AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1625, 25 August 1887, Page 3

AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY.

Fully 200 persons went out from Dunedin on’Saturday, including the Premier and Sir Julius Vogel, to witness the formal opening of Messrs SmelHes’ iron and steel works. The plant is very large, including a forge, mill, furnaces, shears, and extensive apparatus for the manufacture of Bessemer stell, rolling mills, and the largest steam hammer in the colony, striking a blow of 40 tons. The visitors witnessed the .manufacture of scrap and waste iron into bars or rails 14 to 15 feet long, which were cut by the shears as easily as a bit of cloth, and rolled up by the rolling mill into -any desired shape. The steel mill was not at work, but some of the products were on inspection. The Premier proposed success to Messrs Smellie, and pointed out the importance of using waste products. Mr Smellie iu reply said they were induced to come out and start the works through a pamphlet by the late Mr Maeandrew. He was sure that they could torn out cheaper and better iron than that imported. Sir Julius Vogel also spoke on the imporlance of local industries. He said that while witnessing the drawing out of the red-hot iron mils the idea struck him that it would be a good thing if those who were “sitting on rails” had to do so on these red-hot ones, as tbev would soon have to declare on one side or the other. A number ef others spoke in reference to the importance of the undertaking of the Messrs Smellie.