Mataura Ensign, Volume 9, Issue 665, 3 May 1887
Waimea Plains Flour Mill, MANDEVILLE, IS now open to RECEIVE GRISTS, in large or small quantities. R. DOULL, Manager.
Otago Witness, Issue 1955, 9 May 1889
An oatmeal kiln, 16ft 4in square and from 25ft to 30ft high, has just been completed at Mr R. Doull's mill at Mandeville. Twelve bags of oats can be dried in one lot, and if occasion demands 60 bags can be put through in one day of three shifts. The building is absolutely fireproof. Inside everything is so planned that the oats are turned and discharged by machinery.
Mataura Ensign, Volume 9, Issue 656, 1 April 1887
MANDEVILLE FLOUR MILL.Mataura Ensign, Volume 17, Issue 17, 12 April 1895
Gradually, but surely, the progress of industries is making itself felt in the district, and we see on every hand gratifying illustrations of the spread of permanent means of utilizing in a proper manner the benefit which Nature has so abundantly bestowed on this country; Probably no country offers so many opportunities as Southland of taking Advantage of natural power, and the time cannot be far distant when the banks of our many streams will be studded with factories and works and the immense motive pow«r at present running to waste to the ocean turned to profitable account. We therefore hail With satisfaction circumstance that Mr Robert Doull, who is miller of experience, has just about completed a large flour mill at Mandeville and intends to utilise the water from the Otamete stream as a motor. Milling operations will be commenced in about a fortnight, and it was the privilege of our reporter to make a visit of inspection to the building recently. The race which conducts the water from the stream is a formidable affair, being seven feet wide and about three quarters of a mile long. Much of it had to be artificially built up to get over the inequalities of the ground. The water wheel, is of the type known as the breastwheel and is calulated to give 15 horse power, being 13 feet in diameter and seven feet wide. It is contemplated to put into position one pair of stones, but it is also intended to make not only oatmeal but pearl barley. The mill has been so designed that the material can be handled with a minimum of labor. The Wheat is received on the ground floor, and passes upwards by means of elevators, undergoing the preliminary operations of cleaning from smut etc in transitu. The silk dresser is cleverly situated at the apex of the roof so as to be quite out of the way. As is not unusual with millers, Mr Doull possesses a considerable degree of mechanical skill both in wood and iron work, so that he does not entirely depend on the carpenter, or smith. As stated before, Mr Doull hopes to commence gristing in about a fortnight, and we are doing no more than our duty when we express the hope that the speculation will be as profitable to him as it will be convenient to the district.
The Waimea Plains Flour Mills.Otago Witness, Issue 2186, 23 January 1896
A VISIT TO MR R. DOULL'S PROPERTY, MANDEVILLE. [By One Who Was There.] "Do you know, sir," said Mr Robert Doull, the burly proprietor of the flour and oatmeal mills situated on the banks of the Otamete stream, "that I feel convinced it is only a matter of time when all manual labor will be dispensed with, and mechanical invention will supersede it." "Indeed !" replied his companion. "Well, that is a tolerably large order, to say the least of it; and it is as well that you make your prophecy in this tolerant nineteenth century. Had you said anything of the kind a hundred years ago you would have been adjudged either a loony or a wizard. However, there is no denying that what you opine is getting nearer realisation every day." "Of course it is and we needn't look far for the demonstration. Ever since the day when the hand-loom of the weaver had to make place for the elaborate machinery now employed in the woollen mills, the fact has become more and more apparent. I have recently invented and patented a contrivance, which is now in general use in my mills, that is not only a labor-saver, but also possesses the greater merit of performing a duty which is unpleasant for a man to do, and also dangerous to his health. If you will stop in with me, I will be pleased to show you my invention." The invitation was accepted by his companion, the present writer, who deems that what he saw may be of interest to the readers of the Ensign.
Mr Doull is a colonist of 33 years Standing. I first made his acquaintance nearly 20 years ago, at Balclutha, where he then owned a flour mill. He subsequently removed to Hawkes Bay, where he took up a small run, on which he engaged in pastoral pursuits for some six years. He then turned his attention southward once more, and worked and owned a mill at Wyndham for over two years. After that Mr Doull decided upon trying his fortunes at Maudeville, his present home, where he has now resided for upwards of ten years.
