Local Industries

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 35, 25 November 1893, Page 6

Local Industries

MATAURA AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKS. Mr William Gardiner, of Matanra, is known, at any rate by repute, throughout tbe whole of Southland as one of the leading plough-makers of the colony. There are considerably over 200 of his d.f. ploughs in use by farmers between Lawrence and the Western District, besides many of his make of other kinds of implements. When our reporter called the other day he found him busily engaged finishing off an improved manm-e and turnip sower, while a number of the hands were forging and fitting ridging ploughs. One of the oldest residents of the district, Mr Gardiner started in Mat aura about twenty-six years ago, working with Mr Jas. Pollock in a little place about 14 feet square, and three years after commencing business for himself. It was then that the nucleus of his implement works was formed. The buildings now cover nearly a quarter of an acre, and comprise the main shop (brick), foundry, the store for finished goods and flttiilgg and the carpenters’ and paint shops. Born and brought up on a farm, Mr Gardiner knew something of the nature and character of the different kinds of soil befor-e entering the blacksmithing business. He says ploughs were always a hobby of his, and the study and improvement of them has been, in a sense, a pleasant pastime to him. Commencing with the ordinary double-furrow, he soon found it necessary to obtain a good plant in order to meet the demand and make up all the various parts on the spot. At fii st imported mould boards were used, but it was not, however, till he pressed his own mould boards that bis ploughs were brought into prominence. To get an ideal mould board (the point where the chief merit of his ploughs lies) Mr Gardiner informed our reporter that he got hold of a good ploughman, not relying on himself, although he could handle a plough. They went together to the field and tried several shapes, and after noting the defects returned again and again t© the shop to make alterations. In that way he got a mould board to his idea of perfection. From time to time improvements have been made in the ploughs, and last year they took first prize wherever they competed—-two first north of Dunedin against good fields, also at Tokomairiro, Taieri, Riversdale, Mataura, Wyndham, Long Bush, and the Southland Champion Match. For his match ploughs Mr Gardiner has a special steering gear which is very popular among competitors. In the manufacture of the ploughs and other implements an extensive and very efficient plant is used. The steam hammer, capable of imparting a blow of some tons, is one of theheaviestin thecolonjo There are also a turning lathe, tilt hammer, one large and one smaller drilling machine, screwing machine, platebending rolls, powerful punching and shearing machine, emery wheel, <fec. all driven by steam power, while the five forges in use are blown by a pair of Roots patent blowers, the boiler and engine in use being of Invercargill make. Although Mr Gardiner bas made ploughs his speciality, he frequently has orders for drill ploughs, Cambridge rollers, grubbers, digger ploughs, &c. His manure and turnip sower has come into pretty general use in the surrounding district, and this year he has perfected an improved machine which has worked beyond his anticipation, and which is capable of sowing from one and a half to five cvvt. per acre in wet or dry weather. The manure box, which has a capacity for working at least a cwt. of manure, differs from the othermakes in respect of the distributinggear which has been simplified and made positive. The whole gear is driven direct from the rollers without any independent action such as springs, which are apt to get out of order. The machine is substantially yet lightly built, and the output this

season, since the improvements have been effected, has exceeded that of previous years by three times in number. Mr Gardiner imports all his material direct-fromhome, and manufactures fittings and every part of his implements on his premises. Speaking of agriculture generally, Mr Gardiner expressed the opinion that the diggerplough was fast superseding the double furrow. In its operation it breaks the land up and leaves it ready for the grain drill to operate upon without harrow’ing, while it leaves no opening underneath to allow the atmosphere to penetrate and make the ground dry. Still with all the advance made by the digger, Mr Gardiner has orders now for d.f. ploughs for next season. All the iron-work (amounting in weight to something like 25 tonf,) necessary fo'r the contractors at the freezing works was supplied from his works, which are developing into one of the most important local industries in the district.