CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1600, 5 April 1879, Page 2

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

THE NEW “ PRESS ” BUILDINGS. The first portion of the large range of stone and briek buildings in course of erection by the Press Company has just been completed. It comprises the machine room and stereotyping department, and forms, as already stated;, part of the three story block which will shortly be erected. The building now under notice is of brick, being 55 by 50, and has been erected by Mr J. L. Fleming in his usual workmanlike manner. It is fitted with fireproof doors and lighted from the ceiling by several skylights, specially designed by Mr Armson, and constructed on the latest principle. Parapet Jwalls are erected all round the building, and every precaution has been taken to provide against risk of damage to the large quantity of valuable machinery in case of a fire breaking out on the premises. There are seven machines in all in this department, all of which are driven by steam. The motive power is supplied by a remarkably compact but powerful steam-engine, manufactured specially for the Company by Mr John Anderson, of the Canterbury Foundry. The boiler connected therewith, also manufactured by the same firm, is set in an adjoining place. Close by the steam-engine is a Main’s singlecylinder fast-printing machine, which is rented by the proprietor of the “ Q-lobe,” for the issue of that journal. Beyond this, again, is a retired, or rather superseded, machine, in the shape of a Couisbee’s patent Wharfdale, lifted witti patent flyiug apparatus, and capable of printing a sheet larger than that used for this day’s issue, at a high rate of speed. This machine was formerly used for the production of the Press, but the rapid increase in the circulation of that journal put it hors da combat, it being only a single feeder, and not possessing sufficient speed to enable the Company to keep pace with the requirements of the reading public of Canterbury, Under these circumstances it was found necessary to import a greatly improved machine, which will be referred to below, and the machine which has done duty for some time will shortly have to make room for others of more modern manufacture. Near the machine last referred to is a Wharfdale, manufactured by W. Dawson and Sons, of Otley, Yorkshire, a town renowned for the excellence of its printing machinery. This is devoted exclusively to the production of “The Weekly Press.” It is capable of printing four pages crown size at a speed of 2000 copies per hour, Next to this is one by the same makers, but somewhat smaller. It is fitted with the patent automatic (Iyer, and requires only one attendant. This is a double derny, and is used principally for job printing. An Ingle’s machine, also used for job printing, mainly connected with the railway prmting contract held by the Press Company, is in close proximity. In great contrast to the size of those described is the little Minerva (Cropper and Co.’s patent), for working cards. This is worked by one lad, and the speed attainable is almost incredible. There is also the little model which figured so conspicuously in the recent Kaitangata fete procession, and which is also used for light work.

The latest addition to the machine power of the Press Company’s establishment is a two-feeder Wharfdale machine, manufactured by Messrs W. Dawson and Sons, of Otley, It is fitted up with all the latest improvements in machinery, and is the largest, swiftest, and most complete machine in the colony. It was imported per the Mennock, through the agency of Messrs V. and J. Figgins, of London, and arrived in the most perfect order, and was erected at once without the slightest delay, under the able superintendence of Mr E. McCleary, the Company’s machinist. The packing was so good that not so much as a single bolt or screw was missing or injured, and the machine did excellent work in its first triaL The introduction of this machine marks a new era in the matter of newspaper enterprise in Canterbury, [as it is the most complete in all its details yet imported into the colony. It is fitted with patent flyers, and is also a two-feeder; that is, there are two heaps of paper, one at each end of the machine, and two copies of the Press are printed at each revolution of the cylinder. It is capable of producing 4000 complete copies of the PfiESS per hour, which is a gigantic stride when compared with (he rate which was sufficient a few years back. In addition to the steam machinery, there are also in tin's room some very interesting memorials of the past in the shape of several Albion hand presses. Though the day has gone by for these to play any very active part in the production of morning papers, still they are not altogether useless, and they form no inconsiderable portion of the whole plant. In the other portion of the building, viz., that devoted to stereotyping, is a very ingenious little piece of machinery, viz., Harrold’s patent newspaper addressing machine, which saves the vast amount of clerical labor formerly expended in writing the addresses of the large number of papers daily sent through the post. The stereotyping here is not yet, as in larger cities, such as London and Melbourne, applied to newspapers, but is used by the Pbess Company for the multiplication of formes used in the job printing part of the establishment. It is worked by gas, and has proved very successful. At present this completes the building erected, forming part; of the large range projected to be built by the company. Mr A raison is now engaged prcpaiing plans and specifications for a three storied brick and stoi e building, connected with that above described. The building, when complete, will cover the whole of the quarter-acre section now partially occupied by (he present offices. The dimensions of the now building will bo fit by 00. The style of architecture being Gothic, the Cashel street front will be highly ornamented, and, generally, when complete, the edifice will be an ornament to the city.

The improvements above described have been rendered necessary by the rapid increase in the circulation of (lie newspapers printed at (tie Company’s offices, and also by

the constant growth of the general U tter-press printing business. It maybe added that the circulation of the Press now exceeds that of any other morning journal published in New Zealand by upwards of one thousand copies daily.