Early engineering history preserved

Press, 4 September 1982, Page 15

Early engineering history preserved

From the Historic Places Trust

"Durability before cheapness" boasts' the sign advertising Hayes’ farm laboursaving appliances. The historic engineering works at Oturehua, in central Otago, have been closed a few years now, but locally made Hayes products can still be found on farms, in perfect working order even today. More obvious reminders of the 87-year-old engineering works are the sun-dried brick buildings and large old homestead, at present being restored by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

The engineering works represent a part of New Zealand’s early engineering and agricultural industry. Concerned about their preservation. the trust acquired the works in 1977. Today they are preserved in working order and are open to the public. Founded by Ernest and Hanah Hayes in the late 1890 s. the works had their beginnings in a small workshop on the family’s 60ha

The Hayes had been in New Zealand two years, arriving from England on board the Taranaki. At Oturehua, or Rough Ridge as it was then called, Ernest earned a living installing machinery and managing a flour mill, as well 'as his small farm. Full of innovative ideas, Hayes made simple tools to help him in his farm work. This “side-line” developed and in 1895 he invented pollard poison cutters, used for poisoning rabbits. The cutters consisted of a series of disc knives spaced about I.3cm apart. But Ernest Hayes was not the only member of the family with pioneering spirit. In an effort to find buyers for the pollard cutters, Hannah Hayes left her children and set off alone on a bicycle. Pedalling through Maniototo and .Vincent couq-

ties, over the rugged Lindis Pass and into the Mackenzie Country, Hannah called on farmers along the way and took orders.

The business expanded and in 1897 Ernest built a handoperated lathe made from a gate-post and a chaff cutter wheel, speeding up production considerably. In 1909 he designed and built a windmill, believed to be the largest of its kind in the country at the time. With a 6.7 m-diameter wheel on an 18m tower with a revolving turntable, the windmill took power to the machinery by an ingenious system of overhead shafts, belts and pulleys which remain in working order today. The disadvantages of intermittent wind power resulted m the dismantling ; of the windmill and its replacement in 1927 was a water-driven Pelton wheel. This used the existing drive and shaft sys-

tem and water from a nearby race and dam. Other farm equipment produced by Hayes’ engineering works included wire strainers, line droppers, motor gates, gate fasteners, hinges, shovel boot protectors and post moulds. Ernest Hayes died in 1933, about the time the business was at its peak. His son, Lew Hayes, carried on the business until 1952 when it was transferred to Templeton, near Christchurch, because of rising transport costs. Some light, engineering at Oturehua was carried on by J. D. Smith, from whom the trust, bought the works in 1977.

Today the works are preserved as a semi-working complex open to the public. Managed by Mr Rodger Cameron of'Oturehua, they are located in Hayes Road, Oturehua. 20km from Ranfurly on the Ida Valley Road to Alexandra. The works are open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 to 4.30 p.m. »