This expansion apparently was only a step in the firm’s progress.
The old premises in Crawford street being too small to accommodate its increasing business, the firm has enterprisingly erected at Macandrew road, facing the harbour, what is said to be the largest iron and brass foundry in the dominion.
The building, which occupies one acre and a-half of floor-space, is constructed of brick.
It houses under one roof all the firm’s intricate manufacturing machinery in addition to a suite of offices and a warehouse where large quantities of goods are stocked.
This arrangement means reduction in producing cost, and will enable the firm to turn out a greater quantity of its specialties at a less cost than could be the case if the foundry, warehouse, and offices were situated at distances from each other.
Much has been said and written lately about the country being self-contained and independent of foreign nations for our requirements.
Methven’s new foundry, with its great manufacturing possibilities, brings us a step nearer this ideal.
• Coal Creek is blessed with a more suitable climate for the production of stone fruit, and growers in that part are looking forward to another big season.
In one well known orchard all kinds of fruit trees promise to yield well.
Apricots are one mass of blossom, and peaches and pears of the Winter Nelis variety of the latter, making a magnificent show of buds, will shortly be in full bloom.
Generally, the trees are about a week later in flowering than was the case last year, and it is expected the first consignment of cherries will not make an appearance until the second week in November.
Last year they were obtainable at the end of October, the earliest on record.
Apricots will come in, it is anticipated, at the end of December, and peaches and cherry plums a little later.
• Quite a gloom was cast over the Maniototo district when it became known that Mr Malcolm Macdonald, of Waipiata, had passed away.
The end came with startling suddenness, the cause of death being cardiac syncope.
In him Central Otago has lost an interesting, vivid, and forceful personality.
He was a native of Greenock, Scotland, was of Highland extraction, and possessed in marked degree many of the outstanding characteristics of the race.
About a quarter of a century ago, Mr Macdonald settled down in New Zealand, and for the last decade and a-half he had been engaged in business as a storekeeper in Waipiata. — ODT, 16.9.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
