Constructed by the Government for use by the Maori. Struggled to be successful, in particular due to not having a good road to the mill.
New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume X, Issue 977, 13 December 1854
Wellington, December 11, 1854.
TENDERS will be received at the Survey Office, until 2 p.m., on the 24th instant, for the erection of a Water Mill at Papawai, Wairarapa District. Plans and Specifications may be seen on application to Robert Park, Esquire, at the Survey Office, on and after the 15th instant,
DONALD McLEAN, Land Commissioner.
Jan. 29, 1856 Native Mills, Papawai - Mill contractor .. 120 0 0
Jan 2, 1856 Surveys and Plans .. 11 10 0
Jan 24, 1856 Sub-Treasurer .. 100 10 0
Wellington Independent, Volume X, Issue 1306, 3 July 1858
Wairarapa
PAPAWAI FLOUR MILL
The undersigned having arranged with the Natives for a lease of the Flour Mill at Parawai, is prepared to grind Wheat at the term charged by the Wellington Mills, namely, at 1s. 6d. per bushel. He will also always be ready to purchase wheat at the highest market price.
He begs to inform Settlers on the Eastern side of the Mill that it can be approached with the utmost facility by proceeding to the head of Mr. Morrison's run; and the Settlers at Greytown, that he is engaged in collecting the subscriptions necessary to make the Road passable from the Small Farm Districts in the Wairarapt.
THOMAS HOOKER, July 2, 1858.
The state of the road to get to the mill seems to have been a continuing problem, for which there were hopes of raising money to address Wellington Independent, Volume XII, Issue 7, 12 January 1859
Papawai is undoubtedly intended to constitute a Maori village, the General Government has erected a flour mill there, and the Rev. Mr. Rowlinson is the resident clergyman, his ministerial duties extend to other parts of the valley, perhaps voluntarily upon his part, but let that be as it may, he is highly respected in this mixed community. A subscription is being raised and the Provincial Government is also aiding the formation of a road leading from the plain near Grey Town to the Papawai Mill, but with all the external aid that may be thus afforded it is doubtful if ever the Papawai will go ahead.However clearly nothing much happened Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 13, 30 March 1867
When will the Greytown people come to the conclusion that good roads are an accommodation and a convenience, and that they can only be done by Local Boards constituted for the purpose. What's the use of a flour mill at Papawai if a team of bullocks finds a grave in endeavoring to get there?A humorous take on the matter Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 16, 20 April 1867
JEMMY CHATTERBOX TO THE HEADHITTER.There were some further attempts to sort out the road Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 32, 12 August 1867
Sir, — I want you to know that I am alive, all alive O, and so is my Missus, and the childurn, but its plaguey hard times wi’em, because I can’t get my wheat ground no how, and in no kind of manner. When I speaks to my fellow-townsmen about being alive, and getting a mill to grind their own corn, I hears lots of chaff, but nothing to the purpuss, so I goes home again, and I sits down, and I says to my missus, that’s my wife you know, whatever shall I do with our corn that we have growed, thirty bushels to the acre, neither more nor less?" "Why" says she, they be a going to open the mill at Papawai, I hear, and give sixty pounds of flour for every sixty of wheat besides the siftings." "That's impossible,", says I, "and what we don't want, we only want what is fair and just, and what we are entitled to, and a fine chance there is for any one to butter his bread who would commence the undertaking again. Besides Missus, what's the use of the mill if we can't get to it, neither on horseback, nor on footiback, nor in a carriage, consequently what's the use of it, I says again? Did'nt a team of bullocks tother day drive into one of the water holes and was never heerd on again for a week, and was'nt the driver exhibited as a curiosity at all the houses in Grey town? Did'nt the people say that a crocodile had been discovered when they found him ? Some said he was a real halligatur, they knowed he was by his teeth. Now I should like to know, missus, what you wood say if you seed your husband coming back from the mill in that there state.
Papawai Road. — We are requested to state that the Provincial Government has been prevailed upon to grant out of the Provincial Treasury two equivalents to the amount that may be obtained from voluntary contributions towards rendering the Papawai Road passable. Seeing that there is a flour mill there in good working order, which would, if the road were made passable, prove of great benefit to the farmers residing in the vicinity of Greytown, we trust that the small amount required from them to effect this object will he cheerfully given. We understand that several subscriptions have been promised, and that donations will be received either by Mr Fuller or Mr Allan Garment.
A new manager came to take over the mill Wairarapa Standard, Volume III, Issue 112, 12 March 1869
PAPAWAI FLOUR MILL, NEAR GREYTOWN. THE undersigned begs to inform the settlers generally, that he is now prepared to receive wheat for grinding at the above Mill.and he was still in the position of being disadvantaged by the state of the road Wairarapa Standard, Volume III, Issue 117, 16 April 1869
WILLIAM SKEET. Manager. Greytown, March 10, 1869.
Papawai Road. — We are glad to hear that Mr. Skeet, the enterprising proprietor of the Flour Mill, at Papawai, has been repairing the road to the Mill at his own expense, the Maories assisting very materially. The advantage of a good road from Greytown to the Mill is no inconsiderable benefit to the inhabitants.
It sounds like the flour mill may also have driven a flax mill Wairarapa Standard, Volume III, Issue 158, 13 November 1869
Flax Mills.— The buildings necessary for carrying on this production at Turanganui, are being erected anl the proprietors will soon be in a position to commence operations. Mr.W. Udy’s mill will, we are given to understand, be at work on Monday next. This mill was obtained through Mr. Gibson, from Otago. Both those at Turanganui, and near Greytown, will be worked by water power. The natives at Papawai are getting one to be worked by a connecting band with the machinery that works the flour mill there, and from possessing a large supply of the raw material, will doubtless make it remunerative. They will save one great item of expense by using their own labour, instead of sitting smoking and sleeping all the day long in their filthy dens.
Thomas Hooker leased the mill off of the Maori for a while, but it also appears that he may have received payment, presumably for the construction of the mill Wairarapa Standard, Volume IV, Issue 182, 9 February 1870
THE WAIRAPAPA FIVE PER CENT. FUND.and summarised as Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2994, 17 May 1870
When this Valley was purchased from the Natives, the arrangement on each occasion was, that in addition to the contract price paid for each block, the Natives ware to have five per cent, of the net proceeds of all future land sold by the Government, after deducting the expenses of surveying &c. This fund, it was provided, should "be set apart for the following purposes in such proportions, and at such periods as the Governor of New Zealand (or an officer appointed by him) and the Natives themselves, would naturally agree to: —For schools, hospitals, and medical attendance, flour mills, and annuities for the chiefs who have ceded their lands." These are the literal words of Mr. McLean’s letter, and as the Natives complain that this fund (which now amounts to over £2,000) has never been given to them, it is desirable to dwell upon the whole circumstances connected with the case. The records of the Native Office are generally indistinct and incomplete, and we can only find one instance of where any sum has been paid out of this fund, and that is where £150, was paid to Mr. Hooker for the flour mill at Papawai, near Greytown, at the request of Manihera.
On the other hand, it is equally as well known that five per cent, of the amount received by the Government for land sales within this block was to have been expended for the benefit of its former owners, which, the exception of the erection of a flour mill at Papawai, had not, up to the last session of the General Assembly, been so expended.An earlier article puts that the full expenditure from the fund on the mill was much more than that Wairarapa Standard, Volume III, Issue 138, 8 September 1869
Five per cent, upon this sum gives the amount to which the above-mentioned conditions are applicable, viz,, £3,001 1s. But it appears that authorized payments from the year 1855, on account of some of the Petitioners, have been made to the amount of £153 10s. 2d., and another sum must be added on account of the Papawai Mill, amounting to £400, leaving a balance of £2,147 2s. l0d.
Wairarapa Standard, Volume IV, Issue 198, 9 April 1870
Notice. THE Undersigned, having secured the Flour Mill at Papawai is prepared to grind wheat at one shilling and sixpence per bushel, and will deliver flour, bran, and seconds, in good order.
M. R. HEMARA. Papawai, April 6.
Wairarapa Standard, Volume IV, Issue 231, 10 August 1870
Hume v. Te Manihera.—Debt, £l3 1s 0d. This was a claim made by plaintiff for the value of some wheat which he had sent to the mill in Papawai, near Greytown, to be ground in 1864. Tbe case had been frequently adjourned, owing to the certified indisposition of defendant. Manihera pleaded in excuse, that he was not indebted, and in the course of his evidence, said that he was not working the mil at the time, but Komene was in charge; he added that the mill was "worked by many in accordance with the word of the Governor, that all should have use of it, and that he did not like bad flour going out of his mill, for fear it should destroy its good name."
Judgment was deferred, until the evidence of Komene could be received, Komene being resident at the Kaikouras, it may be some time before Mr Hume gets a decision.
Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3066, 1 November 1870
Soon after the deed of sale was executed, a large flour mill was erected by the General Government at Papawai, and a native school or college was established at the same place under the Bishop of New Zealand, which was endowed with some valuable land in the vicinity, and supported by funds contributed by the General Government out of the grant for native schools. Owing to the absence of a road, and to disputes amongst the native owners, the mill has proved but of little benefit either to the Maoris or the district compared with the amount it cost, and to the advantages it would have conferred under more favorable circumstances.
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