TEN YEAES AGO.
When he determined upon establishing a mill at Mandeville, Mr Doull's best friends endeavored to dissuade him from such a purpose, arguing that it was not possible to conduct a profitable milling business in such a locality. Mr Doull, however, had made up his mind on the point, feeling satisfied that there was an opening on the Waimea Plains, with its vast grain resources, for such an enterprise, and in a very short time he had erected a small wooden building, with one pair of flour-stones only - wheat alone being the grain he crushed in the first days of his Mandeville venture. In two years' time, however, Mr Doull's business had progressed so satisfactorily that he felt justified in adding an oatmeal kiln, and erecting an addition for oatmeal manufacture, the same being fitted up with the very best plant available.
A FLOURISHING BUSINESS.
In a short time the additional space in the new building proved none too large for the increasing trade of Mr Doull's business; and eventually last season the proprietor put up a commodious addition in brick, 32ft x 28ft, with two floors, capable of storing 8000 bags of grain, and giving to the premises a total storage of 10,000 bags. The work was entrusted to Mr J. Day, bricklayer, Gore, from plans prepared by Mr Doull himself. The lower floor is built above flood-level. The oat-milling plant, as already stated, is quite up to date, one special feature being an extra fan, over which the shelled oats pass, thus ensuring all dust, etc., being removed from the grain.
A SKILFUL DRYING PROCESS.
"But where are the new patent appliances you promised to show me?" I asked, as Mr Doull led me over the general parts of the mill. "I am just about to show you them. Here we are. They are in connection with the turning of the oats while they are being dried in the kiln." Briefly put, it may be said that by manual labor - that which generally obtains in all oatmeal mills - it takes a man 10 minutes to turn in the kiln 12 bags of oats with a shovel. With Mr Doull's patent principle it takes less than one minute to perform the same work. This is always a very disagreeable and injurious operation for a man to perform, as the kiln is heated to a high temperature from a furnace underneath while the drying process is going on - indeed, a man cannot enter the kiln to turn the grain until the temperature has been somewhat subdued. Doull's patent admits of the grain being more evenly dried; the heat in the kiln can be sustained while the "turning" is going on, thus saving about three-quarters of an hour on every kiln of oats dried; and one man can attend to two or three kilns with more facility than he could to one under the old system. Further, by Doull's patent the kilnman is not exposed to the extreme heat and smoke ascending from the furnace below as when he "turned" with the shovel, nor to the quick transition, maybe, to a chilly atmosphere on emerging from the kiln - an experience which roasted the man as well as the oats, tended to dry up his system, and too frequently laid the seeds of rheumatism and physical wreck in a young and robust constitution. The kiln at Mandeville is a fire-proof compartment, the inside dimensions being 14ft x 14ft. The walls have concrete foundations, and are 14in thick to 5in above the floor, the remainder of the wall being 9in thick - thus making a 5in recess or ledge all round the inside walls. The rafters, wall-plates, door, etc., are all of iron. In the front wall there are two apertures, each 4 1/2ft by 1ft, on each side of the door, through which the dried oats are discharged into a grain bin. The discharging is done by means of a wooden scraper the whole width of the kiln (14ft), and driven by the sack tackle. This permits of the kiln being discharged and refilled in five minutes. The floor on which the oats are dried is made of cast-iron plates 18 3/4 in square; they were cast in Scotland from a pattern designed by Mr Doull, which allows ample space for draught, and at the same time is of great strength.
DOULL'S PATENT REVOLVING KILN TURNER.
