MANUFACTURE OF GLASS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20315, 25 January 1928, Page 8

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS.

EXPERT ARRIVES IN DOMINION. ERECTION OF ASHBURTON PLANT. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, January 24. Recognised as one of the greatest living authorities on the manufacture of_ glass, Mr H. Sschnurpfcil, of Czecho-Slovakia, has arrived at Auckland by the Arawa from the United Kingdom. Mr Schnurpfeil, who was accompanied by an engineer. Mr O. Ceist, has come out, under an engagement to the Southern Cross Glass Company to erect the plant in its works at Ashburton. In addition to erecting tbe plant in over 40 glass works in the United Kingdom, Czecho-Slovakia, Norway, Spain, Germany, and Belgium, Mr Schnurpfeil is the author of a number of books dealing with glass manufacturing. He has made a life-study of the business and is looking forward greatly to his work in New Zealand. As a glass-manufacturing country, New Zealand should shortly come into its own. Tho Southern Cross Company has already imported the very latest machinery, and every class of glassware will be manufactured, including bottles, jars, sheet glass, plate glass for motor cars, table glassware and glass in many other forms. The company will draw upon what is considered one of the finest deposits of silica in the world on the slopes of Mount Somers, near Ashburton. Samples of the silica were forwarded to Mr Schnurpfeil, and after thorough tests he pronounced it to bo as pure as any silica to be found in the world. Although many New Zealand workmen will be employed at the factory of the company, Mr Schnurpfeil has emphasised the necessity of bringing experts from abroad, and when tho plant is erected a number of these will be brought from England, Germany, and Belgium. It will take at least three months to erecr the plant and set it in working order, but the company hopes to have its wares on the market by May next. Mr Schnurpfeil is a very keen angler, having enjoyed fine sport in Austria, Czecho-Slovakia, and other European countries. He is looking forward to having some trout-fishing in Ne\v Zealand.