A NEW INDUSTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 32

A NEW INDUSTRY

OPENING OF THE TAIPO EXPLOSIVE

WORKS.

At the invitation of the directors of the T-aipo Explosives Syndicate a number of shareholders and others more or less directly interested in the manufacture of explosives proceeded to Deborah Bay on Saturday afternoon by the steamer Moerangi to inspect the premises and take part in the formal opening of the works. The party consisted of about 50 gentlemen, all wellknown citizens, and in a good many instances public men. Parliament was represented by Messrs J. A. Millar and T. Mackenzie, M.H.R's., and the Hon. W. M. •Bolt, M.L.C. A fctart was made from Rattray street wharf shortly after 12 o'clock, aicd, though the weather was tho reverse of being suitable for a water excursion, the party became a very merry, sociable one Before, the jetty had I>&3H left very far behind. Port Chalmers was reached ia about an hour, and after taking aboard th& Mayor of the seaport town (Mr D. A. De Maus), Mr John Cook (superintending engineer for the Union Steam Ship Canipany, and 'one or two others, a fresh start •was made, and the party landed at Deborah Bay very shortly afterwards. A walk of about five minutes brought the jparty to the works, which are situated near the head of a gully. They have already been lengthily described, and it is therefore sufficient to say that -they consist of six separate buildings, strictly speaking, though a small cottage standing on the property is to bo brought into requisition later on. Tho first building reached is the office, and than the boiler house — the latter of which is of necessity placed at a considerable distance from the main building, where the explosive is manufactured. On th© left is another detached building, called the neutralising room, where the picric acid and other ingredients are neutralised and prepared" for trjixiog. The main building, in which are siac rooms, is a little farther on, and this contains substantially tihe machinery used in *he manufacture of the explosive. It is, like the rest, of the buildings, built as far as possible of iron, with iron divisions between the rooms, "and through its centre runs a -wide passage, -on either .side of which "are the rooms. These consist of engine room, mixing room, mill room, drying room, cartridge room, and what may be supposed Jco be a packing room. The two remaining (buildings — the magazine and storage room— r ore farfchjer up fche .gully. The ingredients, after being neutralised, go to the inoor;porating room, where they are mixed with fche "base, raised to the requisite temperature, and thoroughly dried. They then go through a machine 20ft in length, and subsequently into tihe Chilian mill room, at /*(4uoh stage the material is sufficiently dried jor the mill. It is there pulverised and

goes into the drying room, after which it (passes to the cartridge room, whera it is •manufactured into cartridges ranging from •Jin to 2in in diameter. These cartridges tare returned to th© -drying room for final drying, and then go to the magazines for etorage prior to being 'sent away. It may ibe mentioned that all the machinery, with lifoe -exception of the engine and i>oiler, wai manufactured by Messrs A. and T. Burt, «md reflects -great credit upon that firm. The work of -erection" irras dene by Messrs Stevenson and Coot, of Port Chahners, under the immediate supervision of Mr John M'DonaJd.

On reaching th© works the party was taken in band by Mr W. A. Smith, the snanager, who oonduct«cl the visitors over the factory and briefly -explained the method of working th© material, th© engine being first «et in motion. The -\ isitors were then assembled in the passage before mentioned lor refreshments and a little speechmaking. Mr Xi: L. Denniston, chairman of directors, said he was not going to occupy their itime more than a moment or two, but he (thought a function of that kind would not -be complete without a few words by way of -welcome to those who had in such xjweather been good -enough to come down to ccc what they had done in the way of building a factory for the manufacture of explosives. The only excuse that could b& offered for asking those present to oome out in such -weather was that this was the first factory of the kind started in New Zealand, «,nd, so 3ar as he know, in the Australasian colonies. Explosives had hitJie-rto been imported, and this was an attempt to manufacture locally in a small way. and from it they hoped to be able to supply the colony generally and return some profit to shareholders.—(Anplause.) There were- 450 tone of explosives used in the colony in the year, end in Tasmania there were something like 2500 tons used, and it would be the company's endeavour to gain as much of the trade as would make the affair profitable to shareholders. They had been in hopes of having Sir J. G. Ward present at lh? function. Sir Joseph had been very anxious to be there, but they had not be©n ready .When it was convenient for him to attend, and when they were ready he eou'el not come. They had extended an invitation to tho Hon. Mr M'Gowan, Minister of Mines, «nd he (Mr Denniston) had received the following reply to that invitation: — " Many thanks for invitation to opening of works, irat regret I am unable to leave Wellington owing to session being so close at hand. Trust function will be enjoyable, and that enterprise of your company will be rewarded by immediate acceesioa of uu'inejs." It •«ras, oontinued Mr Denniston, only fitting that be should express the obligation they

