gratifying to feel that their labor has at length been crowned with success, and that in all probability their discovery will prove a leading one even in this age of invention. The province of Auckland, haviug taken the lead in this great and important industry, will be followed most likely by the other provinces and localities wherever iron sand of the same nature is found. To the towu of Onehunga, which it. must be confessed, is not very lively just now, the satisfactory progress of these iron smelting works must be a matter of congratulation. The dull little place is likely at no distant date to become the centre of a great trade. Work will be recommenced after the holidays, and, encouraged by past success, the company is determined to do still more in future, and, with increased means and appliances, the future of the concern is certain. The company carrying on operations will, we believe, be in future known as the Auckland Iron Company