Iron Industries.

A great requisite for the promotion of the prosperity of manufacturing industries is machinery, and to make this, iron and steel are necessary. Until within the last few years all this raw material had to be imported. Messrs. Smellie Bros., have however, established iron and steel works at Burnside, fully supplied with modern appliances, where scrap iron is converted into bars. The works are lighted by electricity, so that the production can be continued by night as well as day, should the demand render it necessary.

Dunedin is therefore to a considerable extent independent of the imported article, although a large quantity of the various metals will have to be imported for many years to come until the mineral resources of the colony are thoroughly developed.

The iron industry is well represented in Dunedin. There are mechanical engineers, agricultural machine makers, founders of iron, brass and lead, and nearly every description of metal workers.

A fine building in Moray Place near the First Church, is the factory of Messrs. Anderson and Morrison, who combine with the brass, copper, and lead founding, and plumbing, the electro-plating and other ornamental work; hydraulic sluicing plant is page 252also amongst their productions, employment being provided for many hands.

Messrs. A. and T. Burt's establishment in Cumberland street is one of the largest in the city. In addition to the industries of founding in various metals, it embraces engineering, plumbing, electro-plating, and manufacture of various decscriptions of electrical apparatus, &c, &c. In fact, the manufactures of this firm are so numerous that it is impossible to give even a brief list of them in the present paper.

The premises of Messrs. Cossens and Black cover a large area in Crawford street, opposite the Exhibition building. This firm make a specialty of windmills for pumping water, draining, &c. They also manufacture various agricultural implements, mining plant, and every description of machinery. Mining plant of their manufacture has been recently supplied for a Hydraulic Sluicing Co. in New South Wales.

The fine coasting steamer "Invercargill" was built for Messrs Ramsay and Sunstrum by Messrs. Kincaid, McQueen and Co., Great King street, who have also turned out about half a dozen other various-sized steam vessels. The massive railway overbridge was erected by the same firm, whilst dredges, gold mining plant, and all descriptions of machinery and ironwork, are amongst their manufactures.

The New Zealand Engineering and Implement Co., Castle street, is well known for the various patent articles it manufactures, a specialty of late being a flax dressing-machine. Dredges, agricultural and other machinery, and all kinds of ironwork are amongst the productions of the company.

Messrs. Reid and Gray, whose extensive premises extend from. Crawford into Princes street south, and who have several branches in the towns throughout the Island, in addition to the manufacture of agricultural implements of almost every description, produce a twine Reaper and Binder, which compares favourably with either the British or American manufactures, and is in great request not only in New Zealand, but also in Australia.

Messrs Schlaadt Bros., engineers, Great King street, make a specialty of the manufacture of all kinds of machinery and appliances for the boot trade. They also produce tips and toe page 253plates; in addition to which they carry on a general engineering trade, for which they have the necessary machinery and appliances.

The works of Mr Joseph Sparrow are situated in Battray street near the wharf. They are fitted up with all the necessary machinery and appliances to carry on a general engineering and boiler making business, all descriptions of ironwork being manufactured.

The ironwork for the Wingatui Yiaduct on the Otago Central Railway, which is one of the finest pieces of work of its kind in New Zealand, was manufactured by Messrs. R. S. Sparrow and Co. of Willis street, and the workmanship does them infinite credit. Dredges, mining plant, machinery, and ironwork of every description, are turned out from the works of this firm, who are also iron-shipbuilders.

Mr. James Mann carries on a general engineering business in compact and convenient premises in Stuart street, where some excellent work is performed.

At Port Chalmers there are also two firms of engineers and iron-shipbuilders, whose names should be included, viz., Messrs. Morgan and Cable and Messrs. Gardner and Young.

The list of engineering works would not be complete without including those of Mr. F. H. Asbury in Castle street, whose name is so well known as the manufacturer of warming and ventilating apparatus and other specialties.

The Victoria foundry of Messrs. Barningham and Co. is situated in George street. This firm is well known for the excellence of their ornamental ironwork and various patterns of ranges and grates. Their "Zealandia" range is a great favourite, and numbers of them are in use in Dunedin and other parts of New Zealand.

Mr. H. E. Shaddock's Eange Foundry is a substantially erected building in Crawford street, admirably adapted in every way for the industry. Grates, ornamental railings, and castings of nearly every description are made here. The great specialty is, however, the patent "Orion" Range, which, under the name of the "Shacklock" is as familiar in our ears as household words.

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Another foundry is that of Mr. R. Gallon, at Ravensbourne, whose specialty is malleable castings.