KAIAPOI WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2244, 7 May 1881, Page 3

KAIAPOI WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Since our last notice upon this factory in September, 1880, when it was thrown open to the public for one day, very extensive improvements have been made, which were referred to at the annual meeting of shareholders, and which are now being completed. The addition of 100 ft. x 75ft. to the main building haa been nearly finished, and will afford room for the working of thirty-five now looms, now being erected, one or two sots of carding and condensing machines, and the plant recently purchased from the Nelson Woollen Company on the lower floor, and the addition of four spinning mules on the upper floor. They will then have 3200 spinning spindles, irrespective of the small mules of the Nelson importation, which will find a place in the highest storey of the new portion of the building. A noticeable introduction among the machines on the main floor is the Platt’s balling machine, with patent crank feed attached to one of the principal condensing engines. It was fonnd the web feed did not convey the- wool evenly into the condenser, so as to produce threads of regular thickness, and it has therefore been dispensed with. The new feed is a novel and interesting piece of machinery. The wool from the carding engine is delivered from it in the form of a rope, and passes into the balling machine in that form, when it is pressed into a flat piece of felt inches in width, and wound on to bobbins." The bobbins are restricted by the machine to a certain quantity, and when filled the machine gives notice to the attendant by a bell to strike. Should no notice be paid to the bell, the machine proceeds to adjust itself, by first of all cutting the band of wool, and then taking it on to another bobbin. The bobbins when filled are placed in a frame holding eighty of them. Their contents ore distributed from the frame into the condensing machine. The new importation has aided to a marvellous extent the equalizing of the threads from this machine, which is mainly used in assisting the manufacture of tweeds. In the upper part of the new portion the Nelson mules are already at work, and so great is the demand for fabrics, that immediately a machine can be got into motion there is no delay about it. The joiners are fast closing in the new rooms, and Mr W. Weston, the contractor, has certainly shown commendable celerity in the discharge of his duties. The next change will be in the arrangement of the engine and boiler-house. Already fcho foundation for the chimney has been excavated- This has to be of brick, 80ft in height, on a base 10ft square. To support the foundation, a concrete bed 20ft square and sft in thickness is being made. In addition to the two existing boilers, Messrs Anderson and Son, of tho Canterbury foundry, are making two to correspond with those put'in by that firm a year or two ago. Attached to the furnace is to be introduced a Qreen|s patent fuel economiser. The object of this appliance is this; there is a considerable amount of heat which passes the boilers, and | is, therefore, lost. The economiser consists of a row of tubes, through which the cold water will pass before it reaches the boilers, and in tho economiser it will be hooted nearly to boiling point, and thereby a large saving of fuel will he effected. Tho principal fuel used at this factory is the Springfield coal, which has the preference to any other kind for generating steam quickly. When the new engine, which is in course of manufacture at Soott Bros.’ foundry, Manchester street, has been fitted, there will be an entire rearrangement of the shafting throughout tho factory, and instead of using belts for driving, a system of ropes will be introduced, 6^in for tho main shafting, and Sin on to the branches. Various changes will be made in the arrangement of the machines, as room has to be provided for several new ones of improved construction, among which is a tentering and drying machine. Other arrangements ore being effected for- winding and putting the yarn into hunks. Away from the mill proper, the brick store, 60ft by 56ft, with two floors, tho lower used as a warehouse, and the upper as burling and knitting rooms, has been finished. Through tho burling room pass several hundred yards of cloth a day, and in the knitting room a few hands are kept at work making socks and knitted jackets. A new industry has hero developed itself, namely, the making of Tom O’Sbanter hats. These have been manufactured of various colors and with several excellent mixtures of colored yarn, particularly in heather patterns. The brick sulphuring house for tho proper treatment of flannels is completed, and has been in use for some time. A next step will be the improvement of the dye houses and the introduction of a second gas making machine to assist in lighting for night work. Tao mill is now running constantly from Monday mornings till Saturday afternoons. Appliances for the suppression of fire have been nearly completed. On the bank of the river Cam has been erected the old boiler of the steam fire engine Deluge, and attached is a pump for supplying either tho hose along both sides of the building or the water tanks. There are at present 167 persona employed at the factory and seventy at the Christchurch branch. When all the machinery and arrangements of tho Kaiopoi Woollen Manufacturing Company are perfected it is estimated that at least 500 hands will receive permanent employment. From an English paper, to which the chairman of directors had written a correction of some misstatements made by a

correspondent in October last, the ra *®® wages are quoted: —Wool scourers, 45a; laborers for do, 40s; 60* 5 laborer for do, 425 ; fireman, 50s; engineer, 70s; loom tenders, 455; girls for warping, 8a to 15s; milling, 48a ; finishing, 48a ; assistants to ao, 30s; boys, 15a; packing, 70s; do assistants, 335; carding overlooker, 80s; do assistants, 60s; fettling, 40s; girls, 10s to 14i; spinners, 45s to 355; boys, 12s to 15s; weavers, 18s to 325; knotters, 12s to 17« 6d ; and oarpenters, 10a for eight hours. On Monday the office was removed from the mill to the branch establishment in Bedford row.