ADMIRAL FAIRFAX AT ONE HUNGA.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 249, 24 March 1888, Page 4

ADMIRAL FAIRFAX AT ONE HUNGA.

On Monday afternoon Admiral Fail fax, accompanied by Miss Dundas, Miss Amcris i and Lieutenant Erskine, K.N., paid a visit to Onebunga. Tho party, on arrival, drove to tho residence of the Mayor (Dr. W. K. Evson), whero refreshment was partaken of. Under escort of His Worship, tho Admiral and ladies made a tour of tho several local industries, iirsb visiting the Onehunga Iron Works, where they were received by the manager, Mr Enoch Hughes, and some of the Councillors. Tho party was shown over the works, the manipulation of the iron in its several stages of manufacture being carefully explained by the manager I and lorcman, Mr Miller. Miss Dundas, under tho guidance of the latter centlcmau, passed a bar of red-hot iron thiough the lolling mill, executing this bianch of the manuLctiiro of the metal in a thoioughly workmanlike stylo, and with n grace hitherto unknown at the Onehunga Iron Works. Tho stamping hammers, Htting and pattern shops wore then vibited, hen\y castings weie- made in tho presence of the visitors, who experienced the greatest delight and took great intoiest in all the pioceedingp. The Admit al, on leaving, tn.mUed the manager for tho treat the visit uftuidcd him, and hoped, ationld the vessels compiling the squadron at any time require lepairu, the Onehunga Iron Works would supply the necessary material for so doing. The paitythen proceeded to the works of the Onehunga Sawmill Company of New Zealand (Limited), wheie, on arrival, they weie met by the manager, Mr Clarke, who I had e\ery thing most carefully arranged i-o that the visitors might see the differ- | cut pioco«?e-» through which the timber was pul, f i om its arrival in logs at the mill till it was lit to be placed in the maiket. The party was first shown a log some 4 feet in diameter and about 30 feet in length, being diawn up from the harbour, placed in position, and ready for the breaking-down lrame, \\hieh at the time was occupied by .•mother log or larger dimensions, which was broken do« n (as it is termed) by the large saw frame for that purpose. The ladies expressed their great delight at> the modus op< rand!, were much pleased at the beauty ot the timber, and admired the ease with which two men handled such large pieces of wood. The Admiral was evidently delighted with these works, asking several questions and indicating his thorough knowledge of the good qualities of kauri timber, remarking that it was much valued in the British navy for tpars, etc., and informing Mr Clarke that the topmasts of the Nelson were of 1 ami. The circular saw was next visited, wlieieinoh boards were turned out as fast as the men could >vork. The deal frames were now inspected, and deals were seen being comerted into boards. Noticeable was the difference of the smoothness of the suiface ot the boards from the deal frame as compared with those from the circular saw. The planing machine was now brought to thu observation of the visitor?, the ladies expressing great astonishment at the delicious odour thrown out from the newlyplaned kauri boards. The band sawing ' next attracted attention, tho visitors being astonished at the facility with ' which the brackets of artistic shape were cut out- Admiral Fairfax was much interested throughout, evincing the same by his numeious inquiries. He considered the mill and its surroundings a great credit to Onehongn. This mill is equal to an output of 12,000 superficial feet in nine hours, and the Company have kauri forests which will keep them supplied for many years to j come. At the Onehunga Woollen Works the Admiral's party arrived after tx brisk drive of about 20 minutes, and were welcomed by Mr Bnrstow, Mr Lodder, Mr Ballantyne, and Mr Bennett. Tne works were gone through under the conductorship of these gentlemen, the visitors expressing their gieat pleabure at every branch. The Admiral and the ladies were very much pleased with all they caw. In concluding the tour of inspection of the several works, the Mayor thanked Admiral Fairfax, on behalf of the residents of Onehunga, for his kindness in honouring them with a visit, and hoped that ho (the Admiral) and the ladies enjoyed their day'B outing. The Admiral, in a neab little speech, expressed his great pleasure and utter astonishment at tho perfect and ad« vanced stage of manufactures that he had eeen. He did not hesitate in stating that he saw the nucleus of a prosperous centre of commerce in New Zealand in the town of Onehunga. Tho viaitora then drovo to the Mayor's residence, and after a short stay returned to town.