LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8273, 20 September 1888, Page 3

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

THE RIVERSDALE TANNERY. PERHAPS the best Bite for a tannery and fellmoneery is that occupied by the Rivorsdnle establishment on the Frankley Boad, about a mile from the centre of the town. After being some years in existence, in the coarse oE which it has been worked by several different proprietors, it las come solely into the hands ot MrF. Jones, who considers, judging by the success that has attended bis enterpiisp, for tbo eighteen months he has now been working it as proprietor, that ha can establish an iadastry with a good deal of stability ia it. The tannery itself Btands close to the roadway, but connected with it is nn area of 15 acres, which thus givtß plenty of elbow room at present, and plenty of scope for future extension oE the premises should trade fver warrant it. Through the g rounds rurs a rapid sireamlt — in effluent of the Hunloki — from which a water race is run at an elevation oE 12 fret above the yard, thus effioiosr easy means of running water all over the establishment, and doing away with all pnmping power, which would naturally be needed were the race on the same level as tl c yard. Lately Mr Jones has been making various improvements, and as a consr qaence he has got everytbins in as trim a cocdition as possible, Tho first building after entering tho property is a hide shed 25x20 feet, wherein the hides— all bought of the town and district butchers — nre Btaoked and salted preparatory to gfiiog through tho various processes of tanninor. Next to this comes a large two ptoried building, the upper apartment (40x20ff) which is used for storing the wool off the sheepßkinfl, wl ilo tho ground floor is partitioned off for a salo room (20x1 Oft), and a rolling shed (20x20ft), FormerU, or rather up to a few weeks ago, nil the rolling of pole leather won done by hand, but recently a waterwheel wns erected with good results. With tl.o old system of hand power it used to tako 3 dnys at the least to put through 40 Bides of leather, but now 100 could ut any lime be be put through in a dny, Not only is the new method rr.ore expeditious, and less expensive, but tho orticlo turned out is much superior for the reason that the pressure on tho leather is greater, the wheel working 18 cwt. on top of the roller, wherenu by hand 9 cwt could only be worked. Near this shed are first, three lime pits, into which tho raw hides are placed foi ibout Uireo days to loosen the hair, etc., after which they are scruped on both siden, that ia tho flesh nnd huir taken off ; then comes a "bail" pit for softening hides to bo converted into kip nnd harness leather ; and then throe more pita for soaking and cleaning. Sharpn nnd bran ore used in the "bait" pit, but fowl manure is tho common ingredient. This latter article is not used hero for a peculiar reason, given thus by Mr, Jones : 110 states that fcwlß here would naturull/ pick up ironnand in eating, and were any of this sand to eret in contact with tho hides a stain would result as soon as they were placed in bark liqnor. Nenr to these pita ftand a wool senker and washer. After going through these pits the hides, which, an a rule, nre then upJit, go to the bark pits situated in another building. First of nil the hides nro hun,? in liquor to improve tho grain, thero being threo such pits ; then they go to " handler's" pits, jhftt i«, wbero they ftre handled every day;

and next into thb " layawny" pits, wlmro they sonk for a considerable time. After this th?y aro benched, and further scraped aid doctored, and then go into the currioi'e hands, who exercises tho art of his calling on those intended for harness nud shoe leather, and thonce to the carriei's shop, a building 35ft. x 20ft. This place is over the bark pits, and in it the bides aro dubbinod, that is, groused (the article for this beini; made on the premises) and manipulated in various wayß, until they come out presentable for the market, and are then hung up to dry beforo being rolled up and stored. Very few whole hides, which are used for collar making, go through, on account of the demand not being great, the splitting up into Bidea being the general way of working them. There is also a boiler huuse on the property, but tbe machinery is not used, the wakr power bring utilised instead, and there is also a large shed for drying basils, the prepared sheepskins. Elevated about 10ft abovo the liquor pits are three bark pits, in which the liquor is prepared, and run out by taps into the " handlers, " " lagaway," &0., thus obviating tbe necessity of pumping. At present the working staff is five, butas trade improves and a stronger local demand springs ap for leather, Mr Jones' employees will bu much more numerous. Mr Curnow, the currier, is a tirst-class tradesman, having an experience in tanning of 40 years. About 30 hides are put through at present in a week, but with the now improvements fully 50 can be done; nnd about 150 Bbeepskius and 100 calfskins go through in a month. Besides working up a local business, Mr Jones gfts orders from outside, most of bis " whele hide" business being done with Waßgrtinni. One greut drawback, he considers, is the importation of tbe wattle bark, which comes from ilobarr, a.id hence is necessarily pretty expensive after freight, etc., is pai:l on it. This bark has to be used, as the properties of any local bark aro dtticient in compaiiaon. All tbinga considered, Mr Jonea thinks there is every chance of his industry flourishing, and as such establishments are run in all the chief towns of the colony, there is no reason why his Kivgrsdale Tannery should not take root and flourish.