XXX Vm EXCURSIONS. 



and, what is more important, they can earn as much as 6s. 3cl. in the same 

 time. The bags when made are printed by machinery with the well- 

 li:nown brand of the company. 



Tlie partj% after seeing the large centrifugal pump at work, descended 

 to the lower rooms and to arctic regions. A stream of sheep hooked on 

 IDuUeys ran down an iron bar and passed through a narrow doorway. It 

 was stopped for a moment to allow the visitors to pass through this door 

 into a freezing-chamber, where, in the soft light of electric lamps, some 

 six hundred sheep were seen hanging in a temperature of 25°. This tem- 

 perature was too chilly for the live visitors, though it would be reduced 

 considerably for the dead ones, so the place was quickly vacated, and the 

 party, passing through rows of freshly-killed pigs, entered the salting-room, 

 where in an atmosphere kept constantly cool by artificial means lay hams 

 and shoulders, sides and chaps, covered with salt, and taking in the brine 

 that was to preserve them for export as bacon. 



The party then entered another freezing-room, colder even than the 

 first, where one's breath froze as it issued, and blocks of ice could be seen 

 scattered around in all directions. The hundreds of sheep that lined the 

 room, wrapped in their white covers, were hard as frost could make them, 

 and seemed brittle enough to fall to pieces at a blow. From this cold, 

 dark apartment the visitors went into daylight and warmth, into the room 

 where men were at work boiling tongues, trimming them, putting them 

 into tins, soldering up the tins, and labelling the tins ready for the 

 market. After inspecting this interesting and appetising work the party 

 entered the slaughterhouse, where twenty-seven men were at work killing 

 and dressing sheep in a manner which would surprise an upcountry 

 butcher. Some of these men can kill more than fifty sheep per day of 

 eight hours, and as they get £1 per hundred and are allowed to work over- 

 time they can make big wages ; but they have to labour hard for their 

 reward and be skilful, for if they spoil a sheep they have to buy it them- 

 selves. 



Visit to the Kaiapoi Woollen-works. 



The party then drove to the Woollen-works at Kaiapoi. After they 

 had been entertained at luncheon, Mr. Blackwell, Managing Director, 

 welcomed his guests in the name of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company. 

 Professor Warren proposed the health of Mr. Blackwell, coupled with the 

 name of the company, and it was drunk with much cordiality. Mr. Mor- 

 ton, from Tasmania, seconded the motion. The party then inspected the 

 works. 



The site of the works was acquired in 1873. The capital is £100,000, 

 and the value of the premises and plant is estimated at £45,000. The 

 mill has an intercolonial reputation as being one of the most extensive of 

 its kind in Australasia ; and the products of woollen goods, mainly in 

 tweeds, blankets, and flannels, possess a world-wide fame for their sterling 

 quality and durableness in wear. It is stated that the waters of the River 

 Cam flowing past the mills possess exceptional properties for the washing 

 and cleansing of wool, imparting to the same an exceedingly soft, silky 

 texture. The visitors were enabled to witness the process of manufacture, 

 from the opening of bales of greasy wool, thence through washing, drying, 

 dyeing, teasing, scribbling, twisting into yarn on the mules, weaving on 

 the looms, milling, and finishing, till the brightest doeskin or the best 

 ladies' tweed was produced from the raw material. Throughout the de- 

 tails were highly interesting, and the mill, which is under the management 

 of Mr. James Leithhead, was in beautiful trim, everywhere regularity, 

 order, industry, and cleanliness being noticeable. After having examined 

 the various processes of manufacture the members drove to the Maori Pa, 

 and returned to Christchurch. 



Refreshments were provided for the visitors, who expressed their 

 pleasure at the importance and success of the mill, and were evidently 



