A NEW INDUSTRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2415, 2 October 1886, Page 2

A NEW INDUSTRY.

Anew industry-the manufacture of terra-cotta waro—has been established at Brunswick, whiclimusthaveaninfluenceon the future street architecture in Victoria, Tho difficulty which has boon experienced for years m Victoria in obtaining serviceable and ornate stone suitablo for buik ding purposes lias led architects to give a great deal of attention to any proposals which have been made to introduce a well-looking and durable substitute Several fine buildings have been erected with artificial stono manufactured by Messrs Ferguson and Urie. This material lias given great satisfaction but for special ornamental purposes practical mon have always desired to obtain terra-cotta. To import this material would of course be so expensivo as almost to bo prohibitive, and hence it was vory desirable that, if possible, it should-bo produced locally. Up to within tho last few months it was not supposed that , any clay suitable for the inanafacture was here available, but Mr Graham i'erry having secured some samples at Brunswick, which impressed liinT with a favorable opinion of its possible utility, made some experiments which convinced him of the fact that terra-cotta of the finest kind could be made in Melbourne. Messrs Terry, Oakdeii, and Barnet, architects, having recently prepared plans for the erection of a handsome new building for the Now Zealand Insurance Company in Collins-street, west, seoking to make the premises thoroughly distinctive and novel in design, bethought themselves of particolored terra-cotta as a most adaptable material for ornamenting the facade. They therefore called for tenders for this work, and the first contract that was ever let for torra-cotta building in, Victoria was given to Mr Ferry. Already tho ground floor brickwork is nearly completed, and Mr Ferry has prepared tho requisite ornamentation for. that section. This consists of no less than 300 pieces of terra-cotta, which have been separately cast in moulds for the purpose. They were all baked in one kiln in a baking which . extended over three days and may be pierced together in a building, as prepared masonry ib placed in position, each casting having its distintive place in the facade. The terra-cotta sections are all hollow, welltoned, and perfectly sound. In order to give them tho consistency of atone, and the strength to support the heavy super-, incumbent weight whioh they must bear,

)., .J. I. ■■ II 11.. 'I these hollow castings will, Ije filled with' concrete prior to being' built in. -Not only is the ordinary straff colored terra* cotta thus produced, but also a variety tinted Indian red, .and the .blending of these two descriptions of castings in the designs aro ■ expected to ttiva the very, distinguished.effect which is shown in the architects' colored plan. Mr .Ferry, has been remarkably fortunate in obtaining such a successful baking, as voty often undertakings .of this kind are much delayed through the bakings being infifS ciently performed or over-burned, T)ie industry seems About half-a-dozen hauds are employed under Mr Ferry, and some of the /work turned out is quite artistic.—Age.