KAIAPOI WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2318, 8 September 1881, Page 3

KAIAPOI WOOLLEN FACTORY.

Most of the improvements in this line of industry referred to in March last aS intended 0 to bo carried out, are completed or fast ap- -- preaching that stage, and in about a month lS hence the factory will be in a position to work up at least fifty bales of wool per week. On 10 Tuesday the new steam engine, made by l * Messrs Scott Bros., Christchurch, wafl tried 11 for the first time. It is a horizontal compound y stationary engine of 60-h.p. nominal, fitted 1 with condensing and double-acting air pnfap, works at a speed of seventy revolutions per 0 minute, contains high pressure cylinder l&in, and low pressure ditto of 28in, both 3fiin stroke ; the crank shaft is lOAin, the fiy wheel I2Et in diameter and weighing about five tons. This wheel is oast in three segments, and with

the cylinders and other portions of the ca« inga are particularly clean and sound. It ms be here noted that the cylinders are suppose , to be the largest pair oast in the colony. Th engine is fitted with a Porter and Allen' patent governor and throttle valve, wit double beat equilibrium. The driving pulle is 6ft, driving nine ropes on to a 4ft 6ii pulley, and a steel shaft of Bin. The trie was an eminently good one, and every satis faction has boen expressed at the workman ship, finish, and completeness of the engine It stands on a concrete foundation, and th< house is now being built up with briok-worl around it, separating the engine-room frotr the boilers. There are now three boilers ir position, and so soon as Messrs J. Andersor and Song, Christchurch, deliver the other two the boiler-house 'space will be filled. As already stated the chimney stack, 80ft on a 10ft concrete foundation, ’is now in use, and the Green’s economiser, for the purpose oi heating water prior to its going into the boilers, is being cased in to its chamber at the level with the boilers, in brick-work. The dye house, a substantial building of bricky with iron roof, and skylights 72ft i 30ft, is finished, and is also being used. The two indigo coppers, capable of holding each 1000 gallons of liquor, are set in brick work. There are besides about twelve dye troughs, an indigo crusher, and a squeezing machine. At the end of the house is placed a wooden tank which receives the hot water from the engines, and contains about 1500 gallons, giving the dyers the advantage of a sufficient supply of hot water for all purposes. The troughs are duly fitted with heating apparatus from steam piping and supplies of cold water. The floor is so arranged that the dye or water drains immediately away, and not only are the lighting and other arrangements amply complete, but the premises for this purpose are second to none in the cclony. In a previous notice of this factory reference was made to a chamber over the boilers for drying the wool or fabrics, the latter by being spread on a perforated zinc floor, through which the heat ascends, and the former by being hung on linos or hooks from the reof. This means of drying was found, during the wet weather, especially convenient, for the material, after leaving the hydro-extractor, could be rendered fit for manufacture in half-an-hour or so, and the cloth fit for finishing. Till recently the largest part of the fabrics were dried on racks outside, but now this has been superseded by a tentering machine. This machine is located in a brick house, with roof closely covered with slates, two archimedian ventilators in the roof, taking away the air and steam. The machine consists of from 3000 ft to 4000 ft of steam piping, and between layers or rows of this piping is a travelling bolt with tenter hooks. This is enclosed so that the heat generated by steam through the piping is retained around the machine. From the outside of the enclosure the fabric to be dried is inserted by the attendant, who has by a simple means only to attach the cloth or flannels to the tenter hooks, when the machine takes it in, and adjusts stuff to any width between 60in. and 24in. Three cuts, or about 150 yards, can be thoroughly dried at one time in about twenty minutes. This machine, made by Whiteby and Sons, is driven by its own engine, and the exhaust steam furnishes the heat for drying. Consequent upon the connections with the new engine, new shafting is being carried right through the factory, on improved hanging brackets, and work has been suspended at the looms and carding engines for a day or two. The new carding engines, which are partly erected, combine a groat number of improvements on the older machines; one noticeable feature being that they supply themselves with the wool as it is put into a receiver, they also weigh and adjust It on the brattice for carding. The condensing engines are fitted with Platts’ patent balling machines and other novel appliances for better perfecting the yarn for tweed making, preparatory to the spinning ’process. One set of the new moles has been erected, and another set is expected. Alterations have been made in the burling room, so as to 'give increased accommodation. A new 200 light gasoline machine is an order which, when it arrives,'will greatly contribute towards the extension of the night work, and thug assist somewhat in meeting the demand for the manufactures of this company. Mr Leighthoad, a gentleman who has enjoyed an extended experience in similar factories in England, is now the active manager here, and with the aid of improved machinery and more skilful direction, "it is pleasing to be able to place on record the fact that the tweeds and other manufactures show a marked improvement. In addition to an endless variety of tweeds, some samples of travelling and other wool rugs, shown at the warehouse, Bedford row, Christchurch, have received general commendation for their quality as well as the variety of their designs.