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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Potters, Tile And Brick Manufacturers. — Including—Cement Manufacturers; Drain and Pipe Makers; Lime Merchants; Potters; and Tile and Brick Manufacturers

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Potters, Tile And Brick Manufacturers.
Including—Cement Manufacturers; Drain and Pipe Makers; Lime Merchants; Potters; and Tile and Brick Manufacturers.

Hill, Herbert, Potter and Brick Manufacturer, Wallace Street, Wellington. This business was foun[unclear: d]ed over thirty years ago, and has been conducted successfully by the present owner since 1877. The works cover an area of about an acre-and-a-half in extent. The main building is a wood and iron structure of two stories, which is specially adapted to the work. A fine steam-engine of twelve-horse-power drives the machinery, which includes a full plant of the most modern type. There are two good machines for pipe-making and brick-making respectively, and crushing and grinding appliances as well. Hill's bricks are known and largely used, not only in the city, but throughout the Wellington provincial district. As many as twenty hands are employed by Mr. Hill in busy times. The subject of this notice was born in Southampton, and came to the Colony per ship “Alma,” from Liverpool, in 1857. He had a large experience before purchasing these works.

Hutson, Peter, and Co. (Peter Hutson), Works, Wallace Street Newtown; Office and Yard, Waring Taylor Street. Telephone, Works 694; Office 100. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. The present proprietor of these works was born in Brighton, England, and served his apprenticeship to the engineering trade with Eaton, Amos and Son, of London, who employ some 3000 hands. In 1872, Mr. Peter Hutson sailed by the ship “Christian McAusland,” and after his arrival in New Zealand carried on business as builder, contractor, and merchant. In 1891 he purchased from Mr. Hill the above works. Since that time extensive alterations and improvements have been effected, the buildings having been mostly rebuilt. New appliances and furnaces of the most approved type have replaced the older ones, and now Mr. Hutson can congratulate himself that he is “the possessor of the most complete and best appointed plant in the Colony for the production of vitrified glazed pipes capable of resisting all the decomposing influences of frost and chemicals, and of sufficient strength to resist any ordinary liability to fracture by pressure or accident. There are other works in the establishment, where articles of a more pretentious, ornamental, and artistic character are turned out; but for drain-pipes Mr. Hutson has the authority of a no less capable judge than Mr. Mestayer, the drainage engineer for the City Council, that his productions have not been excelled in any part of the world in which he has superintended works where these sanitary necessaries so largely enter into their construction. Mr. Hutson has a right to feel proud of the fact that he has secured one of the largest contracts of its kind ever let in the colonies, viz., that for the supply of the whole of the pipes for the Wellington drainage scheme, especially as it is only about two years since he took this industry in hand. He has, during that time, designed the plans and machinery and supervised the whole of the work, until he is now in a position to supply pipes for the local work to the extent required by this four years contract, extending to 3500 pipes of all sizes per month, besides keeping up with the demands of other corporations and private customers, one of which, the Wanganui Borough Council, is also engaged in extensive sewage works at present. Pipes, however, are not the only product of the Wallace Street factory. Ordinary and fancy bricks are largely manufactured. These are all machine-made, and the simple-looking, compact little machine which compresses the tempered clay and shapes it into bricks is capable of turning out 7000 per day of eight hours; but a ton of clay when made into bricks does not realise so mach by one-third as the same amount of raw material will when converted into pipes, traps, chimney pots, and other things requiring more manipulation and time. And the clay used for the higher-classed articles is different from that used for bricks. The area occupied by Mr. Hutson extends to about two-and-a-half acres of which one acre is occupied by the buildings and kilns. The machinery is driven by a sixteen-horse-power engine, fifted with all the latest economical devices for saving fuel. The engine drives two sets of grinding rollers, which thoroughly disintegrate the clay, and convert it from lumpy masses into one homogeneous cake; the old pug mill, with the dejected horse doing his “demnition eternal grind,” having long since gone the way of all other fossilised ideas. There are three powerful pipe machines into which the prepared clay is shovelled, and forced by enormous pressure through interior and exterior dies, from which the pipe emerges, as round and smooth as candle. These turn out pipes from three inches upwards. The third machine is one of the largest in the Colony, and produces a twenty-four inch pipe. There are also machines for socketing, moulds, and modelling machines for chimney pots, and sanitary trap-sinks of curious shapes, vases, plain and faney, and a host of other things, which are either useful or ornamental. There are extensive sheds where the products of the shaping machines are subjected to a gradual drying, the temperature being kept up by the surplus heat from the furnaces, circulated through pipes under the floors of the drying rooms. When sufficiently set, the various articles are conveyed to the kilns, of which there are four, having from eight to ten furnaces each. The operation of burning occupies some days, and the coal used for that purpose costs £80 per month. When cool enough, after this cremation, the finished product is ready for the market. This one establishment pays out over £80 to £100 per week in wages, employing about thirty-six hands, and although, at first sight, there appears to be insufficient room to accommodate the men and material, yet a very few minutes' observation shows that everything is so thoroughly well arranged, and the organisation is so perfect that the various operations move like the proverbial clockwork. Those who recognise the importance of supporting local industries and keeping money circulating in the Colony are recommended to get one of Messrs. P. Hutson and Co.'s illustrated catalogues, and when ordering to quote the illustration number of articles. Mr. Hutson is evidently a go a-head man with ideas of his own, and with a practical turn of mind to utilise his theories, and his two years of thinking and acting have produced results which have a great sphere of usefulness to the city and, let us hope, of profit to himself. Although he has his hands so full, he still finds page 724 time to devote to the welfare of his fellow citizens, as witness the fast improvement in the status and surroundings of the Working Men's Club under his presidency. It is men of the stamp of Mr. Hutson who have built up New Zealand, and would that we had move like him to feel proud of, and then enterprise and going concerns could take the place of depression.”—Evening Press.

Marshment, Thomas, Brick Manufacturer, Stokes Street and Adelaide Road. Established 1893. Mr. Marshment's works are situated about five minutes' walk from the corner of Adelaide Road and Riddiford Street, going south. The brickfield and works occupy some two acres of land on the elevation near the Berhampore Public School. The works are noted in Wellington for the superior class of machine-made and pressed bricks turned out from them. The machine used is of modern design, with wire cutter. The engine is ten-horse-power, and well suited to the work devolving on it. Mr. Marshment has two down-draught kilns, and employs usually about twelve hands. The pressed bricks manufactured in the works are claimed to be the finest used in Wellington, and are eagerly sought after by building contractors. Mr. Marshment's bricks have been used in the construction of a great many of the best known buildings in Wellington. Amongst thesemay be mentioned the Free Public Library, the Harbour Board's offices, Commercial Travellers' Club, Sharland's warehouse, Bodley's Private Hotel, and the shops occupied by Mr. Sherwood and Mrs. Linnell, in Cuba Street. The large chimney at the Electrical Syndicate's premises is also made of bricks from Mr. Marshment's works. Altogether, this business is securing deserved attention, and the bricks turned out are making their own reputation as they get tried and become known.

Murphy, William, Brick and Drain Pipe Manufacturer, 105 Taranaki Street, Wellington. P.O. Box 570. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This business was established as long ago as 1874, the present proprietor having taken over the business in December, 1889. Mr. Murphy has a considerable connection, and his bricks and drain-pipes have received deserved praise.

Tonks, Enoch, Brick Manufacturer, Webb Street Wellington. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Webb Street. This business was founded just fifty years ago by the father of the present proprietor, the late Mr. William Tonks The brickyards and factory occupy about two acres of land, which is freehold, and a very large amount of excavating has already been done for the purposes of the works. A considerable portion of the frontage is occupied by substantial wooden houses, which Mr. Tonks has erected on the land levelled in the course of his business. The brick-making machine, which was made in the Colony, is driven by a horizontal steam-engine of eight-horse-power, manufactured by Messrs. Luke and Son, of the well-known Te Aro Foundry. Mr. Tonks is the possessor of the latest machine for the manufacture of pressed bricks; he has a splendid Hoffman kiln, which is always working, and a down draught kiln for the purpose of burning the pressed bricks; A large supply of clay is on the ground, but in addition Mr. Tonks has made arrangements for obtaining a supply elsewhere. He does a very extensive trade in Wellington and the surrounding districts, and about twelve or thirteen hands are kept in constant employment. Mr. Tonks is a native of Staffordshire, England, and came out to the Colony with his parents per ship “Birman,” arriving in Wellington in 1842.

Other Potters, Etc.

Baylis and Co. (George Henry Baylis), Stone and Lime Merchants, Victoria Street. Private residence, Hanson Street.

Daly and Co. (Owen Daly, jun.), Brick, Drainpipe and Lime Merchants, Molesworth Street. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Established and conducted by present proprietor since 1895.

Overend, John, Brickmaker, Tasman Street.

Patching, James, Brickmaker, Adelaide Road.

Patching, Richard, Brickmaker, Adelaide Road.

Warwick, George William, Brickmaker, 218 Adelaide Road.

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