The Tokomairiro Pottery Fields.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 59, 26 August 1875, Page 7

The Tokomairiro Pottery Fields.

Despite the gloomy anticipations of those who form the non-progressive class in the Tokomairiro district in relation to the success of the pottery art, from the failure of the formation of ihs Royal Pottery Company, we have great pleasure in pointing out the standtaken by Mr W. M. White in the resolve now formed to carry the works on by himself. From recent trials Mr White has proved the practicability of obtaining some of the most important of the material required in the Tokomairiro district. Mr Geo. Fenwick's (Otepopo) stone, which was pronounced by the.iate manager (Mr Chetham) to be worthless, has been proved 'by Mr White to be in every respect fitted for its admixture with other material for the manufacture of ware. Captain Hutton, the Government geologist, made the same statement respecting this silicious stone some time ago, when a small sample was on its way to Mr White. To Mr Fen wick this discovery is of much consequence, as it will be the means of opening up his valuable Otepopo land in a more profitable manner. The railway line goes through his property close to the silica quarry. No doubt Mr George Jones, of the j Grove, will come to avail himself of | these materials also. The Grove i pottery is in a fair way to wake up to j the times, Mr Jones having imported a i very complete brick-making machine, which will turn off GO bricks per minute. He is about to erect sheds "which will stack ICO,OOO. He has built a dam to contain a large supply j of water, and having just opened a fine. seam of plastic clay, is in the position to take an active part in the future history of the pottery art in Tokomairiro. Mr Jones has invented :i new die for foundation and chimney finishing. The cast is of iron, and is so arranged that it may be made subservient to many uses. Mr Jones proposes to make stock-yard posts of salt glazed pining* filled with concrete and furnished 'with a foundation and cover finishing, all of satf. glaze. No doubt stock -yards of this material would prove very strong. For house foundations, they have a very practical look about them ; thus an 18-inch salt glazed pipe en a square slab of the same material should answer very well, and would be cheaper than either stone or brick. About three hundred yards nearer Tokomairiro, on the district road, six potters from Mr White's works have made a brave stand for a living in their own trade. They comprise all the required stages of ware making, printing, and firing. They seem to be possessed of true English" pluck, so doggedly do they go along, having put up a fine shed, and started a pug mill. They :ne now making bricks to build the kibs they require for making tiles, jet ware, such as teapots, &c. There is no doubt that looking ahead they see '• fair land," and hope to reach it. They get active minded sympathy from some source. Up the Akatore road two brick milkers have started on Mr Nutsford's farm, and as they are practical men they are likeiy to succeed very well. Mr Peter M'Gill has also commenced to make bricks for buildings he contemplates erecting bye-and-bye; while the well known Stephen Caudle is still engaged at his brick works down the road. The Tokomairirans only want a few more bondsmen from abi'oad to straw for them to be resolved into E°*vptsdns as far as bricK making is concerned.