| were under to the Government for tho asjistanc-3 it had given to this undertaking. The company had the rights for New Zealand and Tasmania, and, conaic'cring the I large amount of explosives i'i«rd in Tasmania, they had beeu in some doubt as to whether New Zealand was the more suitable place in which to commence work. The Government, however, had come to their assistance, and they decided to commence operations here, but hoped to bo able to extend them to Tasmania later on. He was not going to boast of the quality of tii-eir manufacture; but he might pay with truth that they had a valuable production, which they claiircd was suitable for any class of mining work. They could make a grade of explosive suitable for the hardest stone quarries or the softest ccal, so that they could cater for all cla&ses of custoniieis. Mr Denniston then paid a compliment t:> those who had been concerned in the construction and erection of the machinery, and, having eoctended a hearty w-elcome to all present, called upon Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R., to say a f ew words. Mr Millar said he had a very pleasant duty to perform, and that was to ask those present to drink " Success to th© Taipo Explosives Syndicate." They were all very pleased to be present, and hoped that the shareholders would ho rewarded for their outlay. He realised that the company had had a good deal of trouble and difficulty to contend with, and great credit was due to those who had put capital in to start the new venture. It was the duty of any Government to aesisfc enterprises of this kind, and he thought such a company had a right to expect assistance from Government to establish &uch au industry. They should be- only too glad to find gentlemen ready and willing to put their money into the estabUshme'nt of industries like the present one. It was olso a matter for gratification that the whole of the plant had been locally manufactured. It was a proof that we could manufaotui'e for ourselves. He was sorry no official representative of the Crown was able to be present, because an attempt had always been made to give consideration to the rcquiremcints of peoplein this respect. He called upon those present to drink "Success to the Taipo Explosrvee' Sy-n<lioafce y " and Koj>e<l that ill© wheels started that afternoon might never cease running in their lifetime. — (Applause.) The toast was honoured with much enthusiasm. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr T. it. Christie), being called upon to sr>eak, expressed pleasure at being present at the opening of the works. It epoke well for Dunedin that it had taken the lead in a work of this kind. There was no doubt that works for the production of a variety of things could be promoted in this centre, and 'h& .fupjposecl as time went on the citizens of Dunedin, and of cities throughout the colony, would endeavour, so far as they could, to acquire such works. They ought to lean upon themselves, and, therefore, the greatest credit was due to those gentlemen who had promoted the present enterprise. He hoped in the near future to be- able to oon-grafculate the company upon the position its goods had attained in the market. — "Hear, hear.") Tho Hon. W. M. Bolt, M.L.C., being called, upon, said he had to thank the directors for the invitation to be present, and particularly for recognising the Upper House at a function of this kind. The Upper House was not supposed to be a very explosive Chamber, but went on in a very quiet way. He was exceedingly pleased to be present at a function of this soit, because he recognised such a work meant the increase of the inventive character of the people. The inventive faculty was probably the greatest faculty in the success of a people, and he pointed to America as an example of this. He hoped the company would be successful, because in the success of companies like the- present one lay the success of the colony. — (Applause.) Mr D. A. De Maus, Mayor of Port Chalmers, was particularly pleaced to be present to assist at the formal opening of the works. When gentlemen promoted a company for the carrying on of an industry like tho present one they deserved the highest praise of everyone. As the Mayor of Port Chahners, he felt doubly pleased that the company had made a start : first, because ho was glad to se-e them launch out in this new industry; and. second, because it was- going to help rittle Port Chalmers. He hoped the company would moot with the prosperity it richly deserved. — (Applause.) Very shortly after the close of Mr De Maus's remarks the party re-embarked, and were soon st&aming homeward. A fivemdnute call was again made at Port Chalmers, and the Moerangi then resume-d her way. Advantage was taken of an opportune moment by Mr Burnett to propose a hearty vote of thanks to the directors of the syndicate for the pleasant outing thc-y had afforded the visitors, and a call fcr three cheer.? was heartily responded to. Mr G. L. Denniston suitably acknowledged the vote. The run up the harbour, though invigorating, proved Tather cold, and a trip full of interest ended by the party being landed at the Dunedin wharf about 4-.30 p.m.