The Alpha Mill

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Alpha Mill

The stone foundation of the old “Alpha Mill” may still be seen on the banks of the Huatoki stream, a few minutes Walk from the centre of New Plymouth. The land is now a public reserve called Baines Terrace, and is only one of the numerous secluded beauty spots of this pretty town. The mill-stones may be seen to-day standing outside the Carnegie Public Library, in company with several old pieces of artillery, relics of the troublesome days of the province. Benjamin Wells, in his “History of Taranaki,” records a rather serious shortage of food that occurred about this time (1841). Musty biscuits that had lain in store for some time were in demand, and some of the poorer settlers had little else than potatoes. The reason given for this state of affairs by Mr. Wickstead, the resident agent, is that the coasting traders refused to sell flour unless draperies were also purchased, and the local merchants imported all such goods direct from England. —G.E.M. (New Plymouth). Gold in Otago It is generally believed that Gabriel Read was the original discoverer of gold in Otago. This, however, is not correct, for as early as 1851 gold was found at Goodwood. 30 odd miles north of Dunedin. In 1852 traces of gold were discovered in the reaches of the lower Molyneux River, and in 1853 some gold was found at Ilindon. In 1856 the largest discovery to date was made in the sands of the Mataura River, but nearly every gold discovery was suppressed, mainly because Captain Cargill, leader of the Otago settlement, had a dread of the class of people who would follow in the wake of a gold rush, anticipating that such people would seriously injure ' the high standard of peacefulness and morality set by the existing population. But gold was being found elsewhere in New Zealand, and people began to leave Otago for these fields. Cargill grew disturbed, and in 1857 a reward of £5OO was offered for a “substantial, gold discovery within the Otago province.” .Some small discoveries were made, but nothing of importance came to light until ISGI, when Gabriel Read electrified the province with his great discoveries at Tuapeka—discoveries that were to prove the forerunner of a truly golden age.— C.11.F. (Dunedin). New Zealand and Spain There is a link between New Zealand and Spain that comes especially to mind in view of cables describing fighting in the Basque country, for in that part of Spain 100 years ago there fought a British army 10,000 strong, and in it were several men who a few years later became prominent in the founding of the colony. William Wakefield was the most noted. He entered the Portuguese army in 1532. later transferring to the .Spanish, and during the Carlist War ranked as colonel commanding the First Regiment of Lancers of the British Auxiliary Force under Sir de Lacy Evans. There were three successive British Legions, and at the end of the war Col. Wakefield was in command of all the remaining Britons, a corps d’elite of artillery and cavalry 500 strong. On his tomb in Sydney Street Cemetery one may read the honours he received —Knight of the Tower, and Sword of Portugal, and Knight of San Fernando (which he received from Isabella, the Queen of Spain)—and that “he served with distinction in the English Regiment of Lancers engaged in the constitutional cause throughout the civil wars in Spain and Portugal.” William Thomas Locke Travers, well-known early Parliamentarian, served as a lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment of Lancers in the three years 1835-8, and earned a decoration for gallant service. Dr. Dorset, surgeon of the Tory, also served in the war. James Coutts Crawford, once owner of Miramar Peninsula, while in the navy, saw active service in the Bay of Biscay during the fighting.—J.W. (Lyall Bay). Early Shipping The following shipping advertisements appeared in Wellington in 1840. “Mr. Barrett proposes running the cutter Harriett between this beach, Petone, and Lambton Bay with freight, so long as he receives sufficient encouragement.” April 18, 1840. “For Wanganui, the company’s second settlement, the schooner Jewess. Moore master. To sail as soon as sufficient number of passengers offer. She will remain there about a weelr to allow her passengers time to examine the country, and return to Port Nicholson direct. Passage money, five pounds. Passengers to provide their own stores. December 26, 1840. Willis and Co., or T. M. Partridge and Co.”—T.F. (Nelson).