IMPORTANT LOCAL INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5734, 15 August 1879, Page 5

IMPORTANT LOCAL INDUSTRY.

We yesterday had the pleasure of visiting the biscuit and confectionery manufactory of Mr. S. Griffiths, and were as much surprised at the extent of the works aud the facility which ia afforded for the ready manufacture of every requirement of the trade, as we were gratified at the spirit of enterprise with which the proprietor of the establishment is evidently imbued. The visit was made for the purpose of inspecting the exhibits about to be forwarded by Mr. Griffiths to the Sydney Exhibition, and while in the establishment wo took advantage of the opportunity to also make a tour of the factory. The manufacture of biscuits first claimed our attention, these being made entirely by machinery. The flour and other ingredients are placed in a mixing drum, where they are thoroughly incorporated, and from this machine the paste is passed to the rolling machine. It is here rolled out very smoothly, and then passed to another machine, which cuts it into the required biscuit pattern, and at the same time stamps the maker’s name upon the paste. The paste is now ready for the oven, which machine is in itself a speciality, and is said,to be the only one of its kind in New Zealand. It is known as a rotatory oven, and may be best described as a large wheel revolving inside an oven. This wheel has eight ledges upon its surface, and upon these are placed the trays of raw biscuits. Only one ledge appears at the oven door at a time, and this ledge upon being loaded with trays disappears as the wheel revolves. A complete circuit of the wheel, of course, brings the biscuits back to the opening, but this time cooked and ready for packing. The whole process, from the mixing to the cooking, occupies but a very short time, and from three to four tons of biscuits can be thus prepared in a day. Mr. Griffiths, manufactures every conceivable form and description of biscuit, including the celebrated maocaroons, ratafias, and cracknalls, well known as being amongst the leading kinds for which the English manufactories have become famous. In confectioneries, too, Mr. Griffiths is also to the fore. Every form of lolly or lozenge is turned out at his establishment in a manner quite equal to any of the imported goods, and amongst the various kinds we may briefly mention chocolate drops, gum liquor goods, French goods, and all sorts of boiled sugar. The colored lollies are very good, and have one very important advantage over many of the imported kinds, namely that the coloring matter is perfectly harmless, and consists of pure vegetable matter. In fact a medical certificate of the pure properties of the coloring accompanies each package of fancy lollies. The process of manufacture of the various condiments is very interesting. For instance, the well-known conversation lozenges are in their primary stage simply a pasta composed of sugar and the purest gum arabic, and this paste being rolled out the lozenges are cut from it with a tin cutter, and passed to a boy, who stamps the desired motto upon them. The liquor goods are made in moulds in a very simple manner. A wooden tray is filled with a flour consisting of sugar and starch, aud into this is pressed with wooden stamps such shapes as hearts, crosses, stars, rings, &o. The liquid sugar is then poured into the shapes, and when cold the whole are placed in a .riddle and freed from the flour, which is again utilised for more moulds. But by far the most interesting process is the manufacture of almond-drops. The almonds are placed in a revolving pan, this pan being inclined at such an angle as to cause its contents to continually stir. There is a raised portion in the centre of the pan which acts as a general distributor of the contents, so that the almonds will not gather more thickly in one part of the pan than in another. While the pan is revolving, and the almonds are consequently continually upon the move, liquid sugar is -repeatedly sprinkled upon them, the result being that the almonds are soon coated with white sugar, aud are ready for the confectioner’s shop. The fact that Mr. Griffiths had the goods he was about to forward to the Sydney Exhibition ready for inspection yesterday afternoon, induced his Excellency the Governor (Sic Hercules Robinson), aoompanied by his private secretary aud one of the lady members of his family, to honor the establishment with a visit. His Excellency made a tour of the establishment, and expressed himself as being much pleased with what he saw. The factory was also visited by a number of other gentlemen, amongst whom we .noticed the Hon. J. Martin, Mr, Seed (secretary.of Customs), Messrs. W. H. Levin, Tolhurst, Williams, Sawyers, Crawford, Harcourt, and A. Young. The exhibits are really a splendid assortment, and will take a “ deal of beating.” They consist of blocks of candy in various colors, and cases of all the various descriptions of biscuits and confectioneries known to the trade—there being SO or 40 varieties of biscuits alone. There ia also a glass show-case, containing a choice assortment of sweetmeats and condiments, the ease being surmounted by a crown made entirely of sugar. Mr. Grant accompanies the exhibits to Sydney, and appears to be very proud of his mission. He says he has in Europe taken nine gold medals for such goods,’ but he never saw a better collection than is comprised in Mr. Griffith’s exhibit, aud he ia confident of the goods carrying off first prize. It is Mr. Griffiths’s intention to have one of the revolv-ing-pans already described working at the Exhibition, and the value of the exhibition, including this pan, will be about £250. The inspection of the establishment having concluded, the visitors were invited by Mr. Griffiths into his office, aud here some champagne was uncorked in honor of the occasion, Mr. Crawford, in a few well chosen words, proposing Mr. Griffiths’ health and expressing the pleasure he felt at the enterprise which Mr. Griffiths had displayed. Mr. Griffiths thanked those present for the compliment, and replied to the effect that he had determined to properly establish the manufactory, so as to turn out every description of goods. He had been told by his friends that he was spending too much money over the enterprise, but he did not think so, as he did not believe in doing things by halves. He wanted to show the public generally that such goods could he made in the place instead of having to he imported, and he trusted the retail dealers would soon come to appreciate this. He was always glad to let people come into his factory and inspect the works for themselves, so that they could see what could be done here. . (Applause.) The party then broke up, after wishing Mr. Griffiths every success in his enterprise, in which sentiment we cordially join.