Brightwater, New Zealand 🌍


Brightwater (#nz1558)

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XV, Issue 97, 4 March 1857

FLOUR. MR. WILKIE having DISCONTINUED the SALE of MY FLOUR, the public of Nelson are respectfully informed that it can now be obtained at the Stores of Mr. Symons, Mr. Robert Aitken, And Mr. I. M. Hill, who sell my Flour only.
Persons who may wish for a lower-priced article can be supplied at the same Stores with Flour of a lower quality, 3s, per 100lbs. below the price of my best Flour.
Alfred Saunders. Brightwater Mill, March 2, 1857.
Saunders appears to have been a shrewd man - why pay for an advertisement in the paper, when you can write to the editor, and get the same information disseminated free of charge! Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 71, 4 September 1858
TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'NELSON EXAMINER'
Sir — My attention having been lately engrossed in the pleasing and profitable occupation of shearing and dipping a few scabby sheep, I neglected the always unpleasant task of reporting a decline of £1 per ton in the price of Flour, and have thus caused you to misreport my prices in the last few numbers of the Examiner.
As sheep-shearing unfortunately does not occur every week, I hope I shall not frequently be guilty of such neglect, and meantime remain, Very penitently yours, Alfred Saunders.
Brightwater Mill, September 1st, 1858.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 64, 10 August 1859
To the Editor of the 'Nelson Examiner.'
Sir — I see that in Saturday's Examiner you quote my prices - Sharps, 9s.; pollard, 7s. I don't know how long they have been reported at that rate, but the price has never altered for at least two years, and is still - Sharps, 8s.; pollard, 6s.
Yours, &c, Alfred Saunders. Brightwater Mill, August 9.
Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 421, 5 November 1861
HAVING now started two new pairs of stones, and made such other additions to his mill as will enable him to grind for the public with punctuality and despatch without interrupting his own flour trade, the undersigned is prepared to Grind Wheat in quantities of not less than six bushels at a charge of 1s. per bushel. ALFRED SAUNDERS. Brightwater Mill, November 1, 1881.
Colonist, Volume V, Issue 478, 23 May 1862
SEED WHEAT - The undersigned begs to inform the many farmers who have requested him to furnish them with ADELAIDE WHEAT, for seed, that the wheat has now arrived, and may be had either at the old wharf, at Rostrevor Farm, or at Brightwater Mill. ALFRED SAUNDERS.
Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 555, 17 February 1863
CLEAN & WHOLESOME FLOUR. - Having imported in the Golconda, and now completed the erection of, a newly-invented wheat cleaning machine, which completely separates wheat from dust, dirt, smut, mouse and rat dung, and every kind of impurity, leaving nothing but the clean polished wheat to be ground for flour, the undersigned is now in a position to supply his customers with flour of a superior as well as a much more wholesome and cleanly character than any that has been previously offered to the Nelson public.
This flour can be obtained in the town of Nelson -
WHOLESALE From Messrs. Edwards and Co. Mr A. W. Scaife
WHOLESALE OR RETAIL. From Mr. Hounsell and Mr. Condell, Bridge-street.
Mr. I. M. Hill, Waimea-street
Messrs. Rentoul Brothers, Trafalgar-street
Mr. Howell, Collingwood-street, and
Mr. Neal, Waimea-road.
IN COLLINGWOOD. From Mr. W. Riley.
BREAD made exclusively from this purified Flour is sold by - Mr. Grant, Bridge-street, and Mr. Wilson, Waimea-road.
ORDERS for the SHIPMENT of this flour sent to the undersigned will be attended to if accompanied with the cash, or a reference for payment in the town of Nelson, but not otherwise.
ALFRED SAUNDERS. Brightwater Mill, Feb. 16, 1863
Colonist, Volume VI, Issue 592, 