MOSGEIL WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Evening Star, Issue 3100, 25 January 1873, Page 2

MOSGEIL WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Last evening the second anniversary of the Mosgeil Woollen Factory was held in a portion of the newly* erected buildings, rendered' necessary by the "extended 6peratioris of the company, consequent on th« increase ing demand for their manufactures. The due date of the anniversary is in March next, but having the new buildings Available before the machinery is placed in them, the tirm, to use the language of Mr Burns at the meeting last evening, wished “to see as many of their friends as possible under their own roof-tree,” and therefore celebrated the anniversary last night. The building in which the entertainment was given is a large one-storey wooden structure, 80!t x 44ft, to be bye-and-bye occupied with additional looms, jennies, and carding engine. Around the room, specimens of the company’s manufactures—blankets, tweeds, hosiery, underclothing, &c., were hung, some of tee being tye Uter Reduction of

the fiirm, and eviden ing considerable improvement in the manner or finishing the goods. One table was placed across the upper end, and three others up and down, nearly the entire length of the spacious room. These were all filled with the workpeople employed in the factory and the guests of the firm, many of whom came from town, and many others from the surrounding districts. At six o’clock the guests assembled, and sat down to an excellent supper provided by Mr Chiuman, manager for Mrs Frier, Mr A. J. Burns occupying the chair. When supper had been disposed of, the chairman in a neat and apnropriate speech proposed the health of Her Majesty the Queen, which was drunk with all honors, Mr Burns leading the “National Anthem.” Mr Wales thou proposed the health of His Excellency the Governor ; and in so doing, alluded to the many improvements which had been made, and the progress achieved in Die Colony, but especially in the Province, during period Sir George Bowen has been Governor of this Colony. The toast was duly responded to. The “ Superintendent and Provincial Council ” was then proposed *>y Mr Robert Stevenson, and acknowledged by Mr John L. Gillies,-M. P. C , and Speaker of the Council. Mr Gillies then proposed the toast of the evening— 4 * Prosperity to the Mosgiel Woollen Factory.” He said it gave much pleasure to find himself in the presence of such a galaxy of youth and beauty in a place in the neighborhood in which he was, seventeen years ago, bogged three times while attempting to get some cattle off Mr Burns’s land. He spoke of the great changes which had taken place in the Pro rince since 1853. The Taieri people should be proud to think that one of themselves had so largely contributed to bring about these great and important changes, and be was «ure all would unite in a heartfelt wish that A. J. Burns and Co. might long continue to prosper in connection with the business they had sosucoess fully started. Hedounted if he should wish them a greater measure of success than that which had already crowned their efforts, as, if they continued in the future to progress as they hid done in the past, he feared they might lose the run of their own premises, they would necessarily become so extensive. He was glad to gee that the great result that evening contemplated was the work of an old settler The success of tho Mosgiel factory was another feather in the cap of the “ old identity.” When the goldfields were discovered here, nothing would go down anywhere but Victorian enterprise, but in permanet improvements and real work for the lastmg good of the Province, the old identity had beaten the new iniquity. He had recently read with pleasure that a woollen factory in Victoria had at last yielded a profit, but that was the result of the work of years. But here, that which had in Victoria been a work of considerable time, had been accomplished at once. This was largely to be accounted for by the fact that Mr Burns was not a visionary, but set out on tho accomplishment of his work with a fixed idea, which he had resolutely worked out to the eud. Ho concluded by moving the toast placed in his hands. The toast, was received qy the company with great enthusiasm. The Rev. Win. Will then spoke in support of the remarks made by Mr Gillies He could not see the connection between the drinking of toasts and the wishing prosperity to Messrs Hums and Company. Instead of asking to express their good wishes by drinking, ho would recommend every one to clothe themselves in Mosgiel tweeds, to warm themselves in Mosgiel blankets, and wear Mosgiel hosiery. He had taken great interest in this institution. When first he saw the machinery unpacked on the gi ound, he wondered if any could be found in >ew Zealand to reduce all the confm-ion to order. It had, however, been done. He had frequently visited the works, and feared sometimes he would be troublesome to the bonds, but he had ever received from every one on the establishment the utmost courtesy and kindness. When looking around on the improvements of late years, he was disposed to ask where it would all end, and and had no doubt but that the young people present would live to see as great improvements on present appliances as we see on those of years gone bye He joined very cordially in Wishing continued prosperity to A J. Burns & Co. Mr Burns, in a long ami suitable speech, which we have not room for in this issue, sketched the rise and progress of the firm. He stated that Mr S atll and party arrived in Otago in May, 1871 ; in ( ctober of that year, the first wool was put through the machine ; but it was the following month before cloth of any kind was sent to market. Since then, the factory had turned out GOO pieces of tweed of 40 yards each ; ICO pieces of plaiding of 60 yards each ; 600 pairs of blankets, 20 shawls, 180 spindles of fingering worsted, 600 do. yarn, 645 pairs pants, 113 shirts, 1,200 pairs socks, and 55 > pairs of stockings. He was glad to say that though the amount of goods produced was so large as to surprise himself. The stock at present was very low ; there was not a pair of socks on hand, and in other lines there was very little left to sell. The remainder of the evening was pleasantly spent in dancing.