FLOUR CASKS

Otago Witness, Issue 560, 23 August 1862, Page 6

FLOUR CASKS

A correspondent of the Adelaide Observer in noticing that another correspondent has proposed to split native timber for the manufacture of flour cask?, writes thus: —

" Sir, — In a recent issue of your paper there is an article on the manufacture of flour-bar-rels from colonial timber, and it appears, from the article, that the writer has had considerable experience of the subject on which he writes. And if, as he scys, he can produce the material lo; one shilling a barrel, I would engage to make any quantity at eighteenpence for labour — tha is to say, that the cost of each barrel would be two-and- sixpence.

"Now, it must be borne in mind that flour packed in barrels can be rammed in ti^ht — in iact, it would be comparatively air-tight ; consequently, it would arrive at the port of destination in a f;ir superior state to what any flour could possibly do in bags, and would fetch a higher price in the market. Besides which. I question whether it wouid bo necessary to dunnage a ship to the extent usually adopted when tiour is sent in bags, which would, of course, be a considerable saving both in labour and material. And I have no doubt, if capital and labour were united by the erection of machinery similar to some that I superintended in London some six years ago, that they might be produced at a much cheaper rate. It would also beuefit the colony, inasmuch as it would give an impetus to the labour market by the employment of others in the cxitting of timber, at the same time that it would be benefiting the owners of laud in the colony by turning timber, that is now comparatively valueless to good account. " I am, Sir, &c, " Alfred Andrews.'