The Manufacture of Insulators.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5880, 19 March 1887, Page 3

The Manufacture of Insulators.

SOMETHING WRONG SOMEWHERE. A few days ago a Press Association telegram was received from Wellington, stating that Government had been compelled to reject' the samples of telegraph insulators received from Canterbury, and assuming that the would-be manufacturers could not consider the matter worth going on with. The German samples, it was said, were dense when fractured, and would not take in water. We have obtained specimens of the German insulator, and of several varieties made by Mr Luke Adams, of Sydenham. So far as we can judge by examination with a powerful lens, the local samples are quite as dense as the German ; and on applying water to the fractured edges we were compelled to the | conclusion that the Sydenham specimens were ac non-porouß as the German. With regard to the colour, which is also objected to, if we are correctly informed the original [ specification was to the effect that the ' particular colour did not matter much. | Various tints were therefore submitted, a j very fair white (from an English clay) being included. We believe we are correct in assuming that the natural earth tints, not objected to at the outset, are due principally to the colouring of ferric oxide, now declared objectionable. Whilst the specimens before us are unquestionably very compact, they would be made still more so if an order were given, as in that case a suitable machine would be provided. The position which Mr Luke Adam* takes is thisi — He has received no intimation from the Department as to the precise way and degree in which his specimens are considered defective, and he holds that such information ought to be given for his guidance. He is not, he aMerta, at all disposed to " give up," but on the contrary feelß perfectly satisfied that he can fill any reasonable requirement. Further, he contends that for the Department to urge the comparatively Bmall extent of the possible industry as a reason why it should be abandoned, is bad logic. ** If," he says, "we can find employment in this way for only one or two of the skilled potters who are now idle — and one of the best men I know is working with tne unemployed — we shall be doing an uncommonly (rood thin cr."