DIRECT SHIPMENT OF WOOL.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 12723, 15 December 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

DIRECT SHIPMENT OF WOOL.

THE WAITEMATA LOAD READY.

LOCAL ENTERPRISE REWARDED'

(From "The Colonist," Dec. 14

Next week should see the first steamship loading wool-at the Nelson wharf fo r Loudon direct. This will further mark the new era that has commenced for placing the products ot the district upon the markets of cue world— the first wool ship is following close in the wake „f that which carried the first shipment of frozen meat.

there arc now iv stoic, dumped, and ready for shipment, about sixteen hundred bales of wool. Thestipulation of the \shipping company was that there should be a minimum of one thousand bales for a shipment so that the requirement has been exceeded by over fifty per cent. _ It would not have been possible te nave made all preparations so quietly and expeditiously had it not been for the foresight and enterprise of Messrs E. Buxton and-Co.,' Ltd. Not only was this firm mainly responsible lor tho inauguration of* the direct shipment of wool, but the storage and other facilities offered by their largo bulk store and railway siding has enabled the work of stoiing and dumping the wool to be done quickly and at a minimum of cost to the produ-

Tile large brick store with ius-ido measurements of 180 by »o feet, containing a powerful liydraulic clumping plant, and served by a railway siding, was just the place for storing the woo), and all the local s)»2>pers agreed to have their consignments sent there ; but tho proprietary firm found that large as the store is, more room was required for receiving, weighing, and marking tlie wool before dumping. The services of Mr W. Houlker, architect, were secured, and a contract subsequently let to Messrs Robertson liros., Ltd., to add an iron store 60 feet by 58 xi'vt, inside measurements, and this building has now been com-j.-ieted, and is in iw.e. The siding platform _ has been extended tho length of the new portion, giving a total length of 210 ieol. The receiving and export entrances have been eo'.ored by large and substantial -shelters, which span iho railway lino, and enable loading into or delivery irom the trucks to he carried on hi all weathers. At the iiuio of tho visit of a representative of this paper, the last »f the wool now in store for direct shipment was being dumped, two bales being compressed into the 'dimensions of one unstressed bale and securely banded with iron hoops specially imparled for the purpose. This work has required the employment of five additional hands in the store, and with the facilities provided it is surprising how easily and quietly it is performed. Looking at the great stacks now in store, some idea is formed of tho carrying capacity of the ocean liners. for the Nelson load is only a small portion ol the cargo that the Waitemata will carry away from New Zealand next week. Wo ore ii-.i'orniod ih.at the January boat will have nearly as hrge a load fioui this port., the total quantity !or direct shipment being something over thro a thousand hales. AYithaut doubt Messrs Buxton and •Co. are entitled to much credit for the 'juterprise they have shown, tho whole district beiieSitine; from the fact that the requisite facilities were in existence. The one "fly in the ontment" is that the coastal steamers, more particularly our local fleet," must lose revenue through direct shipI Ph'g.