MESSRS. COMPTON BROTHERS’ NEW SAW-MILLS IN DIXON-STREET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5535, 23 December 1878, Page 2

MESSRS. COMPTON BROTHERS’ NEW SAW-MILLS IN DIXON-STREET.

Yesterday was opened in a quiet and imostentious manner a most extensive set of business premises by the above-named gentlemen. Through tho courtesy of the proprietors we are enabled to place before our readers tho following particulars relative to this undertaking. No invitations to the Press were issued, and tho particulars obtained are the result of a casual intimationof tho opening received by us from a friend. The firm of Messrs. Compton Bros, is an offshoot from what is probably the oldest timber-merchant business in Wellington, which has been carried on by Mr. Compton, senior, for a great many years in this city. His three sons having gone into tho same line ef business jointly, and having successfully traded for some time in Bouloott-street, found that their business had outgrown the limits of the space at their disposal. They therefore determined upon taking up their quarters in new and more extensive premises, and the present large establishment in Dixon-street is the site they fixed upon. Mr. Krnll attended at tho building yesterday afternoon about halfpast four, in order to open the building, and in a few appropriate terms wished the proprietors the success that their efforts deserved. He pointed out that the example of their father’s successful career was before them for imitation, and the present building and tho valuable machinery it contained proved that the sons were anxious to emulate both his success and to imitate his earnest, hard-working, industrious conduct. The position of both father and sons was a sufficient proof that the attempts which were sometimes made to set class against class could not be justified by the present condition of society in New Zealand. The highest positions were open to the lowest born among the community, and the term working men was strictly applicable to many of the richest as well as the poorest of the population. After referring to his own first employment in Wellington, Mr. Krull wished success to Messrs. Compton Brothers in their now premises, which was drunk with the usual honors. The health of several other gentlemen, whose efforts in carrying out the work allotted to them were specially praiseworthy, followed, and a pleasant and successful opening ceremony then terminated. E’er those who may desire to have more detailed information about the_ progress ef our local industries, a progress which is constantly going on in opr midst almost unnoticed, wo append tljo following description of the new buildings : The block of ground secured for the establishment has IfiOft. frontage, and runs 275 ft. back, covering a space of about ten acres. Besides extensive sheds for the storage of

dressed timber, a large two-storey building for a workshop, engine-room, &c., has been erected. It measures 100 ft. long by 52ft. wide, and has been throughout constructed in a thoroughly substantial manner, under the supervision of the proprietors. Beneath this roof will be carried on the business of sawmilling, planing and moulding, and sash and door making in all its branches. One of the chief features of the building is the ample provision which has been made for providing abundant light to the workmen employed, which is supplied by numerous large windows on all sides of the shop, both on the ground-floor and upstairs. The engine upon the premises is one of Iluss and Proctor’s double cylinder horizontal engines of the most modern pattern, fitted with Tangye’s patent high-speed governors and patent variable expansion gear ; it is a beautiful specimen of the mechanical skill of the present day. The working of the engine is so smooth as to be almost noiseless, and this point was noticed by several visitors. Some idea of the size of the engine may be gathered from the fact that the fly-wheel is 10ft. 6in. in diameter ; the cylinders are 15in. in diameter, with a 21in. stroke. Owing to the principle of the construction, the working power of the engine may be reduced according to the work required from it, without waste of steam or fuel. The boilers which have been supplied to the firm were built by Mr. Seager, of the Victoria Foundry. They are each 2©£b. long by 6ft. in diameter, and are an improved form of multitubular boiler, specially adapted to bum the shavings and timber refuse of the yard. They have a very largo heating surface and a powerful draught. Steam is generated very fast, and they are considered to be a very great success. They are connected with a large chimney-stack 75ft. high, built very massive on a base lift, square. The flue takes a circular form a few feet from the ground, and is designed and constructed to resist any ordinary earthquake. This and all the other brickwork of the engine-room has been performed in a manner highly creditable to Mr. W. Dear, the contractor.

The machinery for the workshop is at present incomplete, a large portion of that consigned to the firm having been unfortunately lost in the wreck of the Southmlnster. No expense has been spared in providing the most modern forms of moulding and planing mill-work, and all of that which has hitherto come to hand has given great satisfaction to the consignees. The portions lost have been re-ordered from the same well-known firm, Messrs. Thomas Robinson, and Sons, Rochdale. Large stocks of timber of all sizes are uow on hand, Including totara, kauri, rod, white, and black pine. Orders have been given for a considerable quantity of Baltic pine. Altogether this establishment, which is believed to bo the largest in this provincial district, is very complete. It may be cited as a remark-• able instance of the growth of a business when in good hands, and we have no doubt that the Wellington public will join with us in wishing the proprietors the success which their energy and enterprise deserve. The growth of our local industries is a welcome indication of the commercial progress and prosperity of this city. We understand that the firm expect to employ a very large number of hands when they have everything in fulljwerking order.