SMELTING IR0NSAND. Success at Taranaki Works. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] New Plymouth, Sunday.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 210, 9 July 1887, Page 1

SMELTING IRONSAND. Success at Taranaki Works. [BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] New Plymouth, Sunday.

A most successful smelting of ironsancl took place at 2 p.m. to-day, when the metal flowed splendidly, about three tons of pig being obtained from the tapping. Tho works are under Mr Hipkins's management. He is an old ironmaster from England. His process is very simple, and the minimum of labour is entailed. The furnace is the ordinary blast furnace, and is charged by mixing the ironsand with day and limestone, etc., without being made into bricks as in the old process. This saves a great amount of labour and expense, rendering the smelting a commercial success. The furnace will produce between 60 and 70 tons per week of ordinary pig iron, which will realise in the market £4 per ton, representing weekly earnings of about £240. The present cost of fuel and labour at the furnace is £150, so that a large margin is left for incidental expenses and profit. Charcoal iron can be produced at a cost of £1 per ton extra for fuel, and will command in the market about £3 per ton more than the ordinary pig iron. The association conducting the trial smelting will form a company as soon as possible, when great advantages will be offered in order to induce the formation of a strong company. The association have the right to purchase the furnace and lease of the ironsand beach, etc., for £10,000, and the furnace alone cost £16,000, and is now in first-class order. The furnace is thirty feet high and seven feet in diameter. The trial will continuo sevex*al days longer, and possibly be extended two or three weeks. The metal will be run off every eight hours. Crowds of people were at the works all day, eager to learn the news oi the success of the trial. Great satisfaction prevails at the result.

\yife — Will yon take me to the opera tonight, clear? Husband— Yes, go and undress. Experience is an admirable teacher. The cost of tuition, however, is less if you learn from the experience of some other fellow.

SOUTH ISLAND.