MESSRS J. AND D. FINDLAY MILL.

Evening Star, Issue 3737, 13 February 1875, Page 2

MESSRS J. AND D. FINDLAY MILL.

Messrs J. and D. Findlay, proprietors of tl extensive premises and saw-mill in Cumbe l&ud and Stuart streets, have recently entire' reconstructed their building, replacing the o iron structure with substantial brick wall borne weeks’ time was necessarily occupied ; the pulling down and rc-erectiou, but these we* so managed that the machinery was not stoppe for a day, and the business of the firm w,scarcely interfered with. The present structu is of two storeys, the flooring of the lower beii the bare earth, and in this the general work « thfc mill is carried ou. The engine, of 25 h.i nominal, capable of working up to 45 h.p., o copies one corner, and when we visited the pr< mists the foundations were nearly complete, for a new and more powerful one, capable < working up to 70 h.p. In this part is done tl prelimiuary work, the breaking-down sawbeit busy reducing the piles of great logs of timbi to a workable size. Rio ami cross-cut saws a' also in full work, and here are also maohin, for planing and turning out scantling, floorin' and lining. These last named are product from the rough planks by one operation, beir simply passed once through the planing ar tonguemg and grooving machine. On this flo is the store, containing'a large stock of hous hold ironmongery, such as door-handles, fittin, for windows and curtain poles, &o.—everythin tlm is necessary to the building of a hems ihe stock of turnery, doors, sashes, and vario? goods is contained in a large brick structure . the same premises, but further down Stua street, and recently purchased of Mr Fenwio The most striking thing about the main buih uig is the open appearance the ground fle presents, as at the Stuart street front there a uo less than five large archways formh entrances for timber-laden drays. or are taking away stock. This admirable « enables the drays to JtoSSool out without trouble, there being ample tumir space mside, while at the same tff an^S Th^io 1 pi e of ! tlU3 , ber oan he driven dose np P i These are closed at night time by w oo d\

barriers, which are raised and lowered on exactly the same principle as the portcullis of an ancient castle. There are two dray e'.trances in Cumberland street, - in additicn 10 these. The offices of the firm are situated on each side of this floor. Coin" into the yard, we find a large quantity of timber of all sorts and sizes, with an immense jib-crane toweiing above. Town the side of the yard, parallel with the New Zealand Distillery premises, is neatly and carefully stacked away the stock of quartering, tongued and grooved stuff, planking, &c., all of which will eventually bo covered in and protected from the weather. The stabling is hero situated, containing accommodation for fourteen horses ; and on going outside tin;gates, we find tho reclaimed ground covered for some couple of hundred yards with more massive logs of timber belonging to Messrs Findlay. Eetuming through the ground finer, all the machinery on which is driven by underground shafting, the upper storey claims attention. This runs the entire length of the building and is very well flighted, almost the whole of the roof consisting of skylights. The first department is tho sash and doormaking, at which a number of hands are engaged, and in a room off this the glazing of the sashes is done. Next two moulding machines, the various parts made in Dunedin and put together by Messrs Findlay, are at work ; and also a tenoning and three or four mortising machines. Most of the mortisers work by hand, but one, an American invention, is worked by steam power and shows great ingenuity.