AUCKLAND MANUFACTURES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3155, 13 September 1892, Page 2

AUCKLAND MANUFACTURES.

(IJV OCB TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT). If the progress of a city is to be judged by the number and extent of its manufacturing industries, then Auckland has no reason whatever to be ashamed of its position in this respect, for it would be hard to name any of the necessaries or even luxuries of modern civilisation that are not manufactured in our northern capital. That the growth has been gradual is evidenced by the fact that many well-known names, which in former years were connected with modest premises and comparatively limited businesses, are now to be seen written up upon the walls of large brick buildings, from the interior of which the continual hum of working machinery tells of industrial activity within, and of a large and increasing trade with town and country. COUSINS ANr ATKIN. One of these flourishing industries is the steam carriage and wheel factory of Messrs Cousins and Atkin, Elliott-street, now carried on by Mr Atkin and Sons. A stroll in company with the genial proprietor through the various departments of this big concern impressed me not only with the large amount of manufacturing business carried on, but with the extraordinary extent to which machinery is now made in every department to tike the place of manual labour. Some classes of work that would probably take a skilful mechanic, say a day to perforin by hand, is here put through, in a far superior manner, by machinery in a few minutes. At Cousins and Atkins', it might fairly be said that the rough logs of wood, bars of iron and utoel, are brought in at one door, and vehicles of every description, from the lumbering farm waggon and heavy city drays, with wheel tires an inch thick, to the handsome closed carriages, which are popularly supposed to be used chiefly by rich, old ladies and well-paid editors, but, I am afraid, never by travelling correspondents, are put out at another. With respect to the timbers used by Cousins and Atkin. These are largely of New Zealand growth, Fohoutukawa, for naves, is obtained from the coastal district', and after being cut into lengths and roughly hewed, is laid by for some two years to season before being 'worked up. Mangihiu, a wood which Mr Atkin speaks very highly of for coach building, and when polished, a beautiful timber, is obtained from Raglan ; as also ti tree, or mauukau. This lattsr is largely used for spokes, light shafts, etc., and if it could be obtained in sufficient quantities and well selected, the firm would prefer it to American Hickory for framing, as being stronger and more durable. As a proof of the increasing value of our New Zealand timber for couch-build-ing, Mr Atkin mentioned that he had just received a communication from Sydney, enquiring as to whether regular shipments could be sent over there. As might be expected, a factory of this kind has a wide range of customers. The extent of its Waikato business may be estimated by the fact, that during the past three months, some fifteen vehicles have been sent there, and at the time of my visit, orders from Taranaki and Waneanui were being executed, the staff, of betweeu forty and fifty hands being fully employed. An interesting branch of the factory, however, is that which is devoted to the repairing and renovating of old and damaged vehicles. In glancing over the long rows of caits, cairiages, 'busses, etc., standing in this " hospital," many of .them plainly showing the results of bad accidents ; others, the effects of long years of hone<t wear, one is reminded of the human wrecks so often met with. But there is this material differ3nce, that Messrs Cousin and Atkin, with their skilled workmen can—unlike the doctors —so rehabilitate their broken and otherwise damaged patients, that when turned out spick and span from the factory, even their own mothers, nerhaps I should write, makers, wouldn't know them again. Some fine specimens of the firm's la;e~t Resigns ill buggies, springcarts etc., will be on view n(i the forthcoming Waikato Ag'icnl'ural Show.