NEW ZEALAND BARBED WIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1755, 4 October 1883, Page 2

NEW ZEA LA ND BA RBED WIRE.

Yesterday we inspected at Mr Knoxs Mart, Hamilton, a consignment of the patent baibed wire manufactured by the Oamaru Company. This article has not been very long before the public, but it ha" already, hi viitue of its admitted superioiity over the imported article, secured a large bale, and its popularity is steadily growing. The distinctive feature in the wire is the barb, which, instead of being simply a piece of wire twisted around the stiands, is punched out of a steele plate, and inserted in such a manner that a baib appears between each strand of the wire. The barbs are fixed more firmly than is the case with nearly all other kinds, and a fence constructed with the wiie would therefoie be not only more effective, but more durable as well, 'rhere is also another and equally important point upon which it compares favourably with the foreign article ; wo refer to the matter of cost. The following comparison will fully demonstrate this :—: — Oamaru wire, No. 14, 2(5 chains 1 to the cwt., price at Hamilton, SCK per cwt. ; do. No. 13, 21 \ chains, 45s ; do. No. 12, 18 chains, 42s ; ordinary English do., 23 chains, 535. The Oamaru wire is annealed, while the imported \\ ire to which reference is made is galvanised. Apart altogether from the desirableness of supporting colonial industries, we think it has been fairly demonstrated that the local is superior to the imported article, and this circumstance at any rate should secure it the perfeience.