LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2394, 3 September 1892, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Mr James Findlay has added another important branch to his already extensive works, and is now in a position to undertake any engineering work which can be done anywhere in South Canterbury. The importance and convenience to the district of having a place like Mr Findlay's so near at hand could only be realised when, about a week ago, there were three traction engines on the ground undergoing repairs at the same time. One of these engines was extensively repaired, but the heaviest, and the most important work done was to straighten the main axle of one of them. This axle was 4 cwt., and the fact that it was straightened satisfactorily, and re-turned in a lathe, will show that the appliances now at Mr Findlay's disposal are such as will enable him to do any ordinary work. This is the heaviest piece of work that has ever been done in South Canterbury, and it shows that Mr Findlay is now in a position to compete with any one in it. Mr Findlay has erected a screw-cutting lathe having a 12-feet bed and ten inch qemtre, whiph means that lie can turn anything under twenty inches m diameter. There is also there a laige screw-cutting machine, with which threads can be put on bolts from h inch to li inch, and pipes up to '3{ inches. A vertical drilling machine comes next by means of which holes up to 1| inches can be drilled, and these holes. Gan be enlarged to any size in the lathe. There is also a punching a,n4 shearing machine, which punches fin. holes through gin. iron with ease, and to which it is no trouble to cut <t piece off a bar of iron an inch thick- A smaller lathe has recently been refitted, and properly geared by Mr Walter Wjlson, the engineer whose services Mr Findiay lias engaged, and the whole is driven by'a fcvo~-horse power Hindley steam engine. Besides ijifih articles as we have enumerated, Mr Find{ay hag also all the appliances suitable to an engineer, and is in a position to re-bore cylinders, fit piston rings, and re-face slide valves, and do anything in the engineering line.. It is sufficient Iq f,a,y that he can manage to straighten a 4cvvt. axle of a ttaatjon engine with ease, yet that is not the full extiint of the capacity of his appliances, which are so extensive that he can lift and handle anything nndor 30 cwt. Mr Wilson is of course an engineer of great experience and wide repute. He seryed his time in one of the largest locomotive shops in England, and has learned his trade thoroughly. Anyone, therefore, requiring any Aijgineering work done may rely on getting a firstclass job out of the hands of Mr Wilson. We have to congratulate Mr Findlay on having established such an important industry as this, and heartily wish that it may grow an 4 prosper. He has already made extensive repairs to three traction engines, and another is on the stqck3 now,