LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 149, 18 May 1877, Page 5

LOCAL INDUSTRY.

The remark is not unfrequently made that the establishment of local industries is only required to secure the permanent prosperity of .Balclutha. For our own part we believe Balclutha will be prosperous whether many local industries be established or not. But it manifestly is for the interest of all that our business should be extended in this direction, and that the. fullest encouragement and support should be given to all who may cast in their lot amongst us, and transform the wasting raw material into articles of utility t and commerce. „We believe there are" more than. one industry carried on here, which are neither knovm nor supported as they ought to be. For example, for upwards of twelve months past, a brickwork has been' in progress on Messrs Tosh aiid Cossens' ground, adjoining the township, wliich, we fear,- has not had the support the enterprise .of the proprietors merit. A fine new brick kiln, capable of burning 1600 bricks, lias been built, and every appliance has been provided for turning out a really good article. The clay we are assured, by competent judges is unequalled at any of the .briclc works in the Province. Mr Kilburn, the proprietor, has had thirteen years' experience in brick making, and, he assures us, he has nob found so good clay in the Province as that he is using here. He has furnished bricks for some of the principal buildings in Dunedin, Port Chalmers,, and other towns, and, therefore, is fully, master, of his business. There is no denying the fact that from the inferior article formerly produced in , this quarter bricks have got a bad name in Balclutha. Mr Kilburn thus labours somewhat under the disadvantage of hay- | ing to overcome tlie prejudice against Balclutha made bricks. In order to counteract this prejudice it is only necessary that a visit be paid to his brick works. Let any one who really knows a good article go and see those now turned out, and they will be satisfied of thoir very superior quality. A. sample has been left at our offi.ee, and we will be glad to shew them to any one interested. , In providing for the new buildings that are about to be erected in the township, we trust the local industry to which we ha ;e referred will be kept in view.