OUR INDUSTRIES. No. 3. — William Cable & Co., Lion Foundry, Wellington.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 7, 1 May 1906, Page 180

OUR I NDUSTRIES. No. 3. — William Cable & Co., Lion Foundry, Wellington.

The Lion Foundry was established by Mr. E. W Mills, in 1854, in Aurora terrace, and removed to Waring - Taylor street and Custom House quay about 1872. Mr. W. Cable was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, and was apprenticed to his trade near Kirkcaldie, in Fifeshire, from 1862 to 1867. Mr. Cable came out to New Zealand per ship " Otago " m 1869, and, landing at Port Chalmers, for several years thereafter worked at his trade as a journeyman in Dunedin. Mr. Cable had further experience for some years as an engineer on board several of the Union Company's steamers, and in 1878 he came to Wellington, having accepted the position of manager of the Lion Foundry. For about three years he filled this responsible position with considerable ability, which was recognised by his being offered a partnership in the concern. For a further period Mr. Cable managed the foundry as managing partner in the firm of Mills and Cable. In the year 1883 tne senior partner, Mr. E. W. Mills, retired from the business, which was then assumed by Mr. Cable, and has been conducted by him since that time under the style of W. Cable & Co. After a few years it became evident that the old premises in Waring- Taylor street were

much too small for the requirements of the trade. Mr. Cable therefore determined to erect suitable accommodation. Having acquired from the Government a large leasehold section m Waterloo quay, in close proximity to the railway wharf, he designed the building in which the large works of the firm are now conducted. The new foundry, which is built of brick, was completed about fifteen years ago by Messrs. Barry & McDowall, the total floorage space being nearly 16,000 square feet. The foundry has five departments, viz. • — pattern

making, moulding, blacksmithing, turning and fitting, and boiler making. The machinery is driven by compound, condensing, horizontal steam engines of ioo h.p., together with four electric motors. There are between twenty and thirty large machines used at this extensive establishment. About a dozen are lathes, the largest of which will turn up to 30 feet m length, and another up ±0 14 feet m diameter. There are several planing machines, one being a very large one which is capable of planing a piece of machinery 12 feet in length by 5 feet square. Two large steam hammers and two steam punching machines, one large double-geared set of boiler-makers rolls, and ten forges are m use. One very fine over-head motordriven travelling crane equal to lifting twenty-five tons is m use in the foundry, and is said to be the only one of its kind in the colony. There is also a 45-h.p. air-compressing plant, which supplies air to drills, chipping hammers, caulking tools, and pneumatic rammers for the moulders. The works are up-to-date in every respect, being fully equipped with all the latest and most approved plant. A large staff of workmen are employed in connection with the works, varying m number according to contracts in hand from 50 to 200. The

Lion Foundry is always kept busy with marine work, and has completed numerous engines and machinery for various colonial industries, also ssveral small steamers. Recently Messrs. Cable & Co. have made a specialty of manure-manu-facturing machinery, whereby the whole of the by-products from a slaughter yard are converted into a marketable article in a most efficient and economical manner. Thirteen gold-mining dredges were turned out from these works in two years, and the manufacture of flax-milling machinery

forms a very important item in the yearlyoutput of the works. The pictures of the Lion Foundry here shown were taken especially for Progress with the aid of the flashlight.

Character is the only true culture.

The secret of all great undertakings is hard work and self-reliance. Given these two qualities a young man has nothing else to ask for.