NEW WOOLLEN MILL AT MILTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 1 May 1897, Page 533

NEW WOOLLEN MILL AT MILTON.

a few facts about the company and district. ONE of the most important events which has yet occurred in the annals of Milton, was the laying of the foundation stone of the Bruce Woollen Company’s building, which took place on Tuesday, March 23rd. The first step in the direction of starting the venture, which has now reached such a practical stage, was taken in May last, when a meeting of residents was held in Milton to discuss the practicability of starting a woollen factory in the district. The meeting, from various causes, was not very well attended, and very little enthusiasm was exhibited over the matter. After the meeting, however, the project began to be talked about a good deal, and before long another meeting was called. The attendance on this occasion was much larger, about thirty gentlemen being present. A large quantity of information was supplied to the meeting, from which it appeared that a Company, such as it was proposed to form, had every prospect of a successful career. This information was given by Mr James Dalziel, at that time occupying a responsible position in Messrs Ross and Glendinning’s Roslyn Mill. From the rough sketch given, those present were very favourably mpressed with the idea. A strong point in connection with the proposed company was that Mr Dalziel and four fellow workers were prepared to substantially back their statements as to the excellent prospects which the Company had, by investing £2,000 in the venture, besides making liberal terms till the factory proved a financial success. It was soon realised that the proposal must be a good one, in order to induce men to throw over lucrative positions to embark in a new venture, which must necessarily have a difficult battle to fight before it gained a firm hold on the colonial trade. After a deal of discus-

sion by the meeting, a list was drawn up, and 2,225 shares were promised in the room. A committee was also formed for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of support which could be reckoned on in the district. Mr R. A. Pyke was appointed interim secretary, and continued to bold the office till the end of September, when Mr Dalziel took over the duties. The task of obtaining shares did not prove a very easy one at first ; in fact, right up till a few months back, obstacles were continually being encountered. But by dint of hard canvassing, all voluntary, the promoters succeeded in increasing the total shares promised to about 7,000 within a month, this result being secured without going outside of the district. It was then thought that the success met with locally justified a canvass in Dunedin, where it was believed that a considerable number of shares could be obtained. At first the opposition shown to the Company by a section of the business people of Dunedin threatened to blast the whole venture, and for a time it hung fire, no progress being made for some weeks. Eventually, however, Messrs Moore and Henderson, two of the present directors of the Company, visited Dunedin and made an active canvas, with such success that new life was once more infused into the concern. A renewed effort was made in Milton and district, and on August 28th a large meeting was held, when it was reported that 12,000 shares had been taken up. It was then unanimously decided that the Company be registered, with a share capital of /■25.000 nominal. After registration the Company proceeded quiqtly till 30th December, by which time about 14,000 shares had been promised. On that date the statutory meeting of shareholders was held, about 200 being present. A great deal of enthusiasm was displayed throughout the meeting, and about 1,500 shares were taken up in the room, bringing up the subscribed capital to over ,£15,000. For the position of directors there

were fourteen candidates, and a ballot resulted in the election of Messrs W. Moore, James Allen (M H R.), J. A. Duthie, J. Gray, M. Henderson and J. B. Scanlan, with Mr J. Dalziel as managing director. By this time it was felt that the company had passed a critical point. Up till the date of the meeting the provisional directors had no real standing, but on the appointment of the permanent board it was felt that it would not be long before there was some practical proof of the Company’s existence. A large amount of work had to be done by the directors, but it was finally got through, and orders for machinery of the latest types, were sent home to some of the best makers in England, the specifications for this part of the work being drawn up by Mr Dalziel, and by him presented to the Company. A splendid section, containing three and a half acres of land, was purchased alongside the main south railway line, and close to the Milton railway station. Having reached this stage, the plans and specifications for the building were commenced by Mr D. Paterson, of Dunedin, and tenders having been called, the contract was finally let to Mr Owen Kelly, of Gore, who was not long in starting work on the ground. The building, which is a substantial brick structure, is 192 feet by 102 feet, divided by brick walls into several departments. It is of the style commonly known as fireproof, and is constructed on the most approved lines, provision being made for extending in the event of the business requiring it in the future. The engine and boiler room, 48 feet by 48 feet, stands in front of the main building, while the chimney stack will be 8i feet high, and the engine 120 i.h.p. Having got thus far on the way to a successful start, the foundation stone was duly laid, as we stated above, on 23rd March, Otago’s Anniversary Day. A fine day was experienced, and there was in consequence a large gathering of people from all parts of the district, as well as a big contingent of visitors from Dunedin. Among those

