Successful Enterprise.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 263, 10 October 1883, Page 2

Successful Enterprise.

MESSRS H XLLKNST FIN'S NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY.

("Condensed from Otago Daily Times.] > othing but a personal inspection of the factory of Messrs Hallensteiu Bros. will give a fall idea of the. work which is being carried on m our very midst. The spacionspremises m Dowling Btreet are not the seat of a trade monopoly ; bat they may be regarded as being by far the most important m the clothing line, and give employment to the astonishing number of something like 40.0 hands. Selecting the hour of noon for our tour sf inspection, let us pay a visit to the representatives of What cannot fail to prove a most interesting industry. Entering the premises of Messrs Hallenstein Brothers by the side door we ascend to tho upper floor by a somewhat lofty staircase, each step of which is edged with leather, as a precaution, it would appear, against a possible slip of the foot on the part of those who are constantly ascending and. descending, and often with a considerable load m their arms. Here, is an enormous cham* her of lofty pitch, with spacious galleries running around it, and walls and rafters alike are delicately adorned m tints of blue and white, while windows and skylights- sre so lavishly, distributed as to fill the place ■ with a flood of tempered light. Lone rows of tables cover the ground fIW and fill ehe galleries, but these are so arranged as to leave ample space for those whose duty it maybe from time to time to pass behind or between the serried ranks of workers. When r the notion is first grasped by the visitor, that in' front of each one of these women and girls there is merrily revolving ' % sewing-machine of one sort or another, it becaroes a matter of the greatest wonderment how it can be that there is no greater amount of noise, and that the pleasant ham of voices is not overpowered by the cease* loss rattle of the wheels. At the clothmills, indeed, th/ din of the flying shutt'es was intolerable to the unaccustomed ear, but here it is very different. In the middle of one side of the room is pet a slightly-elevated rostrum, whence I the manager of the department may cast his watchful eye over every part of the place ; and leaning against this we are able to chat at ease without the necessity for unduly raising our voices. Such is the care here taken to use for each particular sort cf work or different material' the machine which is bast adapted to the purpose that there are m all no fewer than 22 different makes of sewing-machines employed. , En ac-* cordanca with the strict regularity which characterises every process m this factory, where you see the making of men's coats m progress, you will see nothine but men's coats, and yonder donble table vests only are manufactured, and hard by a hundred busy fingers are fashioning the garments that will ' pre* I sently adorn the youthful forms of our sons and grandsons. Through all the j whirr and h.um of the* scene a spirit of | order and gysteni visibly prevails, and this goes hand m hand with a bright and cheerful aspect that is conspicuously noticeable among the lively throng. The degree of skill required m the workman t varies, of course, with the nature of the task assigned to her $ and we } soon notice that wherever a cluster of quite yotmg girls is to be found there also is to be seen a staid matron to direct and supervise their labours, an writ, maybe, as to exercise a sobering influence on their exuberant young spirits. Next we come upon the cutters, who, hard at work at their broad benchesr, manage with their hug« sciegors to fashion out nicely 12 folds of o'oth at one and the same time. Whatever may be the shape of the piece they are required to cut out, there is no difficulty m finding the right pattern, as each of these is not only stored after its first use, but also catalogued. Iho operations of shirt and trouser finishing are well worth watching for a few moments, both, by reason of the character of the Bpecial machinery used, and of the dexterity of the operatives. Just as we have concluded our round of the workroom, the clock suspended on one of the galleries strikes the hour of one, and a most amusing stampede takes place on the instant. Up from their benches rise women, girls, and boys with ooe consent, and hurriedly ; make for the spacious dining-room that adjoins. In three minutes our guide and ourselves are all that are left m the deset ted hall. Following Bhortly the fugitives, we fiud ourselves the centre of an animated company, who are laughing and chatting m groups, seated at several long tables —chatting, that is to say, ac much as they can while their facial muscles are otherwise and more profitably employed. By far the greatest number ot our 400 friends are here assembled, and each has opened out his or her packet of lunch, which is agreeably accompanied by the fragrant cup of tea. This beverage is daily prepared at the jexpense of the. firm and served out to the hands; whahave only to bring -each one his own f hare of the herb, and the

vessel m which it may be served. A very happy family party it looks. The sanitary accommodation is amply sufficient and particularly well arranged,; and the ventilation could scarcely be better effected. The warehouse with its long piles on piles of finished garments, the bulk and blanket room,.the the packing room and the folding room, where every article is measured, folded, brushed, and ticketed, are all m turn visite i ; but enough has now been said to show that the while place teems with interest, and that the factoty as now conducted is an item of importance among our local industries, and a credit to its proprietors.