THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 217, 22 June 1877, Page 12

THE NEW ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY.

As busy a sight as any to be found in the Colonies may ba seen at a stone's throw from Cargill's Monument in Dunedin — it is the Clothing Factory of Messrs. Hallenstein, where a large number of hands are kept constantly busy in the preparation of garments for men and boys. The various processes necessary to the production of a perfect article of attire are carried on in separate compartments, and a crowd of employes, each thoroughly skilled in his or her peculiar line, may be watched with interest as they deftly go through with the task allotted to them, whether it be cutting, seaming, button-holing, pressing, sewing on buttons, or any of the other mysteries of the trade. The cutting, which of necessity is the first step in the preparation of any garment, is performed with shears by first-class workmen, trained to give the most fashionable turn to each detail, and the clothing in its preliminary stage is passed on to be submitted to the further treatment required. The sewingmachines, of which a vast number, testified to by a tremendous clatter, are employed, are for the most part worked by waterpower ; and the young ladies who attend to them are occupied only in taking care of the proper stitching of the seams. To prevent accidents the utmost precautions have been taken, so that it is impossible that any casualty can occur through the catching of a dress or otherwise, and the whole machinery is so arranged that it can be stopped in a moment if desirable. A considerable part, however, of the sewing is done by hand, as many 'portions of the various articles turned out require nicer care than the machine can bestow upon them. Besides that at Dunedin, the firm in question has four establishments, situated respectively at Wellington, Christchurch, Tituaru, and Oaraaru, all of which are supplied from the factory of which we write, and persons desirous of promoting colonial enterprise, which not only provides employment for males, but solves the more difficult problem of enabling females to find occupation that is at once suited to their physical powers, respectable, and remunerative, will do well largely to patronise the clothing manufactured by Messrs. Hallenstein. The works are under the able supervision of Mr. Anderson, who evidently feels justly proud of the admirable manner in which they are conducted.