present were the directors of the Company, Messrs J. W. Thomson (M.H.R. for Clutha), J. H. Morrison (manager Mosgiel Woollen Company), James Wilson (Bing, Harris and Co.), John White (Milburn Lime Company), Hon. T. Fergus, and all the leading residents of Milton. The proceedings were opened with a few brief remarks by the chairman of directors (Mr W. Moore), at the close of which he handed to Mr Donald Reid (Mayor of Milton) a silver trowel. The stone having been placed in position, the Mayor declared it well and truly laid Mr Reid then delivered a very interesting speech. He dwelt on the work which had already been done in connection with the inauguration of the Company, and dwelt at some length on the great benefits which the establishment of such an industry would confer on the town and district. The progress made by the district during the last few years was also touched on, the speaker comparing the position of Milton with that of other towns close at hand. Short addresses were also made by MessrsJ. H. Morrison, Hon. T. Fergus, J. Wilson, J. Allen (M.H.R ), andj. W Thomson (M H R.). A number of selections were rendered by

the Milion Brass Band, and the whole proceedings closed with the usual round of votes of thanks. Taken throughout the ceremony passed off with great rclat, and the day will long be looked back on as a red letter one in the history of Tokomairiro, only to be overshadowed when another ceremony takes place, which will land the Company still another stage nearer final success —the formal opening of the mill. Before the party dispersed, several photographs of the proceedings were taken, which we embody in this brief history. The Bruce Woollen Company’s mill is situated, as we stated above, near the Milton railway station, while to add to the convenience of ban Hing the raw material and manufactured article, a railway siding has been laid in to the ground. Milton is a town thirty-six miles south of Dunedin, in the centre of the Tokomairiro Plain, and is the chief town of the county of Bruce. The population at last census, in 1896, was 1,139. Milton is noted far and near as one of the cleanest towns in Otago. The streets are nearly all asphalted, and the town presents at all times an exceedingly cheery appearance. A point to be reckoned on in this connection is the fact that there is not a penny of debt on the borough, while the Council have a credit

balance at the Bank. These facts speak eloquently for the business capacity of its chief citizens, and certainly augur well for the future of any other undettaking in which they may engage themselves. The district is chiefly an agricultural one, cereal crops forming the staple product of the farmers. Others, however, depend more on sheep and their wool for a livelihood. The quality of the soil, on the greater portion of the plain, cannot be said to be superior to that found in many other districts. Much of it, in fact, was, in its natural state, almost unfit to grow payable crops. The farmers, however, were greatly blessed by the presence at Milburn, four miles from Milton, of an enormous deposit of lime, which is being worked to great advantage by the Milburn Lime and Cement Company. A careful study of the soil of the district early demonstrated that lime was the exact constituent in which the land was deficient, and many of the farmers commenced to lay out considerable sums of money in supplying the want from the works at Milburn. For a time comparatively few availed themselves of‘the chance offered them, but the

success which resulted where it was tried induced others to follow the example set them by their more enterprising neighbours. The benefits derived have long ere this fully justified the outlay. Crops have been greatly increased all over the district, and many farmers, whose land at one time would hardly pay for cultivating, now reap every year heavy crops of wheat and oats. Apart altogether, however, from the fact that it is the centre of a thriving agricultural district, there are other advantages which Milton possesses, and which render it eminently suited for a manufacturing town. There is a plentiful supply of good water, while proximity to the railway is also an important consideration. But another, and the perhaps chief advantage, is the presence of an unlimited supply of coal of good quality. The whole of the hills on the sea coast, to the east of the township, right on to Kaitangata, sixteen miles distant, are one vast coal bed. The product of the Kaitangata Company's mine is well and favourably known all over New Zealand as a splendid household and steaming coal, while close to Milton is another large pit, recently opened up by Messrs Gibson and Lee—the Burnweil pit, at Lovell’s Flat, eight miles south of Milton. Nearer home still, right behind the town, is an unlimited

supply of coal, which many people affirm will one day prove a formidable rival to all the coals in the market. Coal, however, is not the only mineral found in the district in payable quantities. Fully thirty years ago, large numbers of men were making a good livelihood gold-dig-ging at Canada Reef, ten miles to the west of Milton, and from that time on to the present parties have been engaged there at the same occupation. That there is still a lot of gold in the neighbourhood may be judged from the fact that the Government recently sent an engineer to report on the field, and his opinion was so favourable as to induce them to give a grant in aid of some heavy works which were found necessary there. Then at Glenore, about seven miles south of Milton, there are two dredgers at work, both of them returning good dividends to the fortunate shareholders, while a third dredge will shortly be at work. Nor is this part of thedistrict a new one from a gold-bearing point of view. As far back as 1862 gold was being won in very large quantities, there being quite an extensive canvas town on the banks of the river.

