A LOCAL SLOUGH

Southland Times, Issue 18844, 9 June 1920, Page 5

A LOCAL SLOUGH

NEGLECTED POWELLISING DEPOT. WORKLESS WORKS AT KEW. MACHINERY LYING IN CASES. One of the most sensational examples of waste during recent years was the Slough depot in England, and Invercargill has at its doors a similar exhibition, although on a much smaller scale, in the Kew Powcllising works where machinery has been al lowed to deteriorate to an alarming extent. The works were erected some years ago for the purpose of treating railway sleepers with creosote to make them more resistant to the conditions prevailing in Southland. The building, which contains the machinery, stands dose to the Kew siding, presenting a neat outward appearance, and it is not until the interior is examined that evidences of waste are noticeable. The machinery, which a short time ago was well looked after and kept in good condition, has been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that in it? present state it is dangerous to use. Here and there part? have been removed, and so systematic have been (lie removal? that only skeletons of the original machines remain. Copper and brass work, which now costs so much, is hard to find, and what little re mains presente the same neglected appearance as the rest of the plant. Scattered through the shed are cases of machinery which have never, judging from their appearance,'’ been unpacked. They have been dumped into (he building and allowed to rust without ever having had a chance to prove their usefulness. To at tempt to estimate the amount of loss occasioned by waste the report of an expert would be required, but judging from the appearance presented by the machinery at present the sum must be considerable. The FoweOising system of preserving sleepers was introduced into the dominion from Australia, and great things were claimed of it. A big company was formed in the North Island and the Government, after considering the claims of the Powell system, discarded their creosote works and went in extensively for the new process. Works were opened in different parts of the dominion including the Kew works, where the treatment of green timber was carried out. The Department, however, did not continue the use of the process. Enquiries wore made at the local department and the information was elicited that the Kew works had been closed down some years ago when it was proved that the pro cess of treating the sleepers was ineffectual.