THE CHRISTCHURCH BISCUIT FACTORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6315, 13 August 1888, Page 4

THE CHRISTCHURCH BISCUIT FACTORY.

V A Useful Industry. -Any industry at which a number o£ hands are engaged daily in working up and utilising the products of our .New Zealand soil, must be an objecfc of interest to all whose aim is to encourage the increase of local industries. Hence a visit to the works of this factory, in company with fche Chairman of Directors and Secretary, on a recent date, is worthy of notice. Tho works are situated in Madra3 street South, Sydenham, they having been firat erected and carried on by Messrs Aulsebrook Brothers, sons of Mr John Aulsebrook, who first introduced biscuit makingto this part of the ' Colony. The structure has no particular artistic attraction, architectural design having been made subservient to circumstances, as the many additions indicate. But they suit the purpose well, and when it is known that the factory can, with thirteen hands at work, every day turn out over a tou of biscuits, it is evident that it is adequate for present requirements, and ifc may be added that the out-pufc could be doubled with avery fcrifiingextracosfc,aa the wholeof the machinery is there tododoublethe work. This comprises the six-horse-power vertical engine; then the "mixer," in wbich the flour, butter* eggs, milk, water, sugar and the thousand and one ingredients necessary to the varioua kinds of biscuits are all put together and pounded or squeezed into dough ; then the rolling machine, in which, between two immense steel rollers, the dough is flattened according to its requirement; then the cutter, in which the dies _ cut the biscuits the required shape prior to going on trays into the immgjse oven. These are all of the most moderh kind, and the smooth way in which each works shows the ' pitch of scientific perfection to which this class of machinery has arrived. The oven itself is capable of baking fives times as much as the present requirements of the trade in Christchurch demands, though at times its resources are fully .tested. The sugar grinding mill is I detached from these, and is, of course, j only used occasionally ; while the fancy goods machines are also in a different parfc of the building, and are only occasionally required, a special oven being used for baking them. The Company, which has only recently taken this up, i 3 formed of residents in Christchurch and the neighbourhood, and a great deal of interest is taken in the affair, as from former experience the biscuit industry has proved to be a lucrative one, the expenses of working being small when once the structure and machinery are provided. Then, again, there is a large consumption of flour locally grown and made, of Native coal, butter, eggs, and other things used; besides which, the manufacture of the tins, boxes for cake 3, &c, ijrovidea work for ofcher classes of skilled workmen and women, to say nothing of the employment direct of about twenty-one hands, including a Secretary and two travellers. The packing is done by girls, and the whole establishment reflects greafc credit for its clean appearance and tidinees on the manager, ' Mr E. W. Amos, who haa conductedlhe active management of the works for some time. * |