Industry
p. 130 · Read in the full issue
Manganese
Rooms In Fiji
Now £250,000 Export Industry
Manganese production in Fiji
in 1956 is estimated to reach 25,000 tons, said the Governor, Sir Ronald Garvey, in his Budget Address to Legislative Council.
He said there were 185 prospecting licences in force; 32 mining leases had been granted, and of those mining operations had been started on 20.
Three-quarters of the total pro duction would be of metallurgical grade and the remainder would be 50 per cent, chemical grade ore and 50 per cent, low grade ore.
Exports would approximate 23,000 tons for the year, with an F. 0.8. value of about £250,000.
Almost every issue of local newspapers contain advertisements regarding applications for prospect ing licences, indicating that interest in prospecting by Indians and Europeans is still continuing. t Two ex-mine sweepers of the French Navy are being converted into patrol boats at Brest, France, and will shortly leave for the Pacific to replace Tiare and Lotus.