A NEW LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIX, Issue 2971, 2 September 1905, Page 2

A NEW LOCAL INDUSTRY.

MR. 1. COATES’ BRICKWORKS AT IHJNTLY. A name that has been associated with many of the pioneering ventures in Waikato is that of 21 r Isaac Coates, and although it is many years since he first came to the district, ho has always stood in the forefront of the party of progress. Some thirty years ago he had brickworks running in Hamilton, and he has since engaged extensively in farming, railway and other contracting on a largo scale, llaxmilling and other industries, but now he has returned to his first love, and yesterday, at his invitation, a number of gentlemen visited HuuLly to inspect his now brickworks. Amongst those present wore Mr Coates and his son Mr E. Coates, Mr R. Groenwcll (manager), and Messrs W. H. Luxford, T. F. .lolly, 11. Upton, T. Haismau, E. Burgess, W. 11. Knock, .1. Murray, D. Clements, and R. .1. Gwynne, Hamilton ; R. Ralph and ,1. 15. Harris, Uuntly; Jacobi and Stokes, Auckland ; and Press representatives. The works lio to the eastern side of the railway line, from which a siding will shortly ho run right into the works, and the' bricks will be loaded directly into the railway trucks. The ground comprises 23 acres, and the clay is suitable for making the best red and white facing bricks, fire bricks, ordinary building bricks, drain tiles and sewer pipes. It is estimated that the thickness of the clay ranges from 30 to 40 feet. The material is conveyed from the face in trucks, hauled by frictional winding gear, and is emptied automatically into the Chilian mill. This consists of a revolving pan with two edge rollers each weighing 2 tons 9 cwt, the. diameter of the pan being Oft. It is fitted with a false bottom, comprising 12 cast iron plates with 1800 holes 5-16 th of inch in diameter in each. The pan makes 30 revolutions per minute, and is capable of grinding sufficient clay to turn out 20,000 bricks per day. The clay after being thoroughly pulverised in the pan falls down into a pit, from which it is carried by elevators to the top of the building, and therepasses through two scives and is solved down to 1-33 of an inch. The material too coarse to pass through these selves returns by gravity to the pan, where it is further pulverised. The material for the bricks passes from the selves down a shute into the brick-making machine. This machine, which is made by Messrs Whitaker and Co., Manchester, England, is one of their latest improvements, being a re-press machine. The material on entering the machine is pressed and moulded by a die of the right size, and then is automatically passed on to a second mould and repressed, the two operations being carried on simultaneously. In each mould the brick receives two pressures of 80 tons, this expelling all air and making a perfectly so lick brick, free from cracks or flaws. While the brick is in the press the dies are treated by steam lo prevent them adhering to the clay. The motive power for all the machinery is supplied by a doublecylinder Ruston and Froctor portable engine, with 7fin cylinders and 1401b pressure, developing' from 20 to 25 horse-power.

’The machinery and plant were erected by Messrs Greenwell (manager) and A. Coates, and considering that they had never dealt with anything similar previously, it speaks highly for them that there has not been the slightest hitch since steam was turned on. One thin" particularly noticeable was that after the clay is filled into tho trucks the whole prosess is automatic until the bricks are delivered from the press, and in this way a considerable saving of labour is effected. The staff at present consists of seven, but when the new kilns are erected another hand will have to bo employed, making a total of eight for an output of close on 5000 bricks a day. From the re-press machine, which turns out 10 a minute, the bricks are wheeled direct to the kiins, and ten minutes after the clay is taken out of tho hill the bricks are in tho kiln and ready for burning. Yesterday, however, the two kilns erected were full, containing 32,000 and 20,000 respectively, and the green bricks were being stored in the shed. It is intended, however, to erect four now kilns, to hold 40,000 bricks each, and then, as stated above, the bricks will bo taken direct from the machine to the kiln for burning, which it is anticipated will take about five days, as the material will stand a lot of burning, and thus turn out an exceptionally fine brick suitable for every class of work.

Among those present yesterday were several practical men—builders, bricklayers and architects, and tho general expression was that if Mr Coates can continue to turn out an article similar to that inspected he must be prepared to face an unlimited demand.

In addition to the brick plant Mr Coates is preparing to erect the necessary plant, which is already on the ground, for making drain pipes and tiles, and a building to contain thorn is now in process of erection.

At Mr Coates’ invitation the party adjourned to the Huntly Hotel, where success to the now industry was drunk, and everyone joined in wishing the proprietor the good fortune he deserves in launching out into this new business, and wo feel sure that his enterprise in importing the latest and most up-to-date plant—we believe there is not a similar one in tho colony—will meet with its full reward.