Temuku Hemp Mills.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 425, 4 December 1889, Page 5

Temuku Hemp Mills.

Oue South Canterbury correspondent furnishes the following interesting account of the above mills :—: — The importance of the flax industry is acknowledged on every hand, and the payable prices now ruling for dressed fibre have induced all sorbs ot people to commence operations wherever there is a piospect of a sufficient supply of raw material, it is evident that many of these establishments will havo a very ephemeral existence, and it is highly probable, indeed it is certain, that the result of their crude experiments will have a deleterious eiiect upon the flax trade generally. Want of capital and experience will soon tell its tale, and in spite ol favourable markets it is not hard to predict that many flax mills will soon be closed. The Temuka Flax Works must be classed in quite another order. The gentlemen who now own the property tormerly held by the Temuka Linseed Company early saw the advantages of turning their attention to the diessing of native flax, and determined to utilise their works for the purpose of carrying out the industry in a thoroughly businesslike fashion. The gener .1 management of the concern devolved upon Mr William Postlethwaite, one of the early promoters and the largest shareholder in the Linseed Company, while the arrangement of the machinery, etc., was entrusted to his son, Air R. H. Postlethwaite, who is by profession an electrical engineer. The first step was to secure a sufficient supply of raw material. This was a comparatively easy matter, and it is estimated that sufficient has been purchased to keep the works running for some two or three years ; at the end of this period more will have grown. The services of a skilled working manager was secured, and in a very short time operations were commenced. The works are now as complete as any in the colony, and aflbrd employment to a large number of hands. Much has lately been written on the subject of flax dressing, but a brief description of the Temuka wmks may not prove uninteresting. It may be prefaced that the flax in its native condition is supplied to the works in bundles of about lcwt. In cutting care is, or should be, taken that the blades are free from notches, and are not cut too closely to the butts. The first process is that of stripping.

The Stripping Sheds are situated in proximity to the Temuka River. Three machines are steadily employed in removing bhe green colouring matter. The flax on passing through the strippers, which are driven by a steam engine, is received on an endless belt or lattice, from which it is removed and laid in loose bundles or hanks. These are conveyed to a washing box, and having been rinsed and cleared of any loose ends left by the strippers, are left to soak on a staging, over which a flow of water passes. In due course these bundles are conveyed to the drying or bleaching ground, where they are exposed until sufficiently dry to admit of removal to the

Scotching Shed. The process of scutching 1 removes the balance of the green vegetable matters straightens the fibre, and leaAea it soft and glossy. There are two scutching machines, each of large size and improved make. They consist of revolving drums fitted with short teeth, working againsc a fixed plate similarly provided. Two men are employed at each machine, there being two feeding apertures. The hanks are grasped near the centre, and one end is introduced to the mouth of fche machine, which rapidly draws in about the half of the hank, and rubs or combs it. It is then withdrawn, and the other half is treated to the same process. The machines aoe fitted with protected mouths, on a plan designed by the Government Inspector, but the design is not such as to meet with general approval. The scutched flax is nearly twisted into skeins, and it is then ready for

Baling Up. The process of baling up is simple. The skeins are laid end for end in a press of similar construction but smaller than those generally used for wool. When sufficiently pressed the bales are securely tied, a painted board being put outside to serve as a label. The bales weight from 2to 24cvts each. In the process of scutching the shorter lengths of fibre are dragged or combed out in the form of tow. The scutchers being protected by a framework, this row is carried into chambers provided for it previous to further treatment. The scutchers, it may be mentioned, are dressed with cyanide paint, a non-com-bustible material that reduces the danger of their being destroyed should a tire occur. The tow, which in many works is almost a waste product, is here removed to

The Hackling Shed. This is a manual-- process and requires some little knack or skill. Attached to a strong beam or table running the length of the shed are a number of blocks fitted with steel pins. The hackler takes a rough bundle of tow, gives it a dexterous twist over the steel pins, pulls it through them, and repeats the process until the bundle is ! combed out straight. Dressing over a j finer set of pins completes the process, and ' it is then twisted into hanks similar to the scutched flax. The difference is that the hackled fibre is shorter, but as will readily be seen, softer. The short pieces of fibre removed by this last process are utilised in the manufacture of twine. As has been mentioned the motive power of the strippers is steam, but the scutchers are driven by

