LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1298, 17 May 1878, Page 3

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Toombe’s Boot Factoby.

[from the press.] Amongst the most recent and handsome additions to the city are the new premises of Messrs Toomer, Bros, and Co., boot manufacturers, in Lichfield street. As large employers of labor, tho Messrs Toomer are amongst the most enterprising of the many large firms of which Christchurch can boast. A description of tho new factory, and the method in which this large business is carried on, will therefore be of interest. The building is a handsome three-storied structure, each floor being devoted to a special department of the trade. The main entrance from Lichfield street leads into a spacious room 40ft. x 30ft. used for storing the stock when it has pissed through its final stage of completion. Convenient cases and shelves,reaching to within a few feet of tho ceiling, which is unusually lofty and supported by massive kauri pillars, run round three sides of this store room, and are capable of containing a vast quantity of manufactured goods A window opens into the rivetting-room, through which the goods are passed when finished, and temporarily deposited in a convenient lobby pending their being packed away in the storeroom. The rivettiug room, at the rear of the storeroom, is of spacious dimensions, being 60ft. in length and 20ft. wide. There are three rows of benches running the entire length of the room, and affording accommodation for fifty-six workmen, whose sole occupation is nvetting. The work capable of being turned out weekly by this number of workmen averages about 3000 pairs of boots and shoes weekly. Forty men are employed at present. This apartment is thoroughly well lit and ventilated, the latter on the most approved principle. Next to the rivetting room is the press room (22ft. x 20ft.) where all the soles and bottom stuff is cutout and pressed ready for tho rivetters. Two powerful presses are used for the latter purpose, the motive power being supplied by a 3 h.p. engine. Two men and a'lad find constant employment in this department. The engine room is to the left of the press room, and is furnished with a rolling machine, through which the sole leather is passed, instead of being submitted to the laborious and tedious process of hammering. This machine is a great economiser of both time and labour, besides performing the work much more effectually. It is the intention of the firm to remove the steam engine which works the rolling and pressing machines, and substitute in its place one of tho new gas engines lately imported by Mr R. C. Bishop and described in our columns. The groat a (vantages of these engines are that they generate no smoke and are more economical. The rooms described abut on a large yard, furnished with a carpenter’s shop and all necessary appliances ; all the cases used for packing stock for the interprovincial trade being made on tho premises. The entrance for the workmen is also by this yard, which adjoins Bedford Row. The remainder of the ground floor is devoted to a handsome counting-house and office, looking out on Lichfield street, with spacious warehouse, 40ft. by 30ft., at the rear of it. In this room are stored the valuable stock of materials u?cd in the trade, such as soleleather, kid and French calf, English and colonial kips, rivets, Ac. A pair of folding doors lead to the lobby and staircase, by which the second storey is gained. On the left-hand of this staircase is a private entrance for the female operatives, of whom tho firm employs about twenty-five as machinists and fitters. On the first floor is situated the clicking and machine room, 64ft long by 40ft in width. This also faces the main street, and is lit on three sides with ground gla*s windows, and thoroughly well ventilated. This apartment presents a very busy scene of industry, the operatives being mostly women. Their employment is machining and finishing the uppers preparatory to the latter passing into the hands of the rivetters below. The work is first cut out by the clickers, and then passed to another hand to be skived, which is the technical term for bevelling the edges, and is then passed to the women, whose province is to put the parts together ready for the machine. Ten of Howe’s sewing machines are used for joining the seams of the uppers. In addition to the females employed in this department, six men and three boys are em ployed in clicking and skiving. A small office at tho eastern extremity of the long room, used for storing sewing silks and other material, completes this story of the budding. The second floor, with a slight increase in size, corresponds with the one below jt, and is devoted to closing and finishing js of life tv ad a t'wwhaa

menfc for twenty-two men and boys. Some of the latter work with their fathers, learning a trade and earning wages simultaneously. The finishing stroke of the work is done in this department, and then the goods are finally sent below for local sale or exportation to the other provinces, with which the firm does a large trade. Nearly £SOOO was sunk in the erection of Messrs Toomer’s premises and purchase of the plant, and their average wages payn.ent is about £IGO per week. The firm keeps in employ a constant number of skdled workmen, some of whom, at pi>ce work, earn as much as £5 per week. Messrs Toomer have been eight years in the present business, and have carried on operations in the new premis s for four months, the trade steadily increasing during that time. As many readers are doubt L as aware, the firm have organised amongst themselves a private band, which is much appreciated by the public on holiday occasions.