MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8405, 20 April 1907, Page 5

MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS.

AN INTERESTING REPORT.

Some time ago Mr J. C. Ewington was authorised by the Masterton Chamber of Commerce to report on the prospects of establishing a brick manufacturing industry in Masterton. At yesterday's meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Mr Ewington submitted four samples of bricks, three of which were manufactured from clay obtained adjacent to the railway line in the Masterton district. Samples 1 and 2 were taken from the properties of Messrs Manning and Day, respectively, and sample'd from Mr Hillas' property adjoining the railway station a Maurice ville. The clay obtained from Mr Manning's property was considered by experts to be first-class for general purposes, either for brickmaking, pipes, or pottery, and is easy* to work. The site »where the clay was obtained was an admirable one, the supply was almost inexhaustible, and being on a grade could be cheaply handled. The distance of the site from a proposed railway siding would be twenty chains on a down grade. The owner was prepared to do business with 4, company and was also willing to take shares in the same. As the distance from Masterton was only seven miles by a metal road, the bricks could be brought down by a traction engine at a small cost. The clay obtained from Mr Hillas' property at Mauriceville was also proclaimed to be first-class, and the sample obtained was very satisfactory. The supply was practically unlimited, and the site was considered by an expert to be an ideal one for two reasons—firstly, as the clay was on a' high level it would gravitate to the place of manufacture thence to the drying sheds and kiln; secondly, the site adjoined the railway station yard and the trucks could be loaded at the kiln. Mr Hillas was prepared to do business with a company or an individual, and would take an interest in the matter. This site being further from Masterton than Mr Manning's, it would necessarily cost more to land the bricks in Masterton, but for the manufacture of a great quantity, to be distributed over a large district, this site had a decided advantage. There was a coal measure on Mr Rummer's property within a mile of Mr Hillas' property. The seams of coal varied in thickness from six inches to two feet six inches. The coal was of inferior quality, but was considered good enough for the burning of bricks. There was a greatjpossibility of a better grade of coal being found at a lower evel, and should it prove satisfactory in the kiln there should be a decided saving in the cost of production, ard the present prospects were certainly in favour of it. Sample No 4. was from clay Mr Ewington obtained from Mr Preston's property at Lansdowne, and had been manufactured by up-to-date machinery. It compared favourably with the other samples submitted. Mr Preston was installirg an up-to-date brick-making plant. He would soon be in a position to supply the local demand for first class bricks, and thus fill a long-felt want. The Chairman (Mr M. Caselberg) said it now only remained for private enterprise to take the matter up, ard start an industry which would-be of the utmost importance to the district. Mr Ewington was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his able and lucid report on the subject. The bricks were admitted by those present to be excellent samples. Mr Ewington stated that the bricks could be inspected at his shop, and he would be pleased to give all information concerning them.