Early Woollen Mills

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 47, 18 November 1933, Page 9

Early Woollen Mills

Sir, —I read in your esteemed paper this morning that the Mosgiel Woollen Company claims to be the first to establish a woollen mill in New Zealand — namely, in 1873. I would like to point out that this is not correct, for cloth was being manufactured in Nelson in 1848 and in Otago in 1853. My great-grandfather was one of the partners in the Nelson enterprise, about which there is an interesting paragraph in “Datus” by George Finn. It says:— December 28. 1847. —Weaving loom of wood and bamboo built in Nelson by Mr. Thomas Bliek and a year later began to weave cloth from yarns spun by the wives of German settlers in the Nelson district.” Mr. Webley, another Nelson pioneer, was a partner with Mr. Blick in tliis enterprise. I might say that Webley cloth was famous for its quality and I understand that it was used for military uniforms in the early days. “Datus” further refers to the first piece of cloth being made in Otago in June. 1853. by Mr. John Barr. Apparently tlie Government was not offering encouragement to industries in the vry early days for after my great-grandfather, who had money when he came from England, retired from the mill, it became bankrupt and I understand that Kirkpatrick's jam factory was started in the building.—l am. etc., GREAT-GRAND-DAUGHTER. Levin, November IG.

At a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society it was stated that 9777 hawks’ feet had been purchased during the last- month at a cost of £248, and 3749 stoats and weasels at £lB6. For the samq month last year the numbers were 13,040 and 3319 respectively. Concern was expressed at the prevalence of poaching, one member stating that he had stopped six cars oue Sunday at Papakura and had found guns in four of them. None of the owners had licenses. The case of a farmer near Te Aroha was mentioned. Eight persons without licenses , had cleaned up the birds on his property to such an extent that he was ebl’ged to cancel a shooting party he had arranged for a few days after the season had started, as there were no birds left bo shoot.