Local Industries

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 40, 30 December 1893, Page 7

Local Industries

SOUTHLAND STEAM BISCUIT & CONFECTIONERY WORKS. Messrs D. Kingsland and Son, who have made a name for themselves all over Southland as manufacturing confectioners and caterers for balls, parties, etc., first established themselves in Invercargill in 1869. Mr Daniel Kingsland was engaged in the business of baker and pastry cook in Croydon, Surrey, England, and commenced in Invercargill in the shop, then known as the “ Three Bells Bakery,” now occupied by Mr John Scott, upholsterer, at the corner of Jed and Tay streets, the latter being the principal thoroughfare in the town at that time. Mr John Kingsland (his son) was only sixteen years of age then but, being born, figuratively speaking, with a biscuit in his mouth, he knew r a g-ood deal about the trade. About three years later they bought, and icmoved to, their present well-known site at the corner of Don and Jed streets. The shop which did service until a few years ago w r as built mostly of timber grown and sawn in a pit between Deveron and Jed, streets. The firm then relinquished bread baking, and devoted their whole attention to biscuits and confectionery, together ■with the catering, in which they are the oldest firm in Invercargill, havingprovided for nearly all the public banquets and suppers given to Governors who have visited Invercargill daring the last twenty years. It is nearly twelve years since Mr D. Kingsland retired from the firm and left his son, John, to carry it on.

With a natural taste for the business he made a good successor, and has well maintained the high reputation of the firm for supplying the very best of goods at a reasonable price, which, he says, is the only way to establish any concern on a sound basis. During the last twelve months a large two-storey brick building, with something of an old English look about it, has been erected, and by its imposing appearance forms quite an ornament to that part of the town. It is handsomely painted and finished outside, while the interior shows that no expense has been spared in fitting up every convenience in the shop and factory. This industry has grown with the progress of Invercargill. Hew machinery has been added from time to time in order to cope with the increasing trade, which is by no means confined to Invercargill. The plant, without comparison as to size, is one of the most complete in the colony, and is capable of working twice the amount of material used at present. Thirteen hands are employed, each one working in his own department. In the bakery there are various kinds of machines, from the rolling and cutting machine to an almond shelling contrivance. A dough-mixing machine, taking in a sack of flour at a time, made by Mr J. K. Jameson, engineer, works quite

as effectively .as any imported one* The patent continuous oven, an indispensable part of the works, is fitted with heat regulators, an automatic lighting arrangement, pyrometer, &c., and according to Mr Kingsland’s experience, will bake three times as much as an ordinary baker’s oven, with half the cost of fuel. Water biscuits require a heat of 600 fahr. (nearly red hot) and after the oven has been heated to that degree, no more fuel is required for nearly a week while small goods and cakes are being baked. Adjoining the packing room is the boiling department, where boiled lollies of all shapes and color's are made, only the best white sugar being used. During the fruit season Mr Kingsland makes about two tons of jam for his own use. Further on a room is used for cleaning and storing' empty tins, another for the crockery, and a cellar for butter and eggs, there being at present between two and three thousand dozen of the latter in the cellar. The loading yard is asphalted and covered, and, in keeping with every other part of the establishment, in beautiful order the hose hanging close by the hydrants so that in a lew minutes any part of the premises can be reached with water. Behind the engine and boiler rooms the stables and sheds for cases, &c., are situated. The remainder of the works are on the upper storey, where the finer confectionery, Scotch mixtures (there were nearly two tons of these on one large bench), jujubes, and even sugared carraways, are made. In the pan and starch room there are three large steam revolving and one oscillating’ pan, which are used in the manufacture of many of the delicacies in confectionery. They are dried in two large rooms heated from the engine. A spacious room is used as the lozenge department, and here the conversation lozenges are made and printed, while another part of the room is devoted to the making of wedding cakes, &c. The sugar mills are erected here for grinding the icing sugar, &o. The first-class order and arrangement of the various departments throughout the whole of Mr Kingsland’s establishment are highly creditable, and show that he takes a considerable amount of interest and pride in his business apart from the moneymaking- point of view. He has just returned from Melbourne with some new ideas, and means to keep abreast of the times. He acts well up to his belief that “no one can afford, in this world, to have an enemy,” and we are sure that all who know him will wish him success, and hope that his trade-mark, “ Pukaki,” may long be familiar among us.