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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 57, 25 July 1912, Page 4

"A MARE'S NEST." The London correspondent of the Wellington Times and other New Zealand papers; recently unearthed a gentleman in London with a serious grievance against the New Plymouth Harbor Board in connection with the ironsand leases. This person unburdened himself at great length, and in a manner that certainly did not lack conviction, over the cavalier way in which he alleged that he had been treated. The story 'was told in our columns of Tuesday, and the London man established a prima facie case that called for a prompt and full reply from the Harbor Board. This is now forthcoming from the chairman of the Board, and we think our readers will agree that it is a complete refutation of the charges that this modern Baron Munchausen has made against the Board. As a matter of fact, he is condemned out of his own mouth, or rather condemned by the official correspondence. The letters that we publish fully explain the position that has arisen. A metallurgical engineer, Mr. W. G. Dauncey by name, and one Mr. T. Donne, a capitalist, it appears, claim to have invented a process for successfully treating th» Taranaki ironsand, anil naturally became anxious to obtain options or rights over the deposits on the foreshore of New Plymouth. The rights over the central deposits, at the Sugarloaves, unfortunately for these gentlemen, were in possession of others. They were held first by the late Sir Alfred Cadman, then by the Puhlk Trustee, executor of the tatter's estate, and now by the Parapara Ore Company, Ltd. From the statements made by the chairman in another column, it will' be seen that the Harbor Board have been anxious to secure these leases again, and were in hopes, prior to March 31 of this year, that the present company would surrender the leases. But the company erected the plant and buildings for the smelting of the ironsand at the eleventh hour, and saved its deposit —and the leases. Whilst the conditions of these leases, which have still five years to run, with a right of renewal for a further twenty-one years, are observed, the' Board are simply helpless, whatever their desires may be. No doubt the Board Would like to determine the leases and submit them to public competition, with conditions more consistent with the effective exploitation of the deposits. The Board, it will be easily recognised, instead of placing obstacles in the way of the English people, have endeavored to heir) them. Plans, etc., were prepared of other deposits—more valuable, than the Paritutu ones, from all accounts—and. particulars, were forwarded to the London people, who, however, characterise them, in the interview they had with the London pressman, as of no commercial account. Here they have the opportunity of putting their process to the test and establishing a new and important icolonial industry. New Plymouth, we feel sure, would gladly welcome and assist any enterprise of the kind, as well as the exploitation of the central leases, either by the present holders or the English people, who no doubt, could, did they wish to t -purchase the interests in the leases. It is a matter for regret that so far little or nothing has been done to turn our vast ironsand deposits to commercial account. Experiments have been conducted for years by local enthusiasts, who claim to have discovered an effective process for treating the sand) but the process remains to be proved on a comprehensive and commercial basis. It may be that the London people have : hi.t upon the right process. We hope that they have done so. If this should prove correct, it will mean a big thing to them and to Taranaki—if they will only embrace the chances that lie within their grasp, and"cease making misrepresentations about the Board's attitude towards them. We must compliment the chairman of the Harbor Board upon his complete refutation of the allegations' made against the Board, and his prompt placing before the public of the "whole of the matters leading up to the present situation. This action was due to his Board, to the people of Taranaki, and to the .Dominion generally.