THE FREEZING WORKS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 13, 18 August 1911, Page 5

THE FREEZING WORKS.

The work at Finuegand is yet conlined to preliminaries. When there is to be a race with time and the stake a high one, it is very essential that everything should be in readiness before the word ''go" is given. Mr Lyders (the contractor) recognises this, and before he has a small army of workers in the field he is going to have things ready and reduce delays to: a minimum. On Tuesday evening a representative of 'the Leader went over the site which in a few weeks' time will hum with industry lor ever afterwards—let us hope. There was butlittle to see. The first- thing to -meet, the eye was a solitary tent—a pioneer. Soon, however, to be one of many. Then we stepped on to the track of the railway siding. The Department has had this cut and levelled out from the Owaka line, and it runs right across the paddock to the riverside road? The construction ,of the siding will not be costly, as the ground is practically level. The wind whistled through a large stack of timber which was drying, and every few minutes loaded dnns added to the ever increasing heap of gravel. Near-by are wooden platforms ready for mixing the concrete ; a dismantled oil engine aroused curiosity and we were told it was to pump the water from the river to the mixers. The site of the ollices. the first part of the building to be erected, could be traced by a series of holes into which workmen were placing concrete boxes. Looking at the heaps of gravel, fresh from the river Dank, and at the oil engine, and remembering how builders are handicapped in Otago by the shortage ot supply in bricks, we thought the contractor, and also the Company, were fortunate that the building was to be of concrete. There is always an ample supply of cement, and it wasi patent, despite the predictions of pessimists, that Balclutha will during the next few months see something in the way of a (Yankee "hustle" in putting up a big building. There are plenty of applications fron\ labourers for work, and Mr Jackson (the foreman) intends to put the men on gradually. With tiie carpenters it is different, they are scarce, but then these artisans will not be required in anv large numbers for some time yet. Mr Cobledick (of Nelson) inspector of works, has visited the site and expressed great satisfaction at the site chosen, which he considers well adapted for the requirements of freezing works.