A Famous Windmill.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 September 1914, Page 2

A Famous Windmill.

It is very seldom that so homely an object as a windmill has greatness thrust upon it. There is a windmill at Sans Souce, near Potsflftra, however, that enjoys this rare honour. Frederick the Great desired to take the mill down in order that he might enlarge the gardens round his palace, which on that side were rather cramped.

But the dusty miller refused to allow the building to be removed. Being asked whether the King- rdght not take it by force, he stoutly replied that in that case he should appeal to the miller's spirit, and pursued the matter no further. It was a very small mill then, but was rebuilt on a larger scale at a later date.

During the reign of Frederick William IV. the miller, pressui for ■money, offered to sell the mill to

the King, but he declined to take advantage of the poor man's difficulties, and generously helped him to get over his troubles without losing his property. However, the mill has now passed into the possession of the Sovereign. Having formed the centre of an interesting incident in Prussian history, it has become a national monument.