LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2131, 2 November 1875, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRY.

New Bread and Biscuit Factory.

To-day was the opening day, as far as work is concerned —though the spacious and well-ordered premises are not quite ready for the public—of Messrs Mennie & Dey's new bread and biscuit factory. The arrangements when perfected will be most complete, and the whole interior economy of the business premises leaves nothing to be desired. The height of the premises to Queen street is 28 feet with a frontage of 33 feete Thefrontof the ground floor is taken up by two shops, both under the same roof, though, with different entrances. The smaller is for the retail of bread only, and measures 13 feet wide by 21 in depth; the larger one on the right is for carrying on the confectionery business, (for: which Messrs. Mennie and Dey are so justly celebrated) and measures 20 feet by 21. Behind this is a coffee room for the convenience of those who may avail themselves of this department as a restaurant; it is 12 feet by 14, and immediately opposite the office of the establishment. Behind the smaller shop is a room for packing biscuits, while close at hand is a staircase leading to the upper premises, which serve as a private house for Mr Mennie. These buildings take up 35 feet of the entire department. Behind them is the bakehouse running to a depth of 45 feet, and taking up the entire width of the premises, 33 feet. In this is a steam engine of five horse power, which serves to turn the machinery iised in the baking

business. The principal of these are a biscuit mixer made by Messrs Price of the Thames; a dough break, cutting machine, and bread mixer, all from Aberdeen. There is a large table running down the left side of the bakehouse 22 feet long, and a trough, which may be also used as a table, in the centre, 16 feet long. At the end of the bakehouse'ar« the ovens, two in number, each 11 ft 6. in by 10 ft, and between these, the chimney stack, 6 feet at the base by 45 feet high; behind this again is the ruultitubular boiler, from Aberdeen, which supplies the engine. There is also a boiler., house and fuel store. The floor is of Portland cement, and water and gas are laid on to all parts of the building where they may be convenient. The whole length of the premises is 111 feet, and the width 33 feet. The architect is Mr.Ji. N. Smith. The contractors and carpenters Messrs Macandrew and Lidgard. Mr G. L. Ginn has ; had tbe masonry; and Mr Driver, Shortland, the painting, while the engineering department has been seen to by Mr Pitkethly of Shortland, and the whole of the work testifies to the care and skill bestowed upon it bjrtlreSe gentlemen. The bakery is indeed most complete in every sense of the word, and capable qf turning out from 25 to 30 tons I of flour a week in the shape of bread and biscuits. We hope that success will follow the complete arrangements Messrs Mennie and Dey have made for carrying on a large wholesale and retail business. We venture to say tiiat with the pr.e3ent appliances at command, it will be no fault of theirs if all their customers are not more than satisfied. !