TOKOMAIRIRO FARMERS’ CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 10

TOKOMAIRIRO FARMERS’ CLUB.

LONG AND USEFUL CAREER. One of the institutions which can trace its beginning back to the early days of Milton is the Tokomairiro Farmers’ Club, which was formed in 1866, and which held its 58th annual show last November. Ploughing matches, which appear to have been closely connected with agricultural and pastoral societies in the early days, were, however, held as long ago as 18;>6. The first office-bearers -were ; —President, Mr C. T. Falconer; vice-president, Mr J. Norric; general committee —Messrs J. Allison, J. Parlane, R. Clark, M. Finch, M. Henderson, W. Moore, P. Porter, T. H. Russell, W. Thornton, H. M. Driver, T. Scott, W. Gray, J. Tough, Jas. Inglis, E. Martin, Jas. France, J. Heads, T. Hitchon, R. Ferguson, J. Grey, J. S. Fleming, J. M’Leod, J. W. Petrie, and W. Farqnharson; auditors —Messrs J. J. Lane and 11. Bell; hon. treasurer, Mr W. W. P. Hall; secretary, Mr A. Campbell; The first show was held on the recreation ground on December 6, 1866, and the Bruce Herald records that it was an unqualified success. Rain fell heavily in the morning, but at 11 o’clock the weather cleared, and ’ from the Clutha, the Taieri, and round about. Horned cattle were not shown on this occasion in of the prevalence of plcuro-pneumonia. In commenting on the show the Bruce Herald stated that it was a good augury for the future progress and advancement of the objects for which it was intended. Horses were well represented, and Marquis, the property of Mr R. Miller, gained first prize. The brood mares were verysuperior. In this section Mr John (Clutha Ferrv) secured first and Mr Joseph Smith (North Clutha) second. In yeld mares Mr Robert Robson (Tuakitoto) gained first prize, while Mr Sam Finch and Bryce (Lovell’s Flat) were successful in the class for marc or go.ding three years old, and Mr B. Dawson ( \\ nihola) was first in the. two-year-olds. Other exhibitors of horses were Messrs Thomas Lewis, Davis. Wm. Black,; Chalmers, Wm. Strain, Thomson, R. Sutherland, G. Pram (Taieri), J. Smith, and W. H. Miller (Roxburgh). Mr R. Robson secured first prize for pair in cart harness, Mr Chalmers being placed second. Mr Jas. Smith took most of the prizes for merino sheep, and Messrs M’Laren and Co., and Mr Black were to the fore with fat sheep. In Southdowns Mr Black practically swept the board, Messrs Dcwe and Smith getting only an occasional look in. In Leicesters Messrs Dunn and Jas. Smith were the competitors, and the former won in the ram classes. Pigs were w;cll represented, and Messrs M’Laren and Co. and G. Jont* were the prize-takers. The prizes in poultry went to Messrs Hibbard, Muii Bros., J. Cowan, Mrs Sutherland, am Masters Black. In dairy produce, which was a strong section, the prize-takers wore Mrs E. Martin. Mrs A. Pillam (Inch Clutha), Mrs B. Dawson, Mrs T Bryce (Lovell’s Flat), Mrs R. Forsyth Mrs G. Brown (Elderleo), Mrs R. \V Capstick, Mrs Bower (Stoney Creek) and Mrs W. Gray (Brcddisliolme). Firs: prizes for implements were awarded as follows: —Messrs Ransome and Sons threshing machine; Messrs Chalmers Bros, and Mackic, makers, best whee plough, double furrow; Messrs J. and T Bryce, best swing plough and grnbbei am! saddle harrows; J, Hollick, churns John Finch, milk pans ; J. Low and Sons harness; Mr Strain’s buckeye rcapin; machine also secured a first prize. It wools Mr Jas. Smith showed Ncgrett ram fleeces. Messrs Wm. Dunn, Jas Gray (Waihola), Win. Millar, and Jas Smith took the prizes in merino am Leicester wools, and Dir G. Richardsoi and Mr Black secured the awards fo Romney wools. Mr John Hardy showei Cotswold and merino cross wools. Th wool was afterwards sold at the follow!n; ’ prices:—Mr Smith’s Negretti rams’ wool 1 Is Sid per lb ; wether and hoggets’ wool Is 7’d; Romney, Is 61d. The lowcs 1 price was Is 3d. ’ A few years later the Tokomairir Farmers’ Club joined forces with th Clutha -a. and P. Society, the shows bein 1 held at Milton and Balclutha in alternat years. This arrangement evidently prove unsatisfactory, as it was discontinued aftc a few years, and each society held a shorn its own district afterwards. During its long existence the club ha served a useful purpose in encouraging th farmers to adopt the most approve methods of agriculture and to raise th i standard of their flocks and herds as big 5 as possible. In this direction its eitorl i have met with a large measure of snccesi " anti some of the stock from the distric > occupies a leading place in the eyes < j breeders to-day. The excellent foundatio laid by the club in the early days lu s been well built up and extended, and me course followed in the past is carrie ■ on in the future the members of the In i will have the satisfaction of knowing thi 3 ■ their organisation has been the means < - setting the bulk of the farmers in ti 3 district on the road to prosperity. 1 r MILTON FLOUR MILL. MR PETER M’GILL’S ENTERPRISE 3 The establishment of a flour mill i , Tokomairiro was due to the enterpris J of the late Dir Peter M’Gijl, a traine miller, who arrived in New Zealand i the . Mooltan in 1849, and who was ei gaged by Mr W. H. Valpy to work flour mill which had just been erecte ’ on the Water of Leith. The flourmi r was combined with a sawmill, the latte 5 being worked by Mr Jas. Elder Browr who had come out to Otago in the Aja on January 8, 1849. The milling seaso did not last long, as there was not mat grain available, so Mr M’Gill, in con: pahy with Messrs Sinclair, Harold an Richard Craigie, bought a small coael ing vessel afterwards called the Eu deavour, and sailed her for 18 months Mr M’Gill then went to the mill, work ing it on terms. In 1856, however, why the colony was prospering, Mr M’GilJ who was an enterprising man, decided t start a flourmill of his own in one of th country districts. He selected Tokc mairiro as one of the likeliest districts and in company with his father-in-la\ (Mr Brown) and his brother-in-law b selected land for the site of the mill am took levels for a water race. In orde to get more fall for the mill race M Brown and his son selected 100 acres o land next to what Mr M’Gill meant t apply for. The timber for the mill wa sawn by Mr M’Gill and Mr Wm. Baskett The mill was at work in October, 1857 and an oatmeal plant was soon added t it. Later on a partnership was enterei into between Mr M’Gill and Mr Johi Dewar as flour and oatmeal millers, bu this was dissolved on February 1,186 S and the business was thereafter conductor by Dir M’Gill, until his death; and after wards by members of the family as ex ecu tors of his estate. About 1887 tin mill, in which a large quantity of grail was stored, was destroyed by fiie._ am was replaced by a large brick buildin; of four storeys. ' This was erected by M Baskett, who load helped to build tin original mill. The business passw through varying periods of prosperity and adversity during its lengthy history It was finally acquired by Messrs Flem ing and Co.' in 1918 (a week after th destruction of that firm’s mill at Gor 1 on March 1, 1918), and was conducted b; that enterprising firm Until early lasi vear, when the premises were acquire' by the Bruce Woollen Company. Short!; before this Messrs Fleming and Co spent thousands of pounds in installinj tlie latest machinery in addition to pro viding for electricity as the motiv power. When the premises were sold t the Woollen Company the plant was die mantled and re-erected at Messrs Flem iuir and Co.’s mills at Riccarton and In vercargili.