MESSRS. HONEYFIELD AND READ'S FLOUR MILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2127, 27 August 1873, Page 6 (Supplement)

MESSRS. HONEYFIELD AND READ'S FLOUR MILL.

It has been luid down uh an axiom by somo profound philosopher that ir tillairu of this world thoro is no such thing an . „: still ; — vro must either progress or roiro\ .uiu, devtilou or doeny. Wo are atraid that ft..- many years the ouly movement mado in thin town was that of retrogrossioii, aud that uiutiy of tho buildings lookod vory much as if thoy would decay from more want of occupants. However, during tho past year or so, a change has apparently come ovor the place, and capitalists are investing their money in tho erection of now buildings, or in the improvement of tlioso already in existence. Amongst tho changes that havo taken place lately has been tho purchuso by Messrs. Honeyfield and Read of the latu Mr. S. Oliver's flour mill, in Queen-street. These gentlemen, wishing to have their mill as perfeot as possible, engaged Mr. S. Clover, a thoroughly practical miller, who has introduced some of tho latest improvements iuto it, and flour is now produced, equal to the brands of other iniJls in the Colony. The null J8 driven by a water wheel of ton horse* power, whioh drives a couple of stoves. As we do noc suppose that many of oar readers are acquaiuted with the process of grinding wheat iuto flour, a short description may not bo uninlerestiag. The grain having been well sifted, and all particles of dire taken from it, is put into what is called the elevator hopper, and is then convoyed through a square tubo, resembling a wooden water spout, to the dirty hopper ; from this it goes down another tube to tho smut machine, aud thence by tho wheat elevator (another tubo) iuto the grinding hopper to the mill-stones. The grain having been crushed, is by a screw ooudueted to the flour elevator (a tube), and by this moans conveyed into what is termed the " silk dresser." This silk drosser consists of a sort of drum, tho sides being covered with the finest silk, by whioh tho flour is sifted as it revolves, the sharps and bran being conveyed away through an opening at the end. Tho flour, thus screened, is then conducted down a tubo into the saoks. The whole of tho arrangements ia this little mill appear to be very perfeot, everything baying been fixed with a view to a given end, and every operation that can possibly be done by tnachiuery is so performed that manual labour is reduced to a minimum. Mr. Clover informs 03 that Messrs. Honeyfiold and Road contemplate erecting a large building adjoining the mill as a store. This building is to have a frontage of twenty -five feet, with a depth of thirty feet, and will have four floors. Tho store will be used for seed rooms, wheatbins, and ' pastry' or flour rooms ; and will be sufficiently commodious to hold very large stocks of flour and grain. We also learn that other improvements in the mill are Contemplated, the firm being determined to have everything perfeot. All the alterations in the mil) have been effected under Mr. Clover's direction. — Taranald Herald, August 9.