OUR IRON FOUNDRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1401, 14 May 1868, Page 3

OUR IRON FOUNDRIES.

It is probable that, if ever Lord Macaulay's New Zealander should have to sketch the ruins of St. Paul's from the crown of a broken arch of .London Bridge, to be reproduced in an Auckland illustrated newspaper, the next important mission assigned to him will be to take the sections of the Britannia Bridge, which will be exhibited in our Colonial Museum and described with »>nthusiasm as the " backbone " of the old world. This fancy is by no means destitute of probability, for the Mastodon, the Dinotherium, and the head of the Moa are the treasures of modern theory. Philosophers themselves say that whatever we know " of the world before the flood" is known through those extinct though extant vertebrates. One of the most amiable, public-spirited, and enterprising men we ever knew once propounded a theory for preserving the dead to light the streets. Science approved of Tthe practicability of the scheme. The machinery was intricate, and the proposal fell to the ground owing to the objection that many of the living had to being made lights for the wicked; and whenever the theorist went near a church-yard, he j found that the highest scientific knowledge availed not for lack of a' " screw-driver." The nearest thing in appearance to an anatomical museum is certainly an iron foundry. There is i a pulsation in the place which makes you turn to the big wheel in the corner, then to the valves, cog-wheels, " drums," pulleys, with a look of inquiry. The incessant whir-r-r is music, if only listened to with a proper frame of Bund. Landels, the famous wood-engraver, a man of the greatest artistic attainments, used to say that the only thing which art would be incapable of reproducing either in color, verse, or music was the cave of Cyclops. There is something deeper than the idea of rest conveyed by those motionless cogged wheels, those high hammers, those weights which lie on the ground, whilst the steam-breath of motion turns a Hundred fly-wheels at the rate of 800 revolutions & minute all about you. What has that grimedlooking workman to do with those mightypowers which ride the ocean by a motive prinple within them, which bore the hills, which separate the very components of. nature? •The answer is "everything." He is the aurse and economist of dynamic forces. II you_ look about him vou will see the easie«(t' Jas well as mightiest motions. Vertical "and horizontal engines seem to bow their heads to the task set them as if by bidding. Botary and parabolic wheels seem to % with invisible velocity. The one illustrates the equable motion that moves on solid ground, the other the rapidity which sweeps through Those who talk of the wonders they have seen at home are too apt to undervalue what is aone in the colony where they reside. A man Who has lived all his life in London does not core to go up to the dome of St. Paul's, but that' « as great an adventure to a Lincolnshire yeoman as a voyage over the " Mere de Glace " w> the Swiss mountaineer. Observation is a comparative faculty. These reflections were suggested by a visit we made yesterday to our two leading iron toundnes, which are now fully occupied in aakrng machinery for the Thames gold-fields. At the Phonix Foundry in Mechanics' Bay

(Messrs. Frazer and Tinne's), they have on hand some very important works. The partners in Hunt's claim have ordered a battery of 12 stampers to be driven by steam. The engino is to be of 16 horse-power. The stampers are each GOOlbs weight, with a 10-inch fall. For the partners in the Hokianga Claim thcro is in course of construction a battery of 4 stampers, to be driven by water. The spur wheel for this battery is a very elegant specimen of iron casting, and measures no iess than 18 feet in diameter. Of course it is cast in segments ; but the capacity of this machine will be far greater as the necessity to add to its force will arise; for it is so constructed that with a sufficient fall it will drive 20 stampers if necessary. There is a battery of 6 stampers in course of construction for the l)uke of Edinburgh Claim, and also a battery of t> stampers for the Karaka Gold Mining Company. There has been just finished for Clark and Co. of the Monataiari a battery of 12 stampers, to be driven by steam powerThere arc on hand, but almost ready for delivery, four stamper batteries for Hhodes and Carter, Eaton and Co. While we were in the establishment the workmen were engaged in planing the stamper boxes, in nibbling, drilling, and punching the masses of iron of which the machinery is composed, and when one compares the association of such works with, not only what we have witnessed but what we may yet see, not only is the soundest but most substantial assurance given to justify one's hope that we are on the eve of prosperous times. We also visited yesterday the foundry of Messrs. Masefield and Co., and there the appearances were the.sanie. There were plenty of orders on hand. We heard of no less than ten, one of a twelve stamper battery, and others from eight stampers down. In both places there appeared to be on the part of employers and workmen the highest hope that a new era had opened for industry in these parts. It is only to be feared, lest those who have avowed an interest in selling this province bound hand and foot, and all the interests, industrial and material in it, shall find means to decry the value of those anticipations, and once more delay the realization of a prosperity which they cannot wholly destroy. Those most interested in the developement of the great sources of wealth which have been laid bare had best look to it.

It would give a very incomplete notion of -what is doing in our midst, were we to omit tlie notice of the fact that other interests than gold producing are making steady bat sure way. We know all about the Kawakawa Coal-fields. These are of course black diamonds, convertible into the most sterling gold, and little need be said further in respect to them. But there is another industry which has undergone great vicissitudes, which is also " looking up." We allude to the flax-dressing (phormium tenax). "We were infinitely pleased to hear from Messrs. Frazer and Tinne that machinery was yet in demand for this purpose, and that several persons (whose perseverance and energy is not to be praised by us because having its own great reward), have prosecuted this industry until they made of it a profitable pursuit. Several machines for this purpose are on hand. The names of the gentlemen who have made this industry the object of their special care are Mr. Cooke, of Mercury Bay, and Mr. Dromgould. Their prospects may not be so brilliant on the banks of the Waikato as on those of the Thames, hut sure we are that the consistent prosecution of any local industry, — always assuming the expectations are reasonable—cannot fail to be crowned with success.

| There was an incident of our visit to the I Phcenix foundry yesterday, which afforded us the sincerest pleasure as illustrating the relations which mutual sincerity may create between workman and employer. Going back to the reflections with which we began this notice, and imagining what may be when that übiquitous " New Zealander" may go to London, it may happen if he should come across the skeleton of one of her Majesty's ships of war, he may fancy that the days of the giants are not so remote. Astonishingly like the configuration of the human trunk are those ribs of British wood and iron. If he will only look into Messrs. Frazer and Tinne's yard before he goes, he will there see a very pretty model of an iron steam boat. The ribs are all in, and the steam lungs and fire bowels will be in I her in the course of a few weeks. This pretty model of a steamer is 60 feet keel, 10 feet beam, and will not exceed in draught three feet of water. She has been constructed on the cooperative principle, which, in this instance, has taken a most praiseworthy development. It happened thus. When the proprietors found they had not sufficient employment for their hands, it was suggested that they might employ themselves upon a profitable work, and a steamer was considered to be the most marketable and profitable. This little steam boat is, therefore, to use the language of Mr. Frazer speaking of his men, " the work of their own hands, and while we supplied the material, the men have put their wages in it; it is sure to pay, we all regard it in the nature of a savings bank, and a capital investment." No fact or speech could be more creditable to employer or men. In answer to inquiry as to the increase in the demand for workmen, we were informed that it had increased from 30 to 60. The great variety of branches connected with mechanical engineering would take almost as much space to enumerate as we can afford for their results. There were seven large fires going in the blacksmith's shop ; the steam hammer seemed like the deity to which the Cyclops were offering big pieces of iron. The whole air and manner of the men were assuring. The wages distributed by this firm amounts to from £160 to £180 a week.