The Electric Process, and it is in the introduction of this element more than in anything else that the proprietors of the Temuka works deserve credit. The proposition of Mr R. H. Fosfclethwaite to work the Linseed Company's machinery by electricity was always considered as being somewhat vague and indefinite and in advance of the times. He has, however, erected an apparatus which does more than his original proposition involved. The driving of light spinning machinery was a comparatively easy matter compared to scutching, which necessitates the use of some ten to twelve horse power. Confident, however, in the resources of science, Mr Postlethwaite never hesitated, and without a single hitch he has secured a driving capacity equal to 15 horse power. At Messrs Aspinall and Co.'s mill, about a mile from the works, a turbine wheel capable of giving, with 12ft fall, some 40 horse power haa been fixed. This drives one of Statter and Co.'s dynamos of power, ' when full loaded, equal to 20 horses. The wire transmitting the electric current *) the works is a 7-14 hard drawn copper This is suitable for double the P<Ver it is at present conveying, having be^ p U fc up with the idea that the power naig^ require to be duplicated. In transmissia a certain loss of power takes place, a nd it is estimated that the power at the works is about 71.5

per cent, of that at the dynamo, or roughly speaking about fifteen horse power. One of the features of the machinery that strikes even an inexperienced eye is its perfect government. The turbine and the dynamo have independent governors, and the action is so true that at the works the scutching machines, when not fully employed, show little or no tendency to " get away." When it is considered that the variation of a machine running full or empty is from say thirteen horse power to leas than one the complete action of the governors will be appreciated. The machines are supplied with two gauges or meters. The amp&rt meter indicates equivalent horse power, and the volt meter the pressui'e. The belting from the fly-wheel of the turbine to the pulling of the dynamo is that known as the " patent link belt " It is ingeniously constructed of linked pieces of leather, and is proving a success. It appeared to be used more slack ly than the ordinary belts, and there was little or no friction. Should anything occur likely to cause complication or accident, a simple safeguard automatically shuts off connection and destroys the magnetic current. The dynamo and motor each weigh about 1J tons. At the works the motor is fixed in a small shed about 6ft x 6ft adjoining the scutching shed. When once started it requires lifctle or no attention, and one ia struck with the comparative silence of the machinery. Even when working at its highest speed there is no noise except the hum of the scutcher. Smoke, dirt, and danger from five are done away with, and the whole machine is an embodiment of unobtrusive power. There is little or no sparking, as is the case with some machines, this result being due to its careful adjustment. The works are connected with the dynamo house by telephone, bo that instant communication is available. In glancing at the old buildings the observer is struck with the large shed formerly necessary to contain the boiler and engine which were used in working the twine machinery, as compared with the compact little n.otor house, and when one considers further the consfcanfc attention engine require 3, the an consumption of coal, and the danger from sparks igniting such combustible material as flax there can be little doubt that the motive power of the future, when obtainable at a reasonable cost, will be electricity. In addition to working the scutchers the motor will be used in working the twine machinery, an important addition to which is daily expected. When in full work in each department between sixty and seventy hands will find employment. At present forty-one are engaged. Mr R. H. Postlethwaite, at a luncheon held to celebrate the inauguration of the works, said that he felt justified in calling the installation a success. He had never doubted it himself, and he was pleased to 1 say that from first to last there had not been a single hitch. There could be little doubt that electricity as a motive power was coming into favour. During last year in the . United States no less than 4,000 motors of one kind and another were erected. With the average engine there vias dirt, expense, consequent annoyance, and increased insurance. With electricity, especially where there was a central station, the expense was reduced to a minimum, and there was neither dirt nor danger. He had said that the machines at the works were a success. By this he did Dot mean merely an electrical success ; a very elaborate electrical apparatus might be successfully erected, but at the same time it might not pay to do it. Taking an examplefrom the present words, in the days of the old Linseed Company the coal for the engine cost about £250 per annum. The engine and boiler cost some £300. Allowing twenty per cent, for interest, depreciation, and sinking fund the total annual cost of machinery would be £310. Now, they paid a rent of £20 per annum for the use of water ; the cost of the machines when fixed was £860. Interest and sinking fund calculated at the same rate per cent, as in the former case, although there was nothmglike the depreciation, would amount to about £170 ; there was thua a clear saving of £120 a year. The machine as fixed gave fifteen horse power. The cost of duplication would only be about £300. That is, for £1,100 thirty horse power could be obtained, and interest proportionately decreased. The saving was estimated on a working day of 9 hours, or running full time, as was the case with most mills, the saving could be trebled. He trusted shortly to establish a station in Christchurch, and was so confident as to the result that he was prepared to enter into guarantees against breakdowns, and submit to a penalty if the power was inoperative.