[?]uture is Bright

[?]ew Caledonia’s [?]lineral [?]uture is Bright

IHE Nickel Company which mines . and smelts at Thio, New Caledonia, and at Noumea, ex ited 10,680 tons of pure nickel in 55; this constituted a record.

The Japanese market for nickel e remains bright, buyers being ger to enlarge their stocks. The inion is, however, that this market ay later drop. Two reasons are r ered. First, that when Japanese icks are sufficient buying will ase; and second, that at the pre it rate of extraction the percent e of nickel in the ore will decrease, e of 3.50 per cent, is marketable t when it falls lower it is hard sell. A time may soon come en only ore of 3 per cent, will be ered to buyers. It may sell if the per is unable to get ore at other irces. The price of nickel re ins constant at 64.5 cents a md, that is 480 Metropolitan ncs a kilo. In France the Gov ment has fixed the price at 800 tro francs per kilo. ’he chrome market is buoyant, 3ks of chrome in USA being orbed with a happy effect on the v Caledonian industry. Over 'OO tons of ore were exported in > and the largest mine, the Tie hhi, hopes to enter into full pro tion again early in 1956. he port and loading installations ;he Bay of Prony, Southern NC, coming along per schedule and it is expected that the first ship its pf iron ore destined for the tralian BHP will be shipped in second quarter of this year. The to be shipped, which comes from Plain of the Lakes, a huge iron eau occupying the Southern end *ew Caledonia, contains 51 per . metallic iron. le French metropolitan Govern t organisation “Bureau Miniere” laking an extensive survey of huge plateau, pushing roads ss it in different directions. Par ar interest is being paid to the sits which were once worked by Japanese. These mines are now property of the French Govern t and it is rumoured that the :s may be put into production Government participation. e Falconbridge Co. of Canada, h has received permission from French to produce cobalt, has fet given signs of activity, particularly happy aspect of the nt mining activity in NC is the cipation of the native popula- The Melanesians are becom mechanical minded, and one finds them operating such com ;ed machines as bull-dozers and types of earth-moving gear.

They have proved themselves excel lent truck drivers.