A NEW INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 2

A NEW INDUSTRY

• BRICK WORKS AT MIKAMAR. " ■ For a long time past tho Wellington Gas Company lias had to cart the refuse clinker from its furnaces, at Sliramar'a ■ considerable distance from the works inorder..to get fid of; it without forming a dump ;or otherwise cumbering the company's property. This clinker has long been'recognised as a, valuable byproduct, but (ho means of using it wero not available. Now "lht« company has do-... cided to establish a new industry alto- ; gether. For some time past it has beon ; - turning out an excellent firebrick, and,,ample demand exists for the whole of the.-.< output.' Indeed, these special fire-resist-. ■' ing'bricks aro in-such demand-that an extension.of-'-the llinut is-contemplated..' < Big- works''are now in coutsq of ereo- \ tion, which ore to turn out 70,000 build- i ing'bricks per week. The bricks, will be an admixture of clinker and clay, and' will have a..finish nearly approaching,. that of pressed bricks* and the company', anticipates that they can be marketed \, at a price considerably under that rul-. 1 ' ing in Wellington for inferior bricks. The. company is fathering the works, but a little'later the new enterprise, will'., have a separate and independent identity " ; as 'the Mirnmar Brick Works. The clay will bo secured from the Gas Company's 'extensive property,.and naturally as the hills- are cut away and turned ito bricks a (rood area of land will-be levelled. ;

The' managor of the new works is Mr. Todd, formerly, of-Todd and Wilson, of Inyereargill, and an expert brickmakcr. ,In view of the a'bove ; ' announcement,' and', also that of the City Council's in- '■ tehtion' .to establish- : municipal, brick works, it is iutfTestinir t« V""w that the > present price of bricks is '£& per thousand, and no'bricks are obtainablo in Wellington savo- from makers associated., with ihe ono' combination.

Incidentally it should bo mentioned .- that tho "Wellington Gns Company is pushing-ahead with its housing 6cheme. '■•. A block of hveh'o acres of 'in'" on the' sunny side of Miramar has been purchos- ■ / ed by the company, and as soon as tho: . new brick works aro'in operation a 6tart will bo made with an. extensive building scheme. \