As I have said, Mr Doull holds a protection order under the Patents Act for his invention for turning and drying oats in a kiln. The following description will give an idea of how the mechanism works : - Two plates of cast iron (wood or malleable iron will do) are set on the 5in. ledge or recess running along and bolted to the side walls of the kiln. A space of 2in. is left between the upper and lower plate. On the lower plate is a row of pegs or cogs, each 1in. long and 5/8in. in diameter, and about l 1/8in. from centre to centre of each. The top edge of the upper plate stands out from the wall 1in. The centre of space between the upper and lower plates is 9in. from the floor of the kiln, thus allowing a wheel 2in, in diameter to run between them. A spindle in this wheel l 1/4in. in diameter reaches to the wheel on the opposite wall; on this spindle are three sets of arms, or supports, on each of which is fitted a board 5in. broad and 1in. thick, extending the whole width of the kiln. Along the outer edge of three of these boards is fixed a brush of stout hair; the fourth has no brush, the reason for which will be explained as one reads on. The whole forms a reel 18in. in diameter, and when it revolves the action is similar to that of the paddle-wheel of a steamer. A sprocket wheel 18in. in diameter is attached to one end of the spindle, and between that wheel and the plates on the wall is an iron bracket carrying four small pulleys - two of which keep an endless chain (connected with the driving power) on the sprocket wheel, and two guide the bracket as it moves along. The endless chain is of common link belting, and runs into the kiln through a small opening at one side, winding round another pulley at the far end of the wall, and again passing out to the driving power. Alongside the bracket is a pinion-wheel 3 1/2in. in diameter, with seven teeth, which are regulated to catch in the pegs or cogs on the lower plate while the pinion is revolving, thus causing the reel (with its "paddle-wheel" action) to move along a distance of 8in. every revolution. It is in connection with the action of the pinion on the pegs, thus causing the reel to move along in slow and regularly progressive order, that the success of Mr Doull's ingenuity is evident. The brushes on the reel are 18in. in diameter, and in progression sweep a space of oat-covered floor equal to 4ft. 9in. All the oats on the floor of the kiln are thus turned topsy-turvy by the revolving brushes - as one sweep of brush No. 1 does its duty and moves along, brush No. 2 catches up the next oats in its sweep, and so on, until the whole floor has been completely turned. There are no pegs or cogs in the lowest plate for a distance of about a foot at each end of the wall, and thus, when the reel has travelled to one end of the room the pinion cannot catch any further, and the reel merely revolves stationarily until the motion is reversed. The reversing, as anyone acquainted with rudimentary mechanics will readily understand, is a simple process. It is done on the principle that if the action of two cog-wheels will cause an impetus in a certain direction, three cog-wheels will send the impetus in exactly the opposite direction. Thus, there is connected with the driving power two sets of cog-wheels - a three and a two - and by merely clicking a lever the endless chain is transferred from the forward to the reverse motion at will. When the "turner" is not being used, the board on the reel without a brush is turned downwards, thus keeping the three boards which have the brushes from being injured by contact with the heated floor. The walls at each end of the kiln are curved concavely to fit the revolution of the brushes, so that not even the smallest portion of the oats is neglected in the turning process. Mr Doull has had this ingenious turning and drying process of his in steady operation since last October, and it has worked to his highest satisfaction, and without a hitch all along. There is very little reason to doubt that once the invention is generally known in milling circles, its adoption will become general, especially as it is a simple and inexpensive process.
GENERAL REMARKS.
Water is the motive power, obtained from the Otamete stream by means of a race three-quarters of a mile in length. There is a splendid and permanent supply of water, the present power being about 14 h.p., which could be increased to 35 h.p. by raising a portion of the fluming, there being sufficient fall for such a purpose. Besides being "a jolly, dusty miller," Mr Doull has cultivated an eye for the neat and beautiful. He has acquired a freehold of 50 acres, a large portion of which he has highly improved. Asphalted paths run round the mill, and also about his private dwelling-house, which stands alongside the mill. There is a tidily kept flower garden in front of his residence, and a well filled kitchen garden at the rear. Behind this is a fine orchard, well sheltered from the prevailing winds by a large plantation, which extends around three sides of one of his sections. Mr Doull has recently returned from a trip to Australia, during which he combined business with pleasure. Running in the orchard I observed a pair of very fine pea-fowls, which he brought with him from New South Wales. The brilliant plumage of these beautiful birds is not often to be seen in these southerly latitudes. Altogether, my visit to the Waimea Plains Flour Mills was an enjoyable and profitable one. Long may the worthy proprietor have plenty grist for his mill!
