LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6439, 2 December 1881, Page 6

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

THE WELLINGTON BISCUIT AND CONFECTIONERY COMPANY.

Some two or three years since, Mr S. S. Griffiths, a practical biscuit baker and confectioner, conceived the laudable but somewhat ambitious idea of starting a biscuit and confectionery business in a large way in this city. At the outlay of a considerable amount of capital the enterprising manufacturer succeeded in establishing one of the most perfect steam-biscuit works south of the Line. Competition,, however, proved too keen for the promoter of the works. He found that goods could be manufactured —owing in a measure to the higher rate of wages demanded by operatives in Wellington—cheaper in Melbourne than they ceuld be manufactured here. Thera were-other causes which also operated against the success which Mr Griffiths hoped to at once achieve, and which are invariably associated with, the starting of a new enterprise. About ten months since Mr Griffiths "parted with his interest to three gentlemen who took over the business, which which was incorporated under the style and firm of the Wellington Biscuit and Confectionery Company. The Company’s works, which are situated in Farish-street, off Manners-street, are well worthy of a visit of inspection. To a youthful visitor, unless he first obtains the sanction of the manager to gather the toothsome morsels which lie temptingly all around him, the effort to stroll through the factory must prove a somewhat trying ordeal. However, under the guidance of the courteous manager, Mr H. Kemher, the ramble is a most enjoyable one. A stroll through the factory suggests the query of Sir Toby Belch to Malvolio, “ Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes 1” Amidst the thud and whirl of pondereus engines and_ complicated and intricate machinery, one is bewildered by observing endless “sheets” of paste, apparently automatically falling from one machine, from which it is dragged by in geniously-contrived “ grippers ” to massive rollers, which knead it to the required thickness for the ovens. The ground floor of the factory is devoted to the manufacture of biscuits of endless description and variety, and to the making of lollies. In the “ land o’ cakes ’’ biscuits, tr m time immemorial, have been kneaded by workmen stamping the dough with their' feet. This rather objectionable practice has, of course, never existed in a colonial factory. The dough having been mixed is placed in an iron cylinder through which passes a central shaft, to which a series of knives are attached, and which revolves with great rapidity. The mass of dough so obtained then leaves the kneading machine and is passed under heavy iron rollers till the required thickness is obtained. The sheet being placed below a roller with knife-edged shapes is readily cut into hexagonal or other forms, as required by the baker, which are then introduced into the oven, where they remain for about 15 minutes. The “ slab ”is then drawn and placed in a warm room for two or three days, when the biscuits are ready for packing. Biscuits areof infinite variety and shape, and the ingredients of their composition are as varied as are their names. Of course the foundation of all descriptions of biscuits is flour, but, in addition, eggs, butter, milk, besides flavorings, such as orange water, canaway seeds, citron, cinnamon, volatile salts, ginger, nutmeg, &c., are liberally intro.mcc iuto the composition. Judging from the energy with which the boys and men work in the factory, the making of lollies is a labor of love. T!ie finest loaf sugar only is used by the firm for this branch of the confectioner’s art. The primary process is to grind the “ loaf,” and for this purpose a mill is employed. The saccharine matter leaves the mill in the condition of fine flour, and is ready either for “ icing ’’ wedding or other description of cakes, or for the manufacture of baked or boiled lozenges. For bciled, or the cheaper description of lollies, the sugar is placed in huge copper boilers or pans, in which the tempting flavors and coloring tints are also poured in. The sweetmeat, on being taken from the boilers, is poured rapidly into moulds, consisting of brass rollers, in which are indented the various devices the lozenges are intended to assume. As quick as thought they fall from the moulds on to a long board, where the comfits are “ mixed,” if required, in countless hues and numbers. At the time of our visit, there could not have been less than half a ton of “ mixtures ”on the board. The firm are extensive makers of medicated and other lozenges for the use of chemists, and in this branch of the establishment none but skilled hands are employed. What are known as “ gum goods ” are turned out in large numbers. Jujubes (oval, and a'so the description used by vocalists), Turkish delight, blondin rope, alphabets, good hoy and girl, and other gelatine sweets are produced, and, apparently, are quite equal to the comfits imported. The factory also rejoices in a specialty, v'z., the manufacture of cakes, included under the category of seed, iced, Christmas, and wedding cakes, the ingredients of which, apparently, are beyond suspicion. The machinery is driven by a seven horse-power vertical engine, the boiler having been made at the foundry of Messrs Robertson’s, who also fitted up the whole of the machinery employed in the factory. Not the least interesting of the many curious and quaint machines used in the works is an ice-making machine, which was exhibited ot the Sydney International Exhibition in 1879 80, and which is capable of turning out about 5 cwt of ice per day. Singular to relate, the manager states—probably on the principle that no man is a prophet in his own country, that the firm more readily effect sales and gain alarger connection in other towns of New Zealand than they do in the metropolis. From Gisborne to Taranaki, and from Christchurch to Ross, their travellers have established permanent connections. Notwithstanding these trifling drawbacks, it is satisfactory to be able to state that the factory, which employs twenty-five hands all the year round, is thoroughly established.