HOME-MADE KILNS

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 7

HOME-MADE KILNS

OLD LANDMARKS.

FAMILY ASSOCIATIONS.

BOON TO BS DEMOIJSKED.

Clustered in a small dale at Onehunga are three limekilns. The smallest is aged arid crumbling and barely recognisable, but the others, although their fires have been drawn, are well preserved. Built by pioneers, the first was constructed long before houses were erected in the locality. Now the district is a thickly-settled residential area, and the kilns—they created a nuisance, it was •aid—must go.

Landmarks for almost half a century, the simple kilns have been a monument to the history and industry of one of Onehunga's oldest families. John Dean was a New Zealander born. His father had come to the colony in a famous immigrant clipper to join his Scots regiment, then skirmishing with the Maoris. When Mr. Dean senior died John was in his middle thirties.

Energetic and resouceful, John Dean had at that time been in many occupations. He held a coastal skipper's ticket; had shod pack horses when roads were little better than beaten tracks; he had been a bushw acker in the kauri lands fringing the muddy Northern Wairoa River, and for a time earned a living by rafting timber. The name of John Dean also wa» known far and wide as that of the champion gymnast of the bush camps. Engineering was another accomplishment, for he had served his time with the redoubtable] "Jimmy" Mclntyre who trained manyj fine engineers in his day. Great Success. I About 50 years ago John Dean decided to try a new venture. With the aid of his son Jim, then a youngster of 10 years, he built his first limekiln. Toiling together with simple tools, they eventu-j •lly built a modest 10ft kiln. Young Jim *nd his father carried sheila and coal

to feed it in kerosene tins on their] backs. The kiln was very modest but a

great success.

The fires, which could be drawn twice a day, required little attention and the first fire, as is usual with kilns, burnt for about nine years. Business, however, was increasing and a second kiln—this one twice the size of the first —was constructed a'short distance away.

The erection of the second kiln also marked a new era. Manual labour for feeding was done away with. To obviate the primitive back-breaking method of climbing the ladder with shells a small pony from the VVaikato was obtained. Known to everyone as "Tommy Dean" the pony was a great favourite in the district. Harnessed with a simple arrangement of names and collar a lead was taken back through a block at the top of the kiln and down to the bucket at its base.

As soon as the bucket was filled, the pony would walk forward hoisting the shells to the lip to be tipped into the kiln. So often did "Tommy Dean" perform his duties that, although there was nothing to guide him, he would stop always exactly on the same spot. When a new lead had later to be spliced it was inadvertently made slightly longer and only with the greatest difiiculty could the pony be encouraged to make the extra two or three steps to hoist the bucket sufficiently high. After 22 years of faithful service the pony was pensioned off and replaced by a fine horse.

Later, when business was still expanding—the Dean family by this time were operating their own fleet of wagons and drays to transport the products of the kilns, and a ketch-rigged scow, the Ines, to bring in the shell from the Manukau a third kiln was built alongside the secondMeanwhile streets had been put through and houses were springing up. Nearby residents took exception to the kilns. Frequent complaints were made with requests that they be removed. Two or three vears ago fires were drawn in the kilns "for the last time and although all activity was ceased complaints still were made. Now action has been decided on and the kilns will soon be demolished. Probably a modern house, will late-, be erected on the spot, which,! as long 11* there me some who .•»■«.>."• .. r . will be regarded as the scene of "Tommy IJeanY' labours. '