OUR HEMP-MILLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume VII, Issue 239, 1 February 1889, Page 2

OUR HEMP-MILLS.

Mr Butherforford's mill deserves first mention, as his was the first to be established in this town, during the present revival of the industry, and it is also the first in point of situation as we proceed up the bank of the river. Mr Rutherford has a site on the bank of the river in Harbor Street, close to the house belonging to Mr J. T. Stewart. Further up, on land leased from Mr C Symons, Messrs T. P. Williams and Co have their mill, which is also on the river side. This was the mill Mr Gardner erected. Beyond, on the south bank, at the Wirodno ferry, Mr Seymour has his mill; alongside the rivef , the distance by road from Foxton being under four miles. These three mills are in full going order. ."till further up, on the »outh bank, Messrs Gledill and Go are

erecting a mill on Mr Pascal's Kereru property, and a little further on, but on the north bank of the river, Mr Gardner is erecting his new mill, which, by cross country roads, is reached from the town within six miles. We have no other mill till we arrive at the Shannon ferry, when we come to the site of Messrs Birchley and Co's mill. The land is being got in order, and the machinery is daily expected. This mill is also on the the river bank. Still up the river we get to Mr Carter's hemp mill, which he is working in conjunction with his dairy farm. These two mills are within seven miles of the township. A. mile further up is the site of Mr J. "W. Stewart's mill, which will probably be the most substantially fitted up one in the district. At Moutoa, close to the Church, we find the Messrs Walden's mill on the river side, and half a mile further Messrs Sutton and Co's, on Mr Oliver's property. These two last n»n« have been turning out a lot of. flax of a very grand quality. Above Messrs Sutton and Co's, on the Himatangi block, the Messrs Barber's leasehold run, there are a number of mills, the first on the river being Messrs Bradcock and Massena's, who are nearly ready to start ; next comes Messrs Jones and Eogers', who are at work; then Messrs Campbell and Co, who, also under the old firm's direction, have been turning out fibre Mr Campbell has only lately purchased into this property. Still further up Messrs Kussell and Co are nearly ready to start. On the opposite side of the .river, Messrs Gieson and Co are putting up a mill, and will be ready to start shortly. At the Oroua Bridge, on tht south side of the station, Messrs Eyan Bros, are hard at work. On the north side of the Oroua river, the Messrs Sinclair, Spelman and Co, Mr Edwards, andMrDalton, allhave mills. v Coming down along the railway to Foxton, Messrs Dunk and Collins have a mill at Bainesse, and they have prepared a quantity of fibre. At the four mile peg, Messrs Bredow, Yanko & Co have a mil on the Messrs Barbers run, and Mr Jacques, of Nelson, has also secured a site. On the Messrs Robinson's property, Messrs Jenks, Whyte & Co age just ready to make a start At Carnarvon, Messrs Lind and Co have a mi on the Oroua Downs Estate, and on Mr M'Kelvie's land the Messrs Mudford are at work. On the Eangitikei river, Mr Knowles has a mill, and <it Brandon Hall, Bulls, Messrs Johnston and Co have just erected one. There are, therefore, 26 hempmills either working, or just ready to start, within a radius of ten miles from Foxton, leaving out, of course, the Bangitikei, and Bulls mills. The labor they employ has necessarily added very considerably to the trade and prospects of this town.