The Proposed Flour Mill.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2909, 12 June 1878, Page 2

The Proposed Flour Mill.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a company for the purpose of purchasing and converting the old Tararu battery into a flour mill was held at the Governor Bowen Hotel last evening. Amongst those present we noticed— Messrs J. Brown, Brodie, Steedman, J. E. Macdonald, McCullough James Brown, Hopcraft, Maguire, Hogg, Mennie, Hicks, Brennan, Kennan, Taylor, Wells, T. L. Murray, Fricker, Watson, Price, T. Dunlop, Clark, A. Hume, MacDonnell, Davies, McGowan, Smith, Wick, Benshaw, Feck, Scott, Drew and others.

His Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair, and explained the object of the meeting. He called on the promoter, Mr Steedman, to go into details. Mr MacDoDnell was elected secretary pro. tern. Mr Steedman said he had called them together for the purpose of forming a flour mill company fo.- the Thames; it had struck him of the necessity of establishing one here. They had a population of 12,000, and consumed 2CDO tons of flouryearly, for which they were dependent on Auckland and Canterbury. They were all agreed that such an industry was necessary, and he believed it would have the support of the community. In addition to the flour consumed they used several hundred Cons of sharps, &c. It might be asked where they were'to get their wheat from, and he could simply Bay that they could get it where others got it. Auckland obtained her wheat from Adelaide and Canterbury, as she did not grow enough herself evn to supply the Thames. After considering ibis matter he had thought that Brown and Campbell's mill would be the most suitable for the flour mill, as they had a Jfine water power, which would be capable of doing all the work that was required to be done. It was proposed to erect a plant sufficient to supply one-third of the wantsof the place, so that it would not interfere with the present suppliers. The mill had also the advantage of being freehold pro-perty-—it was erected on six acres of freehold ground. The tramway ran right up to the mill, so that wheat could be got to the mill from the Goods Wharf at about Id per bushel, which wa. no more' than it would cost to .cart it fronf the wharf to any store in Grahamstown. Besides the mill, wheel, Su£, there were also £800 or £900 of valuable property, which could be turned into cash in the course of 12 months. In conclusion he again adverted to the necessity of having & flour mill established, and;

In- reply to Mr paries, Mr Steedman said that Brown, Campbell and Co. offered the whole plant for £4000. That was their first offer, but they asked him if he was authorised to treat for the purchase, when he said that it was thought that price Was too high. They said, however, that when a provisional committtee was appointed and authorised to treat for the Eurchase, a considerable reduction would e made. The firm did not ask for £4000 cash, but would take paid up shares in the company, and would doubtless use their influence to make the concern a success.

Mr McGowan asked what was the plant that could be sold in 12 month worth ? And what the income for the last 12 months had been ? ,

Mr Steedman said that he would be ashamed to say what the income for the past 12 months had been. It had been very small. He had made a complete inyentory of the articles that would be saleable, and he, with some other gentle-, men, had'estimated that at the least estimate these articles would fetch £800 or £900. There was the engine, rails, stampers, N etc. „ ■'" Mr Scott asked what expenditure would be required to convert the mill into a flour mill. ■'''*»' Mr Brown, in answer to Mr Scott, said he had gone into Mr Steedman's figures and had found them reliable. Of course, if the mill was put up to auction it would not fetch anything like the amount asked for. The wheel and pit had cost £1500 in hard cash, and the race about £500. The engine was worth £300, being almost new, and he was certain that if the concern was backed by the community that it would be profitable. He thoroughly coincided that this was the proper time to start such an industry, as at present they were dependent on the Auckland millers, aud as shortly the upper country would be producing grain, there would be plenty of work for a mill to do here. It was proposed to form a company of ULOOO shares, of £1 each, the owners of ffe battery to have £3000 o? £4000 worth of paid up shares. £10,00 would be called up, and it was estimated that it would cost £2COO io convert the mil. 2s 6d was ■to be paid on application, 2s 6d on allotment, and the remainder in 2s 6d calls, to be paid say once per quarter, so that the calling up of the capital would occupy 15 months. It was :: .tended tj erect an oatmet! evil Ja con*

neotion with the flour mill, and they would have ft. monopoly ;of that- commodity. ■ ' ' t Mr Hume asked.could the water right be permanently secured to a flour mill ■company. v - ' ■ Mr Steedman said he was not in a position to answer the question, • He supposed they might hold it so long as they paid the rent. Besides, it was" proposed to retain the 20 head of stampers purely for goldmining purposes, which might be used if there was a necessity for cruel infr power. Mr R. McDonald Scott moved that this meeting is of opinion that a flour mill company be formed, and that Brown and Campbell's mill be secured. Mr Mennie said he would like to know more about the subject. Could they obtain a good practical miller who could also manage a quartz mill? He would like to hear the matter more ventilated.

Mr Steedman said that these were things for the future. There were several practical millers in the district. W'lh regard to the working of the quartz mill in conjunction with the flour mill, it could be done, easily enough. ; • * Mr Brown seconded, the resolution. He said it was necessary for some one to start the ball rolling, but it was not necessary for the promoters to keep it so. As soon as the company was formed it would be in the hands of the shareholders to appoint directors, and they in their own interests would appoirt a good mana* ger. If the venture depended on, the quartz crushing it would be a poor speculation indeed. He spoke of the advantages of the Tararu mill. In answer to Mr Hume, Mr Steedman said if the Government wished to take away the'water right they could not do it, as to do it they would have to interfere with the water right of Brown and Co., who were engaged in goldmining operations. ■ '■■:-.

Mr Maguire deprecated haying both mUls under the one wheel. Some of the quartz might get mixed up with the flour.

Mr McGowan said he. thought all would agree with the desirability of establishing such an industry on the Thames, but the' whole thing seemed to resolve itself int6 this: The £4C 30 was asked for the waterright, water-wheel, freehold and building. The buildings might be left out, and he thought the £4000 a very large sum for the water-right, etc., as there were other places where water might be got cheap. Mr Steedman said that he considered that the buildings would be admirably suited to the purpose of a flour mill, as by putting two storeys they n^ould have more storeage than any other mill in the province. Mr McGowan did not include the mining plant either. Mr Davies said that this project was a step in the right direction. He trusted that they would soon have wheat growing in the Thames Valley, and thought it ridiculous to have a population of 10,009 people dependant for their flour and prc.iuce on Canterbury. The owners of the mill seemed to think that t he affair would be a payable one, as they were, willing to take shares. Mr Brodie said 1 e thought it would be unwise to express any opinion until a committee had been appointed to inquire into the matter, and for this meeting to pledge themselves to the resolution would do to pledge themselves to Brown, Campbell and Co., 1o purchase the mill. He suggested the motfon be withdrawn, Mr Scott withdrew his'resolution.

Mr McCullough moved that this meeting affirm the desirability of establishing a flour mill on the Thames.

Mr itenshaw seconded. He ; said that a, good many vessels that took timber from here brought back wheat to Auckland, which was ground there and ultimately came to the Thames. Carried unanimously. Mr Brown moved that the following gentlemen be appointed a provisional, committee to report at a future meeting : —Messrs Kilgour, Bead,. Ehrenfried, Mennie, Brown, Souter, Davies, Lamb, McGowan, R. N« Smith, Kenshaw, and Steedman., Mr Peck seconded, the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Brodie said that the thanks of the community were due to Air Steedman for the trouble he Lad taken in this matter. He moved, "That the'thanks of this meeting are due to Mr Steedman for the steps he has taken in this matter." Carried unanimously.

The usual compliment to the chair concluded the meeting.