FOXTON’S PRIMARY INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 865, 14 July 1910, Page 2

FOXTON’S PRIMARY INDUSTRY.

MESSRS ROSS & SON’S NEW WORKS. Messrs Wm. Ross and Son Dtd., new rope and twine works to replace those destroyed by fire some months ago, are now nearing completion, and will be ready to commence work at no very distant date. The works have been rebuilt on somewhat similar lines, about the only difference being that in futuie the work of the different departments will be separated. This course has been followed in order to allow for future developments where found necessary. The buildings are of wood and iron, with as little of the former as possible. When the buildings were destroyed by fire the greater amount of damage done to the machinery was caused through the walls collapsing and letting the roof fall on the machinery before being burnt out, thus confining the fire to small spaces around the machinery and causing much greater damage than if the roof had been burnt before collapsing. In order to obviate a recurrence, should the firm be unfortunate enough to have another fire, the roof is entirely supported by storey posts. Another great improvement is in the floor, which is now concreted throughout. The new buildings consist of the main factory, comprising the engineroom, preparing, spinning, rope and twine making departments ; a smaller factory which will be driven from the main engine room and will be used entirely for preparing, spinning, finishing shop and seaming twines out of imported hemp, mainly Italian and Russian. This branch of the works will be the first of its kind in the Dominion. Formerly Messrs Ross and Son imported the yarns required and finished them at the factory, but they are in future going to start from the raw material- In addition to these buildings there will be separate stores for local hemp and also stores for the manufactured goods, one each for hinder twine and rope and twine of different kinds. The firm have also a flaxmill running at the back of their property, the output of which will be used by the works when running. The plant at present being installed is on somwhat similar lines to that used previously with additions and improvements in detail. The motive power will be suction gas which has been found to be very satisfactory and economical. The Mk engine room will contain a main suction plant and engine of 125 horse power, built for continuous running. The engine is a two cylinder vertical type and is believed to be the first of the kind introduced into the Dominion. The power will be transmitted to the shafting by means ot ropes. In addition to the main engine and plant there will be a 50 horse power engine and plant, to be used at night, when the whole plant is not required to be working, or in case of a breakdown, any department can thus be kept going. In addition to the engine there is a dynamo switch board for lighting purposes which is capable of giving- 160 lights each ot 16 candle power. The ma- -■ chinery in the workshop will be driven either from the main engine or by a small five horse power gas engine, working on the town supply. The workshop with lathes, planing and drilling machines is complete in every detail, and repairs of any description can be excuted by the firm’s staff. The main factory is full of machines for the purposes of preparing New Zealand hemp and tow, and Manila, into first sliver and then yarns. From this it is manufactured into binder twine, lashings, ropes from half to nine inches in circumference, trawl twine, clothes lines, halters and numerous other classes of cordage. The machinery in the smaller factory is of a finer type although the principle is very much the same. The foreign hemps are corded, drawn, spun, twisted, polished, and balled or hanked according to the purpose for which it is required. When the works are fully running they will provide employment for between 60 and 70 hands of both sexes, and the yearly output will be between 700 and 800 tons of manufactured goods. The prospects for this? industry are very good, the firm not having lost a customer and are repeatedly receiving enquiries as to when they will be able to supply goods, and also orders, which unfortunately they are unable to execute. The total amount of binder twine that the firm will be able to manufacture during the coming season has already been sold, which speaks well tor the quality of the goods they manufacture.