ENGINEERING IN NEW ZEAALNP.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 129, 28 November 1906, Page 3

ENGINEERING IN NEW ZEAALNP.

9 PROGRESS OF THE INDUSTRY. FROM INFANCY TO THE PRESENT DAY. An article on " Engineering in New, Zealand," contributed by Mr. H. A. ■M'Gregor, of Wellington, late Inspector of Machinery for the Government, appears in the Engineering Review, published in London. • In tracing the progress of mechanical engineering in the colony, the writer says the earliest practical work of this nature was in the manufacture of small flour mills in connection with the church missions. These mills were constructed by the natives under the direction of the missionaries, and were built almost entirely of wood. Soon after the settlement of the* colony the latent engineering talent of the colonist began to assert itself in the erection of sawmills and flourmills, water being the motive power. A little later, 'but long before there were proper appliances for such work, steam engines of considerable power were constructed and continued to do duty for many years. The dis- ■ covery of gold in various parts of the colony between 1852 and 1861 marked a new era in the industries of the country, changing as it did from the quiet of an almost rural population to the rush and bustle of a mining one. A considerable impetus was given to mechanical engineering at that time, many of the larger present-day works dating their origin back to the early days of the goldtields. Up to this period the owners of machinery depended almost entirely on the village smith and wheelwright: In a few years, however, the engineering works were equal to ' the principal wants of the various industries that had sprung up. About 1866 a revival in the hemp industry saw mills in operation in aU parts of. the country, and this necessitated the enlargement of existing machine shops and the erection of new ones to meet the constant demand for flaxmill machinery. A considerable fleet of small steamers and sailing craft* had sprung up by this time, and the annual repairing of these assisted the development and warranted a still further increase of machine tools in . the larger establishments suitable for marine engine and boiler work. Sawmills were also being erected on a much larger scale to meet the growing requirements of the colony. In keeping pace with the various demands mechanical engineering had, as far back as 1875, made such a considerable advance thatf some of the works were in a position to Imild small locomotives for the Government. Goliath cranes for breakwater construction had also been built, large flourmills erected, and winding, pumping, - and quartz-crushing machinery constructed. A little had also been done in iron and steel shipbuilding, but in this branch of the iron trade the pace has beea slow — only some twenty coasting steamers, the largest about 300 tons gross, having been constructed up to date. . . . The works now established in the principal parts of the colony have, for many years past, made it possible to execute all manner of repairs to the fleet of ' New Zealand vessels (aggregating over 160,000 tons, and ocean steamers can have most of their repairs carried out with despatch. At least two of the larger establishments have added to their works up-to-date machine tools for the manufacture of locomotives, a number of which have already been built for the Government, and are giving every satis* faction to the Railway Department. The engineering works and iron foundries of the colony now number over one hundred, exclusive of Government/ railway shops, and there are another one hundred works, branches of the iron trade, where a considerable amount of mechanical engineering is carried on. Altogether, says Mr. M'Gregor, the fact, lities for handling work are far in ad^ vance of what the orders coming forward would warrant. The writer goes on to deal exhaustively with the pr& sent-day railways, harbours, and mining; works, and concludes an interesting ana] instructive article with a short preca^ of the -coal industry of the colony.,