PONSONBY STEAM ROPE WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2423, 31 October 1871, Page 2

PONSONBY STEAM ROPE WORKS.

A visit to Mr. Neil Lloyd's Steam Rope Manufactory, iu the Ponsonby Koad, would well repay anyone for the troublo of walking there, especially if he had the interest of the province at heart, for it is one of the most complete establishments that we hare in the neighbourhood of Auckland ; in fact, without, transgressing the bounds of possibility, wo may state that there is nothing of its kinil to equal it in the colony. These remarks are the result of a visit paid to the establishment yesterday, when a couple of hours were spent very pleasantly iu watching the various operations incidental t.* the manufacture of cordage of every description, from the smallest pack-thread up to the largest-sized cable. And, large as the establishment is, and numerous as are the productions from it, the entire number of employees 13 not more than a dozen or fifteen, the greater part of which arp boys, whose principal occupation is that of attending on the machines, which perform their functions with the regularity ofclock-work. In the principal building ere about a dozen machines, all at work at once in the manufacture of rope in various stages. In the centre is a large hackling machine, which is kept constancy iu motion straightening the flax out into long thick bundles. These bundles are now drawn through a j machine called a drawer, consisting of a series ! of upright combs on an endless band, which draw the flax through an orifice of a size just large enough to supply sufficient flax to make what is technically known us a " thread." On being reduced to this size, the flax is taken to a spinning machine, where it i 3 spun into threads and wound on a reel by the one machine. Three of tliese reels of thread are then hitched on to another machine, which spius them, into a strand. Three strands are requisite to make 11 rope, as probably all our readers are aware. Well, another machine takee three of these strands, and by a very simple but very ingenious self-acting contrivance, spius the strands into rope. At the time of our visit, all these machines were fully employed turning out a two-inch rope, at the rate of about a mile of rope in four hours. In another part of the building it to be found the apparatus for the manufacture of cables, and such like large work. Everything seems to be of the most complete description, and with all the machinery, >vhen it is seen doing its work, seems to be so very simple that the wonder is that the old-fasbianed method of rope-making remains still in use, for it can never compete, either in prico or quality, with the work these machines turn out. We were also shown in process of manufacture a flat rope, made to the order of Messrs. T. and S. Morrin, for the use of some mine on the Thames goldfield, for deep siukiug. The rope is some sixty fathoms long, and is composed of four ropes laid side by side, flattened, and strongly sewn together. This i 3 also done by machinery—a combination of the sewing machine and a very powerful press. The ropes are laid side by side, each rope having alternately a forward and backward twist, so as to equalise the strain on the four ropes. On being drawn through the machine, the four ropes are slightly flattened ; aud, by means of an auger on each side, the whole four are pierced through. A needle of an enormous lize, with a small rope for the thread, is passed through, and drawn tight by levers on each side ; and so, by a slow but sure process, the flat rope is made. Mr. Lloyd assured us that, now his establishment is complete, containing all the latest American improvements in the way of machinery, he can produce anything in hi» line of business that may be required in New Zealand. This is really and truly a colonial industry, and deserves every encouragement. Speaking of colonial industry reminds us that every requisite for the business that can be produced in the province or colony is used here. The flax, coal, oil, tar, and other articles, are all New Zealand productions, so that the establishment is almost entirely colonial, the only exception being the machiuery, which ia of American des'gn and manufacture. In conclusion, we commend the establishment to the notice of all those who may be in any way interested in the success of colonial manufactures.