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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Lane And Brown

Lane And Brown (Thomas Major Lane and William Brown), Shipbuilders and Timber Merchants, Totara North, Whangaroa. Cable address, “Lane, Totara North.” Code, A.B.C. London agents, Messrs. Macdonald, Scales and Co. Bankers. Union Bank of Australia, Auckland. Private residences, Totara North. The extensive business of this firm may be regarded as the leading shipbuilding establishment in New Zealand and was established in 1870. The total floor space of the premises is over 15,000 square feet. There are two building sheds measuring over 140 x 40 feet, 120 x 30 feet respectively, the larger affording facilities for the construction of vessels up to 350 tons, and the smaller for building vessels of 100 tons and under. The machinery, which is very complete, includes two vertical, one band, and five circular saws, besides machines for planing, trunelling, moulding, turning, etc. The motive power consists of a Marshall's semi-portable engine. The timber is wholly cut on the premises, kauri being largely used, but the harder woods, such as puriri and pohutukawa, and the imported woods blue gum and iron bark, are also much used. Messrs. Lane and Brown take special care in having the harder woods used for frames cut during the winter and wellseasoned for at least twelve months before being brought into requisition, consequently they have never had any complaints that the vessels built by them have been otherwise than satisfactory. It is their opinion, formed by extensive experience and from tests after twenty years' hard wear, that pohutukawa under these conditions is one of the best of timbers for the framework of wooden vessels. The whole of the iron work, too, is done on the premises, only competent tradesmen being employed. The offices are situated at the back of the yards, where there is a store set apart for the necessary fittings, which are all imported direct from English and Continental firms, specially to the order of Messrs. Lane and Brown. Nothing but the very best materials are used with most skilful workmanship in shipbuilding. No vessel is launched until guaranteed in every respect, thus ensuring reasonable prices for their vessels. Messrs. Lane and Brown have a wide reputation not only in New Zealand but also in the sister Colonies. They have supplied vessels for Sydney and other parts of Australia, South Sea Islands, New Guinea, and constructed a fleet of fourteen pearling boats for Messrs. James Clarke and Co., of Thursday Island, who, in a letter to the builders expressed in glowing terms their complete satisfaction with the faithful manner in which the contract had been executed. Up to September, 1900, the firm had turned out seventy vessels from pearling craft of twelve tons to sailers of 320 tons. The first large vessel was the “Active” of 157 tons register, built in 1878 and afterwards lost at Samoa. The “Alert” was launched in 1870, followed by the “Rainbow,” a fine schooner of 320 tons. The “Maile' a beautiful three-masted schooner of 270 tons, won universal admiration. The illustration accompaying this article will convey to readers some idea of the taste and finish displayed by this firm. They have built to the order of Captain Skinner, of Auckland, the “Ebenezer,” “Minnie Hare,” “Gisborne,” “Waiapu,” “Awanui,” and “Aotea,” the last named being the first auxiliary in the Colony piopelled by oil-engines. Messrs. Lane and Brown built also four vessels to the order of Mr. James Subritzky, the last of which was the well-known auxiliary schooner “Greyhound.” Some of the workmen at the yards have been in the employ of the firm since its inception, which is evidence of the good understanding always existing between employers and employees. In all about sixty men are employed, whose average monthly wages total £450. Messrs. Lane and Brown have done a large amount of experimental work with regard to the construction of vessels both as to style and fittings with very satisfactory results, as in the case of the “Whangaroa,” a fine three-masted sea-going scow, which was in every way a decided success. A telephone and post office is situated on the premises, so that no delay is occasioned in the delivery of telegrams and letters to the firm.