C—12

1911 NEW ZEALAND

IRON DEPOSITS AND ORES OK THE DOMINION (PARTICULARS RELATING TO).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 19th October, 1910. Ordered, " That there be laid before this House next session a return showing—(l) The amount of iron-deposits (other than ironsand) approximately known to exist in the Dominion; (2) where they are located, and whether on Crown Lands, and, if not, the names of the owners of the areas containing such deposits ; (3) if there is suffioient indication that the owners of these deposits are working in the direction of developing them at an early date; (4) whether, if the owners of theee areas do not demonstrate either by their enterprise or capacity their ability to enable the iron-deposits to be worked at an early date, the Government will offer such inducements as to warrant some other enterprising firm or firms to give effect to the manufacture of iron in the Dominion, or, as an alternative, if the Government will carry on the manufacture as a national undertaking ; (5) whether any tests have been made as to the grade and quality of our iron-ores; and (6) the amount of pig iron and steel rails the Dominion could absorb per annum."—(Mr. Luke.) Return re Iron-deposits of New Zkaland. (1.) The amount of iron-deposits (other than ironsand) approximately known to exist in the Dominion: — Total estimated tonnage (metric) ... ... ... 64,200,000 tons. (2.) Where they are located, and whether on Crown lands, and, if not, the names of the owners of the areas containing such deposits : — Parapara, Golden Bay, Nelson—Crown land. Head of Waitangi River, sixteen miles west of Bay of Islands—Crown land. Kerr Point, near North Cape—Portion of Zates Estate, private land. (3.) If there is sufficient indication that the owners of these deposits are working in the direction of developing them at an early date : — There are two leases existing of the Parapara iron-deposits on Crown land. The lessees of one area have for several years kept men employed making roads and a tramway, and also have built a wharf to comply with the conditions of their lease, and it is now understood are endeavouring to arrange for the necessary capital to commence operations to actively develop the iron-deposits. It is also reported that the lessees of the other area have floated a company in England to develop their particular area. (4.) Whether, if the owners of these areas do not demonstrate either by their enterprise or capacity their ability to enable the iron-deposits to be worked at an early date, the Government will offer such inducements as to warrant some other enterprising firm or firms to give effect to the manufacture of iron in the Dominion, or, as an alternative, if the Government will carry on the manufacture as a national undertaking:—■ In the event of these companies showing a lack of sufficient enterprise in giving effect to the terms of their leases it may be found necessary for the Crown to resume possession of the areas, in which case the Government will consider the advisability of entering on the manufacture of iron as a State enterprise. (5.) Whether any tests have been made as to the grade and quality of our iron-ores: — Many tests have been made, the results of which are published on page 466 et scq. of the " New Zealand Mining Handbook."