LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3378, 20 November 1911, Page 2

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

A MODEL COACH AND CARRIAGE

FACTORY.

Probably nothing marks the steady growth and development wliich is going oni in the Poverty Bay district so- muon as the improvement which is noticeable in local industries. The opening up ot the extensive' hinterland, "which is proceeding quietly and- unostentatiously, has had the effect of creating a demand which causes -the firms in Gisborne, the distributing centre, to. keep working at top pressure. This increase in business has been responsible for the installation of modern machinery, and large increase in staffs, and altogether serves as an illustration that where sound development is-taking place in the country the reflex is marked by corresponding activity in the towns. ‘ I In a district such as Poverty Bay, /there the- railway service, is confined to one line, and the absence of good roads restricts motoring to a comparatively small area, it naturally follows th"t the common mode of locomotion is by wheeled traffic. The builders of vehicles, from tuo ponderous station) waggon which firings down the golden fleece from' the our, station,to the light firadley ill which thecity man runs to and from his office, it ' can be rea'dily understood, are 'kept; working at top pressure to supply the thousand and one demands for vehicles of every description fivhich keep pouring in. A “Times” representative, through the-courtesy of the proprietors, had the privilege recently of taking 1 a run through the up-to-date coach and carriage factory of. Messrs Graham and Krebs at the corner of Gladstone Road and Derby Street, and being initiated into some” of the mysteries of vehicle construction.

At the time of the visit some fifty vehicles were in" stock, a number being in various stages of completion. _ | The- firm makes a speciality -of-sliift-ing-seated Bradleys, and a number of these were prominent- in the display. The feature of the firm’s make of this class is their own patent and protected. By means of * a screw the Seat can be shifted to ensure a perfect -balance, no matter what weight may be carried. The upstairs portion of the building is devoted to painting and is under the management of Mr G. Graham, who has had fifteen, years’ experience in AfiSr tralia and Ne'w Zealand, and was for many years a .member of the firm of Messrs Graham and Casey, of Na pun-. The painting department has a big advantage in that it is absolutely dustproof, which permits the-delicate work of giving a high finish to the vehicles, to be carried on without interference from the dust fiend.

Mr W. Krebs, who was for ten years with the well-known firm of ’Messrs Rouse and Hurrel, Ltd., of "Wellington, which 1 at that time was one of the largest firms, of coach and carriage builders in the Dominion, personally supervises the carriage building. Among the vehicles being constructed were a number of solidly-made block and spring drays, for which the firm have supplied a large number of orders in this district.

'File new check- and buffer spring, which is -fitted* to the hpavy vehicles turned out by the firm, has found great favor with farmers. It is claimed" that this spring minimises bumping and. jarring when vehicles are overloaded, and makes an easy-running vehicle when light loaded. The firm are at present engaged on a contract for the supply of three delivery carts for Messrs Machell and Russell, butchers. These are being constructed on the most approved sanitary principles, and are absolutely dustproof. The smithing department is. also under the direction of Mr Krebs, and, like the other departments of the factory, is. installed with the latest plant. The firm makes a- speciality of tyreing, each tyre being heated and perfectly adjusted, this method having proved to give better results than that obtained from using cold setting machinery plant. Although Messrs Graham and Krebs are to be commended for the enterprise, they have shown in establishing such a thoroughly up-to-date factorv, and no doubt, as usually follows in such cases, that enterprise will reap the success it deserves.