IRON SAND PROSPECTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 190, 22 August 1901, Page 2

IRON SAND PROSPECTS.

Thb orriv<l of the 'Frisco mail is awai f ed with keen interest by all interes'ed in the mission" of Messrs Oadman and Smith, who are actively engaged at Home in a determined effort to rmVe capital for erecting works here to convert Tarinaki iron sand int" iron and steel. It was therefore a matter of duty for a Daily News representative to interview Mr. D. Berry (who is in constant communication with the gentlemen above named), with a view of plaoing before the pub'ie the latest n«ws concerning the prospects of tbe development of th'' industry It was no*;, howev?r, till a late hour yesterday that any inform •- tion could be obtained. We learn that the Hon. A. J. Oadman, O.M.G, writing on July 20th, states that while, nothing definite his vot baen effected, the prospects are fairly hopeful. It seems tho«e interested in iron works in England have th»ir h'nds so full that they scarcely care to launch out into a bis schema si far from home, and that possibly it mav be necessary to fall back on the British public to find tho nece-s»ry capital, or olso float the venture in America. It, is, however, satisfactory to leirn ironmasters generally can see nothing to prevent the industry b ing mado b commercial suc-e-s. The fo'liwin* extract from Mr. Oadraan's letter expresses a CO' fideno in the success of the vrn'ue when once startel that is. most refreshing and reassuring: —" T he more I have seen and inquire! into th" works and cost of uiateri*! in England, the more I am satisfied that we have on hand a really good, sound, commercial and dividend-paying concern, provided the npceswry capital is for'hooming, and had I known as much of the cost and expense attendant or> works in the Old Country before I loft Now Zeilund, I should h;ve bpon inclined to make a st.rngg'o to j;e" th< !capital in New Zealand to start the. works even in a small way, allowing them to grow with the business, «s I anr. quite positive that it will he profit* Me from the day tho first smelting rake* placa." Wo aro glad to loam that, at the request of those interested, s.rae of tbe '»ii» iron samples have been sent to Sheffield to be mado into cutlery of all descriptions, including r'zori. Them ; s no doubt that the quality and temper of the finished articles w»l! spenk for themselves in the s*me satisfactory manner in which they did some year? hack, when a similar experiment w«s tried with astonishingly successful results. Needless to say, both the exploiters are exceptionally busy, as there] is such a vast amount to do and so! little time in which the work must be j done. Mr, Oadman has obtained the

original report* furnished by Professor Price William?, M.1.0.8., Mr. G. 3. Snelus, F.R.S., Vice-President Iran and Steel Institute, Mr. Horace Allen,. late Chief Chemist, Barrow Hiematite Steel Company, lecturer on iron steal! lianow School of Science and Art, and cortificate of feat by Professor W. Ripper, M.LO.E., Sh*flhld. We understand that Mr. E. M. Smith, in a latter to one of bis sons, mentions that a gentleman otfored to underwrite the whole concern himself up to £500,000, but as Mr Caiman, writing a w«»k or two later, makes ns mention of the matter, it is assumed tbat there wen conditions imposed which could not be accepted, probably an attempt to load the venture. Such was the position of matter* a month back. Matters are at that stage which will cause the next miil to be looked for with unusual mterest.