Local Industries.— Our local flour-miller, Mr R. Doull, invited me a few days ago to inspect his flour and oatmeal mill, and I was greatly impressed with the splendid machinery which I saw at work turning out first-class articles in the shape of flour, pearl barley, groats, and oatmeal, which for its perfect aroma and fine nutty flavour would he sufficient to make any Scotsman's mouth water. Among other patent machinery I noticed Mr Doull's own patent revolving kiln turner. This is one of the most humane contrivances that has ever been invented, because it obviates the necessity for a man to have to go on to the hot seething kiln floor to turn the oats. The machine is worked by an endless chain revolving on one of the shafts, and may be turned backward or forward at will, and when it is not required to work it may be left quietly rotating at either end of the kiln. Three out of the four flanges of the turner are supplied with short horsehair brushes, which do not leave a single grain upon the floor plates unturned - the fourth part keeps the oats Uniform and level for the brushes. The reversing, as anyone acquainted with rudimentary mechanics will readily understand, is a simple process. It is done on the principle that if the action of two cogwheels will cause an impetus in a certain direction, three cogwheels will send the impetus in exactly the opposite direction. Thus there is connected with the driving power two sets of cogwheels - a three and a two - and by merely clicking a lever, the endless chain is transferred from the forward to the reverse motion at will. Mr Doull has had the machine constantly at work for the past five months, and it has given the greatest satisfaction during that time.Cromwell Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 1453, 9 March 1897
Mr R. Doull, the well known miller of Mandeville, has invented a most ingenious contrivance for counting bags—or anything else for that matter —and for multiplying any figures together with absolute accuracy and despatch. The contrivance is of a mechanical nature, and though difficult to adequately describe, is so simple that a child can use it. It is worked on a dial; Mr Doull using for his own purposes the face of a clock, and it is not inconveniently bulky. For butchers it will be specially handy, as it will keep tally of the amount of meat weighed during the day, and will have the total ready, thus saving the labor of addition.Mataura Ensign, Issue 465, 30 July 1898
WAIMEA PLAINS ROLLER FLOUR MILLS.Otago Witness, Issue 2332, 10 November 1898
Mr R Doull's well-known mill at Mandeville, Waimea Plains, has recently undergone an almost complete metamorphosis in respect of its internal arrangements, and these improvements having been earned out to a successful issue, a representative of the Ensign - the other day paid a visit to this shrine of Ceres to learn something of the changes that had been effected. Above the hum and bustle of whirring machinery and the wheeze of the asthmatic water-wheel, the cheery welcome of Mr Doull's greeting rang out, and having yelled his mission into the ear of the proprietor, our representative was taken in hand in a business-like manner which betokened an ability on the part of Mr Ddull to expeditiously fill empty sacks or inquisitive scribes with something.
IMPROVEMENTS EFFECTED.
It appeared that Mr Doull (who is nothing if not enterprising) some time back came to a recognition of the fact that his stone milling plant was becoming out of date, and, anxious to lose none of the prestige he had won for his mill and its products, he quickly cast about him to put an intention of installing a complete modern roller plant into actual practice. This determination has been most worthily consummated, and, as it stands today, Mr Doull's mill for completeness has no superior in the province. In order to give the average reader a better idea of the nature of the new plant, it might perhaps be as well to enter into a few details. To begin with, portion of the ground floor or basement has been laid with concrete, upon which are reared four solid cement pedestals for the reception of the "plummer" blocks of the shafting, which is actuated by a water-wheel of a capacity up to 15-horse power. The shaft (which is fashioned from steel) carries eight large driving wheels, cast by Messrs Cossins and Black (Dunedin). Upon this floor is disposed a "smutter," the function of which is to free the grain of all impurities, light wheat, etc. From the smutter the grain is automatically elevated to a bin on the top or third storey. From this bin the grain descends to a Cornelius Internal roller mill (made by Messrs Todds, Stanley and Co., St. Louis) on the second flat. After being roughly crushed in this machine, the stuff ascends again to the "scalper," which performs the useful office of separating the flour, middlings, and bran. The middlings, after having passed through one of Bobinson's "Koh-i-noor" purifiers, journey onwards to the reduction or smooth rolls, there to be further reduced. These machines are two in number, being manufactured by Otto C. Schumacher, of Melbourne, and are fitted with the celebrated Ansonia rolls. After being so treated, the material jogs along quietly to the hexagon flour dressers, which put on the finishing touches, draw out all impurities, and turn the flour off into bags. The bran, after emerging from the ordeal provided by the sealper (blood-thirsty name that) trots off to the second storey to interview the bran rolls. These reduce the stuff to a becoming state of littleness and purity, separate from it the flour, after which it is sent aloft to the bran duster, finally falling into the proper receptacles for bran and pollard respectively. All Mr Doull's new machinery is of the most modern design, and just about the very best procurable. It is worthy of mention, as a tribute to the engineering ability of the proprietor of this extensive and well-ordered establishment, that Mr Doull carried out the whole of the fitting work in connection with the installation of the new machinery, employing labor only for the carpentery and joinery work.
