The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1886. The Woollen Industry.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1333, 4 September 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1886. The Woollen Industry.

For several hundred years previous to the commencement of the present century the chief manufacturing industry of England was that of woollen fabrics. About iSao the improvement effected in machinery for the manufacture of cotton goods caused the latter fade to assume the larger dimensions, but that the woollen industry is still a great one is evident when it is stated that in 1871 the number of persons employed in woollen mills in England was 127,936. Many curious legislative measures were, n the past, from time to time enacted with the view of fostering the woollen manufactureand some of these Acts of Parliament remained unrepealed till this century, a law prohibit ing the export of English wool having only been repealed in 1824. Undoubtedly one of the chief—if not the principal—oi the manufacturing industries of this colony is that of woollen goods and it is gratifying to learn that in spite of commercial depression it has been steadily increasing in importance. It appears that in 1880 there were four woollen mills in this colony, employing

39° hands, and putting through some 670,0001bs weight of wool, the manufactured value of which was some sterling. In 18S5 the number of mills had increased to seven, the employes in which numbered 790, the amount of wool used being 2,i00,0001b5, of a value of Five of these mills use colonial rope, twine and belting and all of them use home made soap, thus finding employment indirectly for a further number of hands. Some of them are now turning out splendid fabrics and the estimation in which these are held in foreign countries is shown by the steady growth of the exports of New Zealand tweeds, olankets and other woollens. It is said, (and we have been assured by a gentleman in a position to know, that such is the case) that the climate of New Zealand is more suitable for dyeing wools than that of any othet country in the world, and consequently a better color can be given to the highest qualities of tweeds and fancy coatings. If this be correct, it gives promise of prosperity of great magnitude to our woollen mills. While on the subject of this industry a brief consideration of the work being achieved by the Ashburton Woollen Factory cannot but be of interest. The mill was opened on October 19, 1885, and consequently has not been quite a year in existence. From 75 to 100 hands are now employed, whicti is a very considerable increase on the staff with which the mill was started. Calculating by the present rate of consumption, about 1000 bales of wool are used per annum, and the value of the manufactured article is from to £ rS,ooo. It will, however, be possible to nearly double the present output when the new machinery which the Directors have ordered from Home is in position. There are large orders on hand for next season, and to overtake these the Mill is working night and day. All the wool used is grown in the district and it cannot but be good news to farmers to learn lhatthe goods turned out by the local factory are meeting

with favor everywhere, and that the day does not seem far distant when its operations will he very largely extended.