Coming back to Milton and the agricultural community, the farmers find a ready market for the products of the soil right at their doors, the land adjoining the Woollen Company’s property being occupied by M’Gill’s roller flour and oatmeal mill, where is manufactured the well known Gold Dust brand, which has gained such a high name not only throughout New Zealand, but also in the neighbouring colonies of Australasia. Another branch of the farming industry is that of dairying. Situated in Milton is the Bruce Dairy Factory which annually turns out a very large quantity of cheese of first class quality. The factory was at one time run by a company, but it is now in the hands of Mr James Gray, who has conducted it for some years on the cooperative system with great success. In the town is also situated a pottery, which has been working for the last twenty years, but with varying success. Numerous causes have contributed to this result, but it is pleasing to know that a company has recently been floated for the purpose of taking over the works. As the company, besides having the benefit of a large capital, intend to bring out a number of expert workers from England, there seems no reason why it should not eventually prove a big success. First class

clays can be obtained in the neighbourhood, and as there is a large demand in the colony for ware such as they can turn out, the new Pottery Company has every prospect of a prosperous future. Other local industries which are doing a good business in Milton include the fellmongery and wool scouring works, carried on by Mr J. B. Scanlon, who employs a large staff of hands throughout the year ; and the Britannia Brick and Pipe Works, owned by Mr G. Jones, whose wares have gained considerable fame over a wide district. The financial interests of the district are watched over by the National Bank and the Bank of New Zealand, both of which have fine buildings for the transaction of their business. The spiritual welfare of the community is well looked after, the Presbyterian, Anglican, Wesleyan and Roman Catholic communions all holding regular services, while the Salvation Army are also pretty strong in the town. To return, however, to the Bruce Woollen Company, a few facts regarding their future operations may not prove out of place here. The contract for the building is expected to be finished in about three months. Before that period is reached nearly the whole of the machinery will be in Milton, and the work of fitting it up will be at once proceeded with. This is expected to occupy about two months, and after that very little time will elapse before the manufactured product will be on the market. The factory will employ about too hands—men, boys, and girls —while about I 000 bales of wool will be used every year after the work is fairly under way. It is proposed to go in for the manufacture of worsted serges for ladies’ and gentlemen’s wear, fingering yarns, hosiery, tweeds, flannels and blankets. It is worthy of remark that, although there are seven other woollen companies in New Zealand, only one of them is at present turning out w’orsted goods, of which the Bruce Woollen Manufacturing Company intend to make a speciality. As a very large quantity of this class of goods is imported annually, it will be recognised that there is a good field open for the products of the Company. Several orders have already been secured from wholesale houses, so that the Bruce worsteds will have an excellent opportunity of obtaining a hold on the New Zealand trade. That the establishment of such an industry as a woollen factory will confer a great benefit on the Tokomairiro district does not admit of any two opinions. Though a fine agricultural centre, it has long been felt that what was wanted was some big industry, which would give employment to the young people of the place, and which would also supply the much felt want of a regular circulation of ready money—of which there is always a scarcity in a purely agricultural district. Both these troubles will be remedied by the Bruce Woollen Company. The residents of Tokomairiro are fully alive to the immense advantages which will accrue from the presence of such an industry in their midst. From the commencement the affair has been mainly a local venture, as will be seen when it is stated that of the 16,000 shares subscribed for, 12,000 were taken up in Milton and the surrounding district. This speaks volumes for the public spirit of the residents; and the indomitable pluck exhibited by the promoters of the company in bringing it to such a successful issue, in face of the strong opposition which was shown to the undertaking in some quarters, is certainly deserving of an abundant measure of success. The Company is now fairly started on what we hope will prove a successful career. It will lose nothing in the way of sound management. The directors are all shrewd men of business, who have won their positions bv the successful manner in which they managed their private concerns, while the expert heads of departments all bear most exceptional records. New Zealand is fast becoming an important manufacturing country, and we feel sure that the Bruce Woollen Company has the good wishes of every true colonist who desires to see his adopted country flourish, and one day take its place, as it bids fair to do, among the manufacing countries of the world.