"MADE IN NEW PLYMOUTH."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 150, 16 June 1908, Page 4

"MADE IN NEW PLYMOUTH."

OUlt INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES. The reccnl movement in some of the cities witll a, view to encouraging support of JS'cw Zealand's industries did not extend to New Plymouth. The idea nas brought before the annual meeting ot the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, and, after one retailer had expressed his views, the matter was dismissed as impracticable. One gentleman queried, "Do you propose an exhibition of New Plymouth-made gooos, or New Zealand goods'/" Another answered, "New Zca-land-niade, of course; What could we show of New Plymouth's manufactures Enquiries made by an inquisitive "Daily News" reporter revealed that New Plymouth has several large ! manuiacturing concerns at work, employing hundreds of skilled employees, and supplying not only a focal but a considerable outside demand. The "New Zealand-made" movement found expression in window displays of New Zealand manufactures, and, with ;'U due deference to .the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce, we think that the New Plymouth shopkeepers could, it they chose, make very effective displays, also. Most people will admit uvat some of the New Plymouth win-dow-dressing is of a very high order, lint at present \vc propose to interest ourselves mora with New Plymouth's industries and manufactures. Amongst these are the several sash aud door, turnery, and general woodware factories, the brewery aud cordial works, tailoring and dyeing, clothing factory, cabinet-making and joinery, confectionery works, gasworks, boot and sine factory, tanneries, and so on, all ot which will be touched on in a series ot

articles to be produced in these columns with a view tc giving, not only to outsiders, but to the people of New Plymouth themselves some idea of the extent to which New Plymouth is able to supply its own wants. The first article of the series will deal with n. MIOWK & CO.'s WOODWABE FACTORY. A few years ago the increasing business of this firm, then domiciled in Uardct street, forced them to acquire a more commodious 'property on the corner of ilinc and Morley streets, near the railway engine sheds. The new building* were erected and large yards laid out. Stili more recently a further area on JJulkley Terrace has been utilised for yard accommodation, and two years ago another extensive woodware factory had to lie built. The frontage best known to the public is that in Hinc street, but this gives no indication oi the hive of industry or the great slacks of timber that exist behind that unattractive wall. Calling at the ollice, Mr. C. Ahier, a 'partner in the firm, and in charge of the New 'Plymouth business, handed the reporter over to Mr. A. K. Selbv, who readily showed him over the works, explaining the uses of the many nniileni -labor-saving appliances which have -plaved such an important part in building'up :i big business, employing from forty to sixtv hands in New Plymouth alone. Almost every machine in the place was busy at the time, the buzz and hum and screech of the saws and planers rendering conversation <*" I tremelv dillituh. Passing right, through the works we emerged into the timber yard*, which are in charge of Mr. Alf. hadner. (Jrent stacks of timber, of all kinds, in process of seasoning, reared themselves on all sides. Having a private siding, the linn is aide to unload j direct from the railway trucks, and a system of tramways aids the stacking in various parts of the yard. This is bounded on two sides by large drying sheds, where stacks of timber are being further dried or seasoned. The principal timber stocked is red pine, or rimu, but there are also kauri, totara, white pine, jarrah, t'alifoniau redwood, Oregon pine, and cedar, making in all a stock of over 2,000,000 feet. Mr. Selby then, at the request of the reporter, undertook to show- the various processes through which a piece of rimu had to pass before being sold as one of those beautifully grained doors for which Taranaki rimu is .so suited. Taking the piece of seasoned timber from the yard, it is cut into the required lengths by a cross-cutting circular saw. Then iC is "ripped" at another bench, and sent on to another operator who has charge of the "buzzer," a machine employed for planing and squaring u ; p the timber. Thence it is passed on to another -machine lor morticing, and leiinoning. preparing it for joining somewhat on the principle of the longuc-and-gruove in .'flooring. This morticing machine w quite a revelation., ils rapidly revolving chain cutting out neat'mortices in a second or two. The same work, which in hand-working is done by means of borer and chisel is a comparatively lengthy operation. The lighter timber for the panels is now coining along through the saws and "buzzer,'' and passes direct

in tlic planing mid sanding niaehinc, where rapidly revolving cylinders covered with {(lass piipcr put it beautiful linish on it. Another liuui lias run tli" mouldings out of another machine, and the various parts arc now ready for "knocking together'' and glueing, the door lieing tramped together in a crump which holds them tight, as two pieccvs of wood can well be held. Then the completed door is put through the sanding machine, emerging with a line "skin," really for the only hand operation in the piece. This is simply the lit ting of the mouldings around the panels. It is the custom in this factory, however, not to complete the doors tia here described, hut when the component parts have heen fitted together they are stacked away to undergo u further seasoning. Then, as ordered, they are drawn from the stocks and glued and finished. There are doors that have heen thus seasoning for the past nsven or eight years. Jn addition to the ma- ' chinery employed in this work there are several other circular saws and planers for heavy work, boring .machines, lathes, band-saws, face-plates for making arches, etc. In another department a i staff is engaged in making butter-boxes, meat-boxes for the Waitara. Freezing Work's and .\'c\v -Plymouth's "boning" export trade, to say nothing of the piles of neat little boxes for the export of kidneys, etc., from .Messrs. Borthwick and Sons' Waitara works. In process of construction in another portion ot the factory were mantels, bay windows, sash - frames, fret - sawn" verandah brackets, school desks, and so on. The presence of a steam heating apparatus for glue suggested a visit to the boilerhouse and engine-room, ill charge of .Mr. Ji. Ilobiii. lie has a 25-li.p. boiler and -)■> great li.p. engine, by Murruv, of U'anganui, the boiler earrving up to llllllb pressure. AH is clean* and bright as a new pin, despite the fact that the fuel consists of sawdust and shavings brought, in from the works by tans and Humes. Mr. Selbyis an enthusiastic admirer ot TaramUd riinu, whose beautiful grain has brought many large orders to the firm from other parts. Quite recently Messrs. Jirown and Co. manufactured two staircases for Mrs. 'llaiui id's new -and elaborate resilience at liula. the cost of (he building lieing somewhere about .ilO.Dtlll. The main staircase was a masterpiece, costing more than is usually sufficient to erect a -niode.ru six-roomed house. All the doors ami mouldings were supplied by this til-ill, which has made a reputation for this work. The company is fortunate, of course, in having their own mill at Inglewood. with milling rights over large tracts of .mountain forest. l'.cfore leaving, our reporter was shown {he. large gla/,ing warehouse, where the windows are glazed; and stress was hi id upon.Hie great amount of fancy and colored glass held in stock, In this necessarily brief notice it has not beeu passible to touch very fully upon the different departments or upoii the very complete and up-to-date system which pervades the whole of the conduct of the business. .Nulficicnl has doubtless been said to show that this is a local industry which is not likely to be overlooked by anyone iu search of manufactures which come within its