PIONEER BRICKMAKING

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1933, Page 9

PIONEER BRICKMAKING

EFFORTS AT RAWHITIROA SUCCESS IN THE EARLY DAYS. KILN RECENTLY DEMOLISHED. A story of pioneer enterprise is recalled by the recent demolition of the old brickworks at the foot of the Rawhitiroa slope of Mangamingi Ridge, about six miles from Eltnam. Erected by the late Mr. H. Ford when the countryside was in standing bush, the works have been a landmark for nearly 40 years, until now only one wall remains to record the passing of what was once a flourishing business. Mr. Ford, who had had previous experience of brickmaking, came to Rawhitiroa from the South Island and took up a section of 200 acres, all in bush. When a few acres had been felled he set to work to make bricks by hand, finding the clay eminently suitable for his purpose. He erected a pug-mill ? a circular trench in which was a wooden wheel, turned, by the effort of an old white horse. The clay when properly mixed in the trench poured through a hole in the bank on to a table beneath, where Mr. Ford shaped the bricks. After this the bricks were placed in a drying shed for three weeks until they were ready to be burnt in the kiln, a circular building ten feet high. Fires were lit and kept going steadily for 24 hours, when the temperature was increased to red-heat.

For three days this high temperature had to be maintained, and as wood fires were the only heating available, and as Mr. Ford worked single-handed, or with the' occasional assistance of a neighbour, the arduous nature of the work can readily be imagined. On the Horoi Road, Rawhitiroa, at about the same time Mr. J. Bagnell set up a brick-making plant, but the clay proved unsuitable and the venture failed. Mr. Ford’s bricks, however, were of excellent quality, and, admitting Mr. Mac Alister as a partner, Mr. Ford installed more suitable machinery and greatly increased the output of the* business. He abandoned his old farmhouse, and of his own bricks built a residence which is still standing in perfect condition and is now occupied by Mr. F. Tipler. Bricks were transported to Eltham by teams of horses and from there railed to builders in other centres. The walls of Mr. C. A. Wilkinson’s hardware store, Eltham, were made of Rawhitiroa bricks and are standing the test of time remarkably well. An unlimited supply of clay and the strength and durability of the bricks augured well for the success of the industry, but the high cost of cartage, coupled with the adoption of concrete as the chief building material, led to the abandonment of the enterprise about 15 years after'its commencement. Mrs. H. A. Woods, Rawhitiroa, is a daughter of the founder of the business.