OTHER FEATURES.
It is interesting to learn, and a testimony to his enterprise, that Mr Doull was the first to introduce into the colony Bamford's Patent Rapid Grinding Oatmeal Mill. This machine is quite an insignificant-looking apparatus so far as size goes, but when it is known that it is capable of turning out 15cwt. of oatmeal per hour, feelings of the most intense respect for the little chap supervene in the visitor's mind. This machine is credited with granulating the meal much better than is done by following the stone-grinding system, the whole, of the work being accomplished by two enclosed corrugated chilled steel discs, one revolving against the other, which is stationary. A description of Mr Doull's mill would not be complete were mention not made of his wonderfully clever and effective invention for turning and drying oats on the kiln. Space does not permit of an extended notice of Doull's Patent Kiln Turner; suffice it to say that the device does its work better than a human being could reasonably be expected to, and what is of greater consequence it goes steadily ahead when required, hour after hour, day after day, week in and week out, never grumbling or complaining, never stopping to spit on its hands, neither does it get laid up with influenza or measles, nor strike for higher wages when the work is hard and the hours long. This masterpiece of mechanical skill of Mr Doull's, and Bamford's oatmeal mill are regarded in authoritative milling circles as the two greatest improvements in the trade that have been known during the past 50 years. What further fame could honest tradesman desire — what indeed?
So long as the staid old Mandeville mill wheel revolves on its axis, and so long as there is a Doull left to carry on the business, so long will the flour there produced rank on the same plane as the snowdrop of political innocency; as the emblem of purity and beneficence.
Our Flour Mill.- I was requested by Mr R. Doull, the genial proprietor of the Mandeville Flour Mill, to have a look over his up-to-date establishment a few days ago. Mr Doull has replaced our old-time honoured friend the French millstone with a magnificent roller plant, replete in every way with new and modern improvements. He has had the whole of this intricate machinery fitted up under his own supervision, and had all the woodwork made on the premises. I am therefore glad to be in a position to state that Mr Doull's new roller plant is giving every satisfaction, turning out as it does, a splendid sample of flour, thoroughly sound and as white as the driven snow. I need scarcely add that Mr Doull's brands of pearl barley and oatmeal have already become famous all over the Australasian colonies. I have inspected a good few flourmills in this country, and I have no hesitation in saying that Mr Doull's mill is second to none in the colony, and so far as improved machinery goes, it is far superior to a great number of them. Anyway, the Mandeville flour mill has proved a great boon to the settlers of this and the surrounding district.Doull applied for water rights in his wife's name - perhaps this was due to his position as a former bankrupt: Mataura Ensign, Issue 623, 17 August 1899
Under "The Mining Act, 1898." APPLICATION FOR WATER-RACE.There were other claimants for the water, so as well as defending their own usage, the couple had to object to others applying to use the water: Mataura Ensign, Issue 639, 23 September 1899
To the Warden of the Otago Mining District at Gore.
PURSUANT to "The Mining Act, 1898," the undersigned ELIZABETH DOULL, wife of Robert Doull, of Mandeville, Miller, hereby applies for a Water-race as specified in the Sohedule hereto, the course whereof has been duly marked out for the purpose.
Address for service : Care of Bowler and Nichol, Solicitors, Mersey Street, Gore.
Date and Number of Miner's Right : 2nd August, 1899 : No. 5442.
Dated this 7th day of August, 1899.
SCHEDULE.
Location of the Race, and of its starting and terminating points: Situate in and near Mandeville Township starting from the Otameta River in Section 247, Hokonui District, and terminating in other part of said Section 247 on the Otameta River
Proposed term of license: 42 years
Length and intended course of race: About 45 chains. Starting in said section 247, and running through part said section 247 and through sections 19, 18, 15, 14 Block VIII, Section 42, Block IX, Mandeville, and other part of said Section 247. the private lands of the Applicant.
