TOKOMARU FREEZING WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2623, 4 October 1909, Page 2

TOKOMARU FREEZING WORKS.

WORK TO BE COMMENCED TO-DAY. On Monday, the 4th inst. (says Friday’s “Hawke’s Bay Herald”), there will he commenced at Tokomaru one of the largest building contracts ever undertaken by a Napier firm —viz., the Tokomaru Sheepfarmors’ Freezing Co.’s works, to be erected by Messr s Bull Bros. When the tenders were published and it was found that Messrs Bull Bros, had secured the contract, congratulations poured in from all sides. The people of Napier must feel gratified to know that a work of such magnitude, at such a distance from here, and necessitating the transporting of very large quantities of material, has fallen to the lot of a Napier firm. It is estimated that 500 tons of cement, a large quantity of crushed stone lor concrete, 400 tons of pumice (for insulation purposes), 700,000 ft of timber, 100 tons of iron work, 35 tons of corrugated iron roofing, 200 tons of lime, and *1,500,000 bricks will be-vised in the construction of the building. Apart from the bricks, which will he made on the spot by a special plant which is now being forwarded, the greater part of the material will be shipped from Napier. The timber to be used will consist of Australian hardwood, totara, niatai, heart of rimu, and Oregon pine; and of these supplies, th«_ last three descriptions, including 250,000 ft of Oregon pine, will be sent from Messrs Bull Bros.’ yards at Port Ahuriri. Two cargoes of material have already been shipped to Tokomaru, and the steamers Fanny and Ruru will leave'tomorrow with engines, horses, drays, brick-making plant and everything necessary to make a start on Monday. The' freezing works buildings will cover an area of about 4 chains by G chains, and are to be erected on a sloping site about 50 chains from the present wharf at Tokomaru. _ The building will be constructed principally of brick and concrete, and all the departments will be connected gv a series of inclined tramways (made possible by the sloping site), enabling the meat, etc., to be carried from one department to another . by force of. gravity alone. And it is also proposed, by a similar means, to carry carcases direct from the cold storage rooms to the dock for lighters which is now being constructed. By these methods the amount of handling required will be greatly diminished, and the enginepower needed reduced to a minimum. Varying from one to four storeys in height, the buildings will present an imposing appearance. Starting from the left hand corner, the departments are: —Sheep and slaughter bouses, allowing for a billing capacity per day of 2000 sheep and 50 bullocks, with chilling-room adjoining. This is detached, but connected by inclined tramways, Before referred to, with the fellmongery, cooling-room, tallow, manure, wool-drying, and preserving houses. In the same manner the various products are conv'eyed to the freezing-room and the cold stores. A spacious engine-room.-coal bunkers, offices, stores, etc., are included. In view of the posibilities of the freezing industry, a section has been marked off on the plans to allow for additional freezing and storage accommodation. These latter departments are four storeys high, and will provide storage for equal to 60,000 carcases of mutton. The contract also provides for the erection of a manager’s residence, 10 workmen’s cottages, men’s barracks, water and drainage supply, and sheep and cattle yards. The cottages will be of brick and concrete, and will bo wired throughout for electric lighting. A tram-line is now being laid down from the wharf to the site to facilitate the handling of the building material as it arrives. On October 20th, the New Zealand Shipping Company are launching an auxiliary lighter, which, will assist in freighting the materials. Messrs Bull Bros, have even decided to do the catering for all the workmen themselves, and the general completeness with which the whole contract is being carried out speaks well for that enterprising firm. A~ glance at the plans serves to show that the architect, Mr. A. S. Mitchell, of. Wellington, has devised a building which, for its purposo, is probably a step in advance ot any other similar works n New Zealand. , . Mr. H. J. Bull arrived from Napier on Saturday, and with Messrs J- ICato and H. B. Williams, proceeded straight to Tokomaru. Here the other directors of. the company, will be met and work will be commenced to-day. It is anticipated, that the whole work will be completed bv. October,. 1910.