LOCALLY MANUFACTURED INSULA

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7898, 17 March 1887, Page 5

LOCALLY MANUFACTURED INSULA

♦ [by telegraphpress association.] Wellington, Wednesday. The Government have been compelled to reject the insulators made in Canterbury. On analysis they are found to contain iron and manganese, which will seriously interfere with the insulation. The material is porous, and likely \o admit water. The glaze is not strong enough. The colour ie not good, white being preferred; but this would not matter much if insulation were more complete. As compared with the imported German porcelain goods, the difference is easily seen. The latter are heavy, hard, clear, white in colour, and look more like marble than anything else. When fractured the material is dense, and will not take in water. These insulators, which are tested at the works for powers of resistance, can be imported at 13d each. The Government offered to take 5000 locallymade up to sample at Is 6>i each, and 40,000 at Is 3d, if the manufacturer succeeded in turning out the requisite artiole. This, it was thought, would allow sufficient margin for the extra cost of production. They have now entered into a contract with Mr. VV. White, Dunedin, on thece terms, but do not anticipate that he will be successful, as it is believed that the difficulties in the way of the manufacture and obtaining proper materials are too great. It may be mentioned that considering the cost of the necessary machinery, it appears problemati cal whether the industry is worth establishing. In the last eight years, only 162,000 insulators have been used in the colony. If they had all been made here, the return would not have been much over £10(j0 a year, and the profits of course much less.