LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1592, 9 June 1887, Page 3

LOCAL INDUSTRY.

MR HAYHU AST’S FLOUR MILLS,

There are few industries of greater importance to this district than the flour milling industry. It is always of great benefit to any district to be in a position to manufacture its own pyoducts on the spot, and to send them away to other parts in the condition which realises the highest possible prices, for in this way it receiver the highest return for them. The milling industry has done more than this for this district—it has resulted in tho farmers getting batter prices for their grain. It is admitted on all sides that in 1884 tho existence of mills in South Canterbury raised the price of whaat at least one shilling per bushel, and we believe it is no exaggeration to say that they have, over since kept it dearer than it would have otherwise been. This district is one of the best grain producing spots beneath tho canopy of heaven, and therefore it is of the greatest importance to it that private enterprise should have gone very heartily into the milling industry. Here it may be pointed out that capital will always be found for profitable investment. The question is frequently asked; “Why do not we manufacture so and so J” The answer is the imported article is selling so low that no margin of profit is allowed to the local manufacturer, who certainly cannot work without pay. If the necessary protection were given to the lical article capital would be found to manufacture, and until this is done our resources cannot be developed, and we shall continue to rain ourselves by sending our money away to foreign countries for goods which we might manufacture ourselves. Fortunately the flour milling industry is one which needs no protection, and consequently it is being Lilly developed. Mr flayhurst has just erected in the fork of the Waihi and Hae-hae-te-moana a flour mill, and already it has commenced to work. A great part of the material of the building was brought up from Milford, and to this large additions have been made, so that now the building is a large one. The mill proper is 36ft x 33ft x 35ft to the wall plate, the grain store 45ft x 36ft x 20fr, and the flour store 40ft x 26ft x 12ft, and all is under the same roof, the material being wood and iron. In this there is a roller-mill plant of the most recent make, and it is turning out excellent work. The wheat is first taken to the top storey of the grain store and shot into bins. There are eight bins, which hold 60 ions of wheat each. Out of these bins the wheat falls into a bot through which it is taken by an endless belt to a hopper, and it is so arranged that different kinds of grain can be mixed up in the proportions required. The hopper is on the ground floor, and an elevator takes the wheat up to the top of ihe hui'ding, which is four storeys high, where it drops into a cleaning machine, and in its descent till it reaches the ground floor again it goes through two cleaning machines. The elevators take it back to the top storey again, and shoots it into a bin, from which it falls flown to the first roller on the second floor, through which it passes down to tha ground floor again, and it is carded up to the scalper or first dressing machine, and thus it continues going up and dowo, undergoing different refining and purifyiug processes till at last, when it ban done it has travelled one mile and a half from the time it is dropped into the bins until it is completely finished. There are five pairs of smooth rollers at work, and five bags of 280 lbs of flour can be turned out per hour, or between five and six tons in a day of eight hours. Mr Hayhurst |s, however, not satisfied with this output and has ordered from Home sufficient plant to double it, and he expects it will arrive in a few months. The stones which were used in the old mill are also at work, and are being utilised in crushing pig feed. The whole of the ma. chinery is put in motion by a turbine wheel of 32| horse power, and there is a magnificent supply of water to turn it. Do the upper floor is a boist, which can be worked from all parts of the building, and, taken altogether, the mill is most complete, it was all pirt together under the supervlei >n of the miller, Mr Uosco, and it in working without a hitch.

I WINCH "el i ER FLOUR MILLS. In obedit i.ea >n the demands of a cons' 'n*'y increasi trade, and wr’i the ri 3 v of keopii 4 pace with th; tin Men ns Irnvood and 00., t'f Winchester, have n c’ntly turnsd their mill insideout, literally speaking, and renovatad it altogether. The old system has been completely done sway with, and modern machinery of the best kind placed in its stead. The mill is now fitted up with rolling machinery for wheat cleaning and flour producing, and it is said the plant is by the beat maker, and is one of Lis most modern ones. The machinery is si ill put in motion by an over-shot wheel, but Messrs In wood and 00. have forwarded Home an order tor a turbine wheel which they expect to arrive' shortly. Laborsaving machinery iu the shape of packers, elevators, etc., have been invested in, and when the turbine wheel is at work the plant will be most complete. The machinery has been erected by Mr Colville, of Milford, and is working to the entire of Messrs Inwood and Co. The millers employed in th® mill are Messrs Spurgeon and Harrison. The latter comes from Minneapolis,|the centre of theflonr milling industry in America, and the flour produced at Winchester is getting its name up through the colony, and is, we learn in groat demand.