THE STARCH AND SODA CRYSTAL INDUSTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 2102, 7 June 1894, Page 23

THE STARCH AND SODA CRYSTAL INDUSTRY

A company, under the title of tne New Zealand Starch and Manufacturing Company (Limited), is at present being floated for the purpose of acquiring as a. going concern the business of manufacturing starch, soda crystals, and flavouring essences, at present carried on by Messrs W. Gregg and Co. in premises in Harbour terrace, near the Albany street station. Tho business is one that has been in existence for the past four years, and the initial difficulties and obstacles incidental to the introduction of a new industry have been fully surmounted by Messrs W. Gregg and Co., who hold first class certificates from tho Government analyst and the jurors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. The premi^a wherein the industry is carried on consists mainly ? f a three-storeyed brick building with a .i ' ir which appears to be in every way suibaLi it? . purpose. The plant and machine ' a: ) capable" >?£ producing 240 tons of atar< .' annum—a quantity which is about 65 to i . % t-han what is shown by tho returns £o_ha\ cv v --> imported iniso the colony during tbe ve&r 'c v The article made by Messrs W. Gregg i .. ' '• has been analysed by Professor Black, h^c certificate Btatesthatin point of purity tbe starch is superior to any other starch examined by him in the University laboratory. In connection with tbe manufacture of starch, as it is con* ducted in the factory in Harbour terrace, it may be stated that the first process consists in the steeping of rice in vats on the top fiat, in which it remains until it is in a certain condition, after which it is passed into a mill where it ia ground and chemically treated. From the grading vat the stuff pastes to the separating table on the first floor where the starch milkas it is called at this stage — is separated from the unground rice, the latter being returned upstairs by an elevator preparatory to its being again put through the mill, while "the starch milk passes to vats, from which when they are filled, it is conducted down to the ground floor through sieves into the main well. From this well the "first run" starch is pumped upstairs where it is passed into the first run settling vats, after which it is put into wash-out vats to remove all traces of chemicals. The next operation is one of pumping into the refining starch settling vats, and the starch is then put into tbe bluing vafo ia which, the refiaed starch is nrxed and from which it is run out into moulds with perforated bottoms, tho drippings being caught and again treated, so that there is no Jo's on that score. The starchso moulded tb,at 12 blocks will weigh 561b— then passes into the dryiDg room, which is heated with steam pipes — different degrees of heat being applied to the article at different stages in the process of manufacture. In the fancy starch department the starch is put up into neat lib packets, which are filled by the agency of a machine, and are tastefully labelled — the boxes and labels being all made in Dunedin. There are altogether in tho factory about 40 settling vats, four of which will contain 5000 gallons, others also being of great size, and there is a capacity for steeping 11 tons of rice per week. In addition to the manufacture of starch, it is possible to produce in the works a greater quantity of soda crystals annually than 5b imported into the colony. The soda-dissolving tanks are on the top flat, and are fitted round with an open steam coil, the agitators being connected with the system of shafting with which the premises are supplied. Btneath the dissolving tanks there

are, on the floor below, two corresponding tanks into which the soda is run to settle. It is then run off clear from the settling tanks, and taken through shoots to the crystallising house, where it remains for a certain length of time until the soda has been crystallised into those beautiful forms which suggest the splendour of stalactite caves. The steam for the stoves and dissolving tanks, as well as the motive power for the whole of the premises, is supplied from two boilers with a power of eight-horse and five-horee respectively. The culinary essences department is a distinct feature of the industry, which is carried on in a room adjoining the spirit bond. Essences of lemon, vanilla, and almond are here made, and, being made, are put up in nsat bottles capped with kid tops. They are packed in boxes containing one dozen each and in cases of two gross. It is hoped that, with the impetus given to a sound business by the application of the increased capital which the New Zealand Starch and Manufacturing Company would be in a position to supply, and the extended connection of a large and well-spread proprietary, a constantly increasing and profitable trade may eneue.