IRONSAND AND OIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1917, Page 6

IRONSAND AND OIL.

STATEMENT. BY' THE HON. O. f\V RiOSSELL. ''During my recent- trip to the West Coast of the North Island," said the Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Public Health, Internal Affairs and Marine) to a Times representative on Thursday, "I visited the towns of Wanganui, Hawera Stratford and New Plymouth. ' MATERNITY WARDS AND TEETH. At ali these four places, as well as at Palmerston North on my return journey, I met the hospual boards and discussed with thern matters relating to the establishment of maternity wards at each of their hospitals. I am very hopeful that at four of the placed named maternity wards will be opened in the near future. The question of dental ti eatment for children was also discussed, and the various hospital boards received very sympathetically th» proposal that rooms should be established in all the main centres for the purpose of providing dental treatment for children up to school-leaving age. The Minister stated that at New Ply-' mouth he had inspected one of they'dfashioned X-ray plants of ten years ago, and also the . modern one which has been installed there under Dr. Leatham wlho is at present engaged on behalf of the Health Department in inspecting the whole of the X-ray plants .in the Dominion "The difference," said the Minister, between the X-ray plant of ten years ago and that of to-day is practically the difference between a bullock-waggon and a moior-car."

THE OIL-WELLS PROGRESSING. At New Plymouth the Minister visited Tito oil-wells, and was pleased to find that work is still progressing in the Blenheim bore and in the Taranaki Oil H ells bore. In each ease lie found that the bore was within 200 feet of the 6000 feet level, the point at which it is hoped tliat the permanent supply will be ohtailed. "While viisting the refinerv" sam Mr. Russell, "I /was shown by the manager the accounts of 0110 of the shallow oil bores, reaching between 2000 and 3000 feet. Prom this during the last two or three months 41,000 gallons of crude oil have been obtained, the value of which was £IO7O, while the actual working expenses were £450 only thus leaving a substantia! margin for in-' forest on the original cost of the well which was about £6500. It .appears to be quite feasible that very shallow wells can be sunk in tho district .with every prospect of success. SEW PLYMOUTH IRON WORKS. "My chief interest, however," added the Minister, "was in connection with the ironsand works, which are erected near the Sugar-loaf on the mainland, they are erected on high ground and served by the railway laid down by the Harbor Board to obtain spoil for harbor works. Some £25,000 are bein°spent in the erection and equipment of the works, and it is expected that within the next few weeks a trial run will be made. The managers are confident of success, although there- were some little difficulties to surmount in the early working of the plant. The method employed is to mix up powdered coal with the ironsand, and the preliminary test* have proved successful in everv way. When the mills are going they are expected to turn out 00 tons of pig-iron pel week, and as the supply of sand along the coast from New Plymouth to «aiigunm and also in the Nelson disI s practically unlimited, if this first experimental test is a success, it will New '/ f T m ' ali( : 1 : of a '"'ge industry i„ n ..; ea r 1 " In fact >",said Mr. Rusnf thi ti i"° stro "S l .Y tlie importance liclv '; x I )rossi!1 > thc pubt '"I . p '- v,no,,th as a public nil , I would be prepared to assist by Iwiin ° Very way Possible to de elop an industry that would prove of '"estimable value to our country."