THE PHOENIX FOUNDRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 156, 4 July 1922, Page 9

THE PHOENIX FOUNDRY.

FIRM WITH A HISTORY.

GEO. FRASER AND SONS, LTD.

ENGINEERING EFFICIENCY.

Few firms engaged in the iron foundry and engineering trade in New Zealand enjoy the prestige that has .been earned by Messrs. Geo. Fraser and Sons, Ltd., whose big works have been a landmark of industry in Auckland since the early days.

The founder (Mr. Geo. Fraser), an apprenticed mechanical engineer in Aberdeen, after serving terms as patternmaker and draughtsman with big Old Country firms, was raised to an executive position and eventually sent to New Zealand by Messrs. Hopkins and Wilson, of Campbelllieldj to erect flaxmills for the preparation of flax for the English market. Before coming to this Dominion in the barque Cornubia in 1854, Mr. Fraser married the daughter of the manager of Messrs. Hall, Catto, Thompson and Company, engineers and iron ship builders, with whom he had served his apprenticeship. By the same vessel the flax machinery, together with farm implements, arrived in New Zealand in 1855. The first flax plant was erected by Air. Fraser at Matakana, after which he was for five years with Messrs. Thornton, Smith and Firth as their engineer. In 1852 Mr. Fraser purchased the lease of land and a small foundry at; Mechanics' Bay, and commenced business as a millwright engineer, iron and brass founder. He made all the machinery for the Mercury Bay Sawmilling Com-; pany, the mill being the progenitor of the sawmilling industry in New Zealand. The business grew rapidly, and later the J big Phoenix Foundry was established in; Stanley Street, and is still running. l After perfecting the flax machinery thej firm went in for the making of engines' for steam and water power. In 1865; they built the first pair of marine engines for the twin-screw steamer Tauranga—the first set of marine engines made in the Dominion. Many well known old-time ships and marine engines were made by Mr. Fraser and Mr. Tinne, his partner, and the firm also played an enterprising part in the making of mining plant, erecting many batteries for the goldfields, and bush mills for the timber industry. The steamer repair work also assumed big dimensions, the firm having, even in those days, splendid works and heavy appliances for all classes of work. A particularly creditable feat was the repairs carried out to the s.s. Triumphe, 3,000 tons, which, after being badly wrecked at Tiri, just under the lighthouse, was lifted and successfully repaired and granted her original sailing certificate. c

Mr. Tinne retired from the firm many years ago, but Mr. Fraser carried on the business, and was subsequently joined by his sons, who have kept well abreast of the times. The firm has continued to make first class engines and machinery of all descriptions Lately an order for two heavy cored iron castings, eftch weighing 5} tons, machined and lathed, was executed by them, and up till just before the war quite 60 per cent of the work carried on was legitimate machine manufacturing. The firm is the father of engineering in Auckland, and is already preparing for re-development of those important operations. As the raw materials show a marked fall in England now the prospects are very bright. With adequate material, labour, and power, which are the three essentials to successful engineering expansion, organisation on the part of such an experienced concern should soon restore the firms reputed productive activities.