MODERN COACH BUILDING.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 21, 18 August 1894, Page 11

MODERN COACH BUILDING.

"Women, it is said, are responsible for the introduction of carriages as a means of conveyance. In ancient times, among the Romans and Greeks, it meant a confession of physical weakness for men to ride in a vehicle, but they were largely used by their mistreses. England followed Rome in adopting wheeled vehicles as a fashionable means of conveyance, and in Paris their use was prohibited for many years, until 1550, in order to preserve the identity of good women. However, nothing has retarded the free use of all kinds of vehicles during the past few centuries. Originating in the chariot, they have assumed innumerable shapes to-day, and may be counted by millions. It is now more fashionable, especially in large cities, to drive than to walk or ride, while in the carrying On of trade vehicles of various kinds are simply indispensable. A few years ago the coach and carriage building trade in Southland received a great impetus, necessitating the employment of a large number of tradesmen. Just about that time the City Coach Factory was started in Bsk street, by Messrs Widdow■son and Fogarty,

two enterprising young . men from Christchurch. They were trained, as wheelwright and coachbuilder and smith respectively, in the shop of Messrs Curlett and Freeman, the leading coachbuilders in the colony.

By the work they have turned out they have proved themselves to be first-elhss tradesmen. Among the two and fourwheelers they have made are a number of station waggons, and dog and daisy carts, which have given every satisfaction, while they have testimonials in their possession from many of their patrons, including one from Messrs Kingsland and Ferguson for a Washington car hearse, one of the finest hearses in use in the colony. It has a landau bottom, and is mounted and finished as it would be in a leading London shop. An illustration is given on this page of one of their latest—a four-wheeled dog cart, considered to be a great improvement upon the ordinary waggonette. This is the first of the kind that has been made in Southland, and is built upon the same lines as one supplied to Lord Glasgow in Christchurch some time ago. Notwithstanding the cry of dull times Messrs Widdowson and Fogarty have been kept going with work and guarantee to give satisfaction to all who appreciate first-class work at a moderate price, and give them a call.— Advt.