AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2488, 29 April 1909, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

TO CONVERT IRON ORE

Mr W. C. Wall, a resident of Mudgee, has applied for a patent for an automatic hot blast furnace which lie proposes to employ in converting iron ore into pig iron. The invention consists of an air sollar, which js constructed to a suitable point of elevation. Atmospheric air is conveyed from the sollar through heated cylinders, which pass through tlio fire chamber, heated air being forced by atmospheric pressure and expansion into conduct pipes, and from these pipes discharged through nozzles, into the blast furnace. Mr Wall estimates that a volume of heated air equal to 300,000 cubic feet per minute will be forced through the fire chamber into the blast furnace. This air will be heated up to from 1000 to 1200 deg. Fahr. The lire chamber for heating the air is constructed somewhat on the same principle as a reverbatory furnace, the only difference being,that there is no flue discharging outwards. The heat generated in the fire chamber is conveyed through the sollar and discharged into the blast furnace. The main features of the invention are its simplicity and cheapness; the estimated cost-of a furnace equal to an output of 100 tons of pig iron per day being under £IOOO. The- erection of the furnace will be proceeded with as soon as a suitable sito is selected.

STATE COAL MINE. The Victorian Minister for Alines, Air P. APBride, in conversation with a representative of the “Daily Telegraph,” stated that the prospects of successful coal-mining by the State Government were most promising. Hitherto most of the Victorian collieries had been worked in mountainous districts, and it was found that tliere were flaws in the formation. “The experiments that have been made at Rowlett- River,” Mr AUBride remarked, “lead to the conclusion that on the .flat- country such as we purpose to work the formation is more regular, and consequently there will be less difficulty in obtaining the coal. The seam varies in thickness from 2 feet 6 inches to 9 feet G inches, and the tests that have been made indicate that the deposit is very extensive indeed. Recently a bore ■ was being put down for water- supply purposes, and at a depth of 40 feet it went through a scam of coal 8 feet thickA visit -was paid by the Minister to Cessnock, and an inspection made of the Aberdare colliery. Air AFBride was shown over the top workings, and afterwards went underground, where the coal-cutters in particular engaged Ins attention. These machines have not yet been introduced into Victoria. He mentioned that at the present tame Victoria uses 800,000 tons of coal annually, anel of this quantity 500,0C0 tons are. consumed by the rnUAVRYo nnd other State departments. - .