LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1917, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRY.

We have beer, shown a .fine specimen of the coachbuildeto act in the ghapr. of a pony gig recently turned out by Messrs Blank and Bereudt, to the order of Mr Gifts Foote of Hokitika. The whole of the trap ia built of knurl with spotted gum framing, and is bung on threo Bennett springs with a whip spring to neutralise tha hcr?e motion, an advantage that has been claimed for some recently imported higher priced vehicles, but which they do not possess. The shafts ate lancewood pattern spotted gum nicely finished off with a scroll at tha ends. Tha seat is movable with a very simple but, effective slide to allow of a perfect balance, with one, two or throe passengers. The wheels are of the Warner’s patent pattern, which combine elegance with greifc strength, Thu body is painted black, with the curved wing boards and gear coach green, lined out in gold. The trimming ia neatly done ia green snnburoid, with a nicely worked fill, and the shaft leathers are black edged with tan to correspond with the lining. The whole ia finished off with a set of nlcktl mountings, and with a liberal coating c£ .varnish gives the whole turn-out a moat elegant and well finished appearance. It is somewhat, difficult to understand why people in the district find it necessary tosmd away for their requirements in this line when there are tradesmen in our midst who can turn out work like the job under review, and at a lower price than the imported article. We notice also (hat ibis enterprising firm has recently installed an ex'ensive labor saving plant, including a six h.p. oil engine, a fine band saw, circular saw, a power driven screwing machine, a power driven drilling machine, emery wheels, while a buzz plainer is also shortly to be erected* They have lately secured the services of Mr R. Parkinson whose abilities are so well known in this district for the past thirteen years, so that the firm are now in a position to meet all the requirements of the trade. They are now putting on iho stocks a Cobb & Co’s coach for a firm of mail contractors in the district who, we are very sure, will not regret placing their order with the local firm.