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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 187, 21 May 1938, Page 10

machinery was driven by an overshot water-wheel 18 feet by 8 feet, with two four-foot buckets along the face. H had 5 or 6 pairs of mill stones, Jfpd the water to drive tho wheel was taken from tho Ashburton River along a, natural creek bod to the mill dam. Tho water, after going over the wheel, went into tho Wakanui Creek, down which, tho water from Alfred Saunders’ mill came. Permission from Air Saunders had been readily given to do this. Thero was never any bother with this outlet, but thero was occasional trouble with tho water coming from tho river. With plenty of wheat from surrounding farms to turn into flour there was every prospect of success—but it did not come to Air Alolfutt, though ho knew how to run Ins mill. His teams of horses were a credit to him and his harness was kept in splendid order by Air Mitchell, a saddler whose shop was hi a corner of the mill. Another Change of Ownership. Air and Airs Aloffatt had a family of two sons and two daughters, and these children and the Buttericlcs went to school together. One of the sons, Lincoln Aloffatt, was a great friend of Mr John Butterickj of Wakanui, and he speaks of him in his day as a very fine teamster. The Aloffatt family shifted to Otautau, Southland, and farmed there for many years. The next owner of the mill was Air Protlieroe, and for four years lie ran it till he shifted to Waterton. Some of the family still live and farm in Wakanui. After Air Protlieroe came Air Edwin Thomas, a Welshman from Tenby, Pembrokeshire, who landed in New Zealand in 1867 from the “Blue Jacket.” Like others of those early days lie went to the Ellesmere district and engaged in farm work and then threshing-plant work till, in 1875, he went to Oxford and started a sawmill. After a short time at this venture lie sold out to go farming in the Wakanui district, and before long lie owned two farms, and tho mill and the farm on which it stood.

Portable Engine Used. Air Thomas had at different times James ‘Cockburn and Air Sanderson as his millers, and then George Thompson came on tho scene. Having difficulty with keeping an even flow of water lor the water-wheel Air Thomas put in a now Simon plant and ran it mainly with a portable engine. His sons helped when there was need of them and success came as a result of their united efforts. An opportunity to sell camo in 1899. Air Thomas Rollitt became tho new owner and Air Thomas retired to Ashburton. It is said by those « who knew Edwin Thomas well that, in lijs prime, lie was one of the strongest men in the Ashburton County. Members of the family are still farming close to Ashburton.

With tho sale of the mill, Thomas Rollitt and George Thompson again became associated.

(To be continued.)