The New Zealand Provision And Produce Company, Belfast. The first soap works in Canterbury were established by the late Mr. W. H. Mein, about thirtyeight years ago, on the Lincoln Road. In 1871 he removed his plant to Belfast. It was very primitive, the output of soap was very small, and, like the plant, the manufactured article was very crude. At that time most of the soap used in the colony was imported from England. The late Mr. J. M. Watt took the business over from Mr. Mein. In 1879 the premises were destroyed by fire, and a much improved building and plant took their place. A light tax was placed on imported soap, sufficient to protect the colonial industry, and the trade in locally made soap then increased very largely. On the death of Mr. J. M. Watt, the business was taken over by the present proprietors, Messrs Wood and Gibbs, who have improved and enlarged the premises. New and up-to-date plant has taken the place of the old, and the trade in Belfast soap now extends from Auckland to the Bluff. Messrs Wood and Gibbs manufacture not only the well known Silkstone soap, for they are extending their trade to other varieties and also to the manufacture of soda crystals.