OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 7320, 19 September 1887, Page 4

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.

On Thursday we ('Taieri Advocate') visit', d the works of Messrs J. and A. Anderson, near Mosgiel, where all [the ironwork for their bridge contracts on the Otago Central line is being prepared. Mr Sneddon, manager of the works, and Mr George Thornton, M.I.C.E. (the firm's repretentative), showed us over the place and explained the various processes the different kinds of iron have to undergo before being ready for forwarding up the line. The works have only started during the past i'cw week.;, consequently the full complement of men is nob )et employed; just now there are about a dozen, but shortly the number will be twenty-five. Power is obtained by an S-horse portable engine ; the belting used i-j of canvass, and Mr Sneddon regards this belting as the very best obtainable—being the cheapest, and not liable to be affected by wet. Amongst the machinery are three drilling machines and a cold saw. The latter is an especially attractive feature, and, it is said, is the only specimen of the kind to lie seen in the Colony. As its name indicates, it is a saw for cutting cold iron, The. manager gave us a sample of its merits. A piece uf iron channelling [)in wide, with a ;>in flange, and a thickness of I'm, having been adjusted, the saw out oil a piece its smoothly as glasa ; and a great ail vantage of the machine is that it only requires one man to look after it. By the way, it may be mentioned tnat in reply to a query we were informed that iu the Colony no use is made of the iron filings as is done in the Old Couniry, where they are utilised for many, but principally chemical, purposes, Tien, as to tiie drilling machines, Mr Sneddon tells us that they prefer drilling to punching. Though a longer process, it perforins the wink bet!cr. There is also a punching machine capable of punching holes through iron 3m in thickness. A multiple drill is being forwarded from Home to the works, and this will he the second of its kind in the Colony. There is also a handy machine for straigteniiig bent iron, ami a simple but effective contrivance it is. .-■.ll the iion for the bridges when landed at the works is, it may be explained, in the same condition as it would be supplied to any contractor for railway bridges—as the ni.nuf.ietmcr of iron supplies it to the trade. It is necessary to say this, as some time ago a Dunedin newspaper led its readers to imagine that the work in connection with railway bridges done in the Colony consisted mciely of boring a few hoLs and the joining together. Tint is mi erroneous impassion, for all the shaping, etc., is done here. Of course different kinds of iron arc required, and it will be many a year ere we wili see iu this Colony plant for manufacturing all the »;.e /initios iu iron from the law material. All the iron before lifing sell out iieiv i- iir p...et.:i by agents in pay of the Govi-i-jiineiit. On the ground at Wmg.tui, .\b■:■.-.:s Anderson have about LeidO worth of machinery. Their contiaet ii 1 or supplying iionwoik and erecting eight bridges between Mulloeky Gully and Deep Sticam. The contract price is L1'2,800, and the contract time is up in December, 18SS. The rates of wage's vary from 10s to 7s i>ef day.