PETONE'S NEW SOAP WORKS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1983, 13 February 1914, Page 3

PETONE'S NEW SOAP WORKS.

METHOD IN FACTORY BUILDING.

SIR WILLIAM LETER'S WAY,

There is little doubt that Petone is destined to bo an import-iut manufacturing centre. With tho, Government, Kaihvay Workshops, Iho Gear Moat Ccinpaliy'e premibes, and tho AVeHin«tou Woollen Company's great mill, the harbour-oiid suburb already cuts somo figure as an industrial centre, and its importance- will k> considerably augmented by the esabliidiment there of Levei , Bios', new soap and candle manufactory., i

Mr. W. TiimljHll. the architect, allowed a DoSuxiux representative to have- a gliiupsc at the plans of the new works yesterday. Tho linn has acquired uj acres of Hat land, at tho foot of the hills ou tho opposite, side of .the line to tho I'etone Railway Station,, tko approach by read being across the overhead bridge, immediately to. tho north of the station, and duwn again to the fiat by a private roadway, off Korokoro Road. For commercial purposes, however, the railways will bo-utilised., and with that object in view a siding is to be constructed leading into * tho works. Altering the property from tho gates in Korokoro Road, there-will be a wide roadway, tlanked by an miclimbable -wrought iron railing fence, and en.bracing an asphalt footpath. This leads to the timekeeper's office, where there aro gate 3 and turnstiles; Tho office is an annexe to the,main building, which provides separate entrances to tho factory for male and female employees. Tho main building, tho front of which flanks tho railway line, is to •cover a block with a frontage of 108 ft. by a depth of 225 ft. The method of constiuctioii to bo employed will bo steelframe and brick, with a press brick facade, and Marseilles tiled roof. Tho front portion of the building will he four stories in height, but tho greater portion will bo two-storied, and is to be roughly divided into two compartlwmts by a eavt-way (which will lie tlie continuation of tho private road from tlie Korokoro Hoad gates). Method in Compartments. Tho nicest exactitude is evident in the plans in the matter of having a place for everything and everything in its place. On tho ground floor the front cempartment iirtho (-.■ outre is called tlie •glycerine house,- whore tho glycerine is ■stored, and on the one side is what is called tho niclting-houso, and on the other the engine-room. The boilerhouse, is to be built immediately alongskte'tlie engine-room (but outside tlio confiuoK of the main building), and from it will arise a huge circular cliim-noy-stack (in brick), 12Gj't. in height. At tho rear of the glyceriite-hotosc is a vast space for tlio storage of raw materials, extending to the back wall of the factory. Outside, at tlie side, is an annexe for the storage of weod-bax' snooks (for box-in skins).

On the first floor there is airotlier largo. glycerine-lio!iso and more sjwip for thf- storage of raw matea'ials. Tin's floor will also hsivo special compartments for tho iu!tnnfactiu-c of "Vinolia" soap, Hudson's cancilos, and eardbax-niaking. It will bo canopied with a" saw-toothed eouth light roof, that will'Le fr.jshed off in Marseilles tiles. Tsvo goods chvators and an exterior ramp will rlo away witii the necessity -of stairs for industrial purposes.

An 80-Ton Vat, The, second door front is labelled I«t----rtsoiii'lon the plans, where the potash for immediate , use is kept, and on the third floor is tlie jran-room, vhorc the actual soap-boiling is don? , . This apartment is to contain ouo pan J 4ft. square, which will be capable of holding 8(1 tens of soap; auether, 12ft. square, holding 60 tons, arid two pans 10ft. square and two Bft. square, to contain proportionately less ijnaiitities. The Weight these pans will at times contain gives a good idea of the degree of strength that will bo required in the frame of ii:o fourstoricci part of the building. Tlic factory will he fitted with metnl-frapid windows throughout, calculated So give, plenty of light and free ventilation, in order that the reinforced concrete floors iiiay not prove, discomforting to tho employees during the winter months, they stre to be wood-blocked. . t Difting-Rooms for 'Workers. About I.ooft. away from the manufactory to the south another j/cturesque brick building, two stories ii) height, with a long sloping Mai'seilles-iilod icnf, will be erected. This provides for tho offices of the company .alid difiing-ropins for .th-p various'staffs-' The liu'lding, which has a frontage of 04ft. by a depth of 44ft., is to be set off by a circular grass plot and encircling .pathway in front, giving a touch of Nature's refreshing 'colour, where it will to appreciated, for the whole of the ground floor of the building is divided into dining-rooms for the various staffs, ea*h with their own distinct entrance, and each opening within to a central kitchen, which is to be adequately fitted to meet at! ordinary demands. Direct access to.tho office accommodation is gained by a central entrance from the road. A short stairway leads to tlie public office (35ft, by ,25ft.), with sffiall waiting-rooms on either '-ide, whilst, on either side of the building arc rtoms for the board ami general manager respectively (18ft. by 18ft.). At tho back there- is a strong-room, cloak-rooms, and offices for tlie files and typists. The sketch plans , prepared by Mr.' Tnnibnll haro been approved, aiid ho. is lioiv. engaged on tho v preparation of the working plans. Tenders will be called for tho work probably nest month.