CLOTH-WEAVING.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14540, 18 October 1917, Page 2

CLOTH-WEAVING.

The first attempt- at cloth weaving was made by Mr Thomas Blick in 1847-48. He'had a good deal of trouble to got his loom built, but, encouraged by several old settlers, lie persevered. The loom was principally constructed of wood, and bamboo split into .reeds. The loom being built, the next thing was to get the wool spun into yarn. At last some women were found who had. brought out their .spinning wheels with them, and they were very glad to turn them to use. A smart woman could spin about lib of yarn in a day, for which she earned a shilling—and in those hard times was very thankful For it. The cloth produced was good, strong stuff, although rather rough, but it .sold well, and was worn by most oi the gentry in the place. .LJut times changed, and the women could no longer work for one shilling a day, and in consequence of this, and the heavy/expense of hand weaving, Mr Jilick was ohhged to discontinue for a time. In ISSB he began again, enlarging his.'apparatus, which was now worked by a hullor-k, but to fulfil his desire to 'manufacture cloth in sufficient quantities, he utilised a ssnial' stream in .Brook Street Valley, and erected an over-shot svheel of thirty feet in diameter. The machinery was also' added to by purchases frcm Sydney, and an article was turned out [which, under the name of "'iNclson Cloth," gained a good reputation. Ah1 j Mick'died in -November, ]86l).