Estimated Time and Cost of Construction:Race party already constructed, partly natural channel
Mean Depth and Breath: Depth 3 1/2 feet; Width 10 feet
Number of Heads to be Diverted: 50 Heads
Purpose for which Water is to be used: for purpose of driving water-wheel supplying motive power to Flour-mill
Signature of Applicant — ELIZABETH DOULL, by her Solicitors, Bowler and Nichol, Mersey Street, Gore.
Precise time of filing of the foregoing application — 10.30 am., 16th August, 1899.
Time and place appointed for the hearing of the application and all objections thereto : Thursday, 21st September, 1899, at 10 a.m., Warden's Court, Gore. Objections thereto must be filed in Court and notified to applicant at least two days before the day so appointed.
M. FOLEY, Mining Registrar.
WARDEN'S COURT.
GORE.
Thursday, Sept. 21.
(Before Mr H. A. Stratford, Warden.) The following cases were decided after we went to press on Thursday : —
Croydon Gold Dredging Co. (Mr Hall), application for a water race from Gordon and Reaby creeks to Croydon. - Objected to by S. Fletcher (Mr Inder), T. B. Cross, N.Z. Agricultural Co., Thomas Graham, Trustees R. Gray, C. M. Bell, and Elizabeth Doull. — Evidence was given in support of the objection to the effect that only four marked pegs along the line of race were to be seen, and that neither intake nor outlet of the race was shown. - In support of the application, P. McLean and John Dickson gave evidence to pegging out the company's proposed race. The latter stated that he had posted two notices and pegged out the ground for the race for an application by the same company in July last, but that application was withdrawn. Since the present application had been made, he again went over the ground, and saw that the pegs were all up. - After argument the Warden held that the law as to marking out had not been complied with. He refused the application and sustained the objection, allowing £2 18s costs against applicants.
...
Friday, Sept. 22.
...
S. Fletcher (Mr Inder), application for 20 heads of water from the Coneburn, Gordon, and Peel Creeks.— Objected to by B. Cross, N.Z.A. Co., T. Graham, C. M. and M. Bell, Elizabeth Doull, and the trustees of the late R. Gray (Mr Bowler). — Adjourned to October 19.
Elizabeth Doull (Mr Bowler), application for 50 heads of water from the Otamete stream. — R. Doull, husband of the applicant, said the water was wanted to work a flour mill. From April to the end of October in each year there were about 100 heads in the stream, but for the other five months there were less than 50 heads.— The application was adjourned to October 19, for a surveyor's report on the following matters : (1) How many heads the stream contains; (2) how many heads may be taken without prejudicing the interests of other persons (not public interest); (3) what conditions should be imposed on the grant of the application, and (4) surveyor or surveyors to be appointed by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, costs to be paid before the survey takes place.
The Court then rose.
The business passed to Robert's son: Mataura Ensign, Issue 870, 26 March 1901
Mandeville Mill.The announcement that ran in the next issue of the paper was wordier, and omitted the wrong year entirely: Mataura Ensign, Issue 871, 28 March 1901
MR JOHN A. DOULL, begs to notify that he has taken over the well-known Milling Business lately carried on at Mandeville by his father, MR ROBERT DOULL, and trusts by strict attention to Business, to merit a continuance of the support accorded to the latter. Dated this 26th day of March, 1900.
NOTICE. WAIMEA PLAINS FLOUR & OATMEAL MILL.
HAVING LEASED the Well - known MILLING BUSINESS from MR R. DOULL, at Mandeville, I have pleasure in intimating that as from the 1st MARCH, I will Conduct the Business hitherto carried on by him. I hope to retain the Patronage so liberally bestowed on my Predecessor, which, by careful attention to Business, I will endeavor to deserve. The Business will be conducted on the same lines as heretofore, and under the style of R. DOULL & CO.
JNO. A. DOULL, Mandeville.
I beg to intimate to the General Public that I have DISPOSED OF MY MILLING BUSINESS TO MY SON, and THANK THEM for the Patronage they have so liberally accorded me during the past Fifteen Years. Hoping the public will bestow the same on my Successor in the future, ROBERT DOULL, Mandeville.
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