Page:Picturesque Dunedin.djvu/283

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LEADING INDUSTRIES OF DUNEDIN.
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buildings and yard area between Cumberland, Castle and Stuart streets; Mr. James Gilmour's yard and factory, Gt. King street; Messrs. R. Greig and Co.'s factory, George street; Messrs. McCallum and Co.'s, Anderson's Bay Road; and Messrs. A. Tapper and Co.'s, who have recently removed their headquarters from Invercargill to Dunedin, and erected a substantial woodware factory in Crawford street, and laid down plant of the latest type.

In further connection with the manufactures in wood must be mentioned the cabinet makers and large furniture establishments. The various woods of New Zealand give great scope for ornamental cabinet making, and this is taken full advantage of by those interested in the industry. The show-rooms of the various firms will repay a visit, as some of the better class of furniture is quite artistic in design, and finished with great care.

Amongst other firms may be mentioned Mr. John Gillies, the show-room being in George street, whilst the manufactory is in Great King street; Messrs. Hooper and Co., show-rooms in the Octagon; Messrs. Scoullar and Chisholm, who have a fine commodious show-room in Maclaggan street, and an extensive factory in Rattray street; Mr. Thomas Stonebridge, whose factory is in Stuart street; Messrs. Thomson and Williamson, in Great King street; and last, but not least, the extensive cabinet works of Messrs. A. and T. Inglis, in George street.


WIREWORKING.

Wireworking is also one of the industries which thrive in Dunedin; the manufacture of wire-wove mattresses being a specialty of Mr. Charles Bills, George street, whilst Mr. J. W. Faulkner has erected new works in Castle and Cumberland streets, where he produces all descriptions of wire and ornamental fencing, &c. (wire sheep netting being a specialty).

In addition to the various industries that have been enumerated, there are die sinkers, flock manufacturers, a furrier, fellmongers, monumental masons, sculptors, tinsmiths, engravers, and all the usual trades found in a business city.

This brief and necessarily imperfect review will help to show what a change has taken place in Dunedin during the half-century; these flourishing industries being now carried on where in those early days referred to there was nothing but a wilderness, a flax swamp, or the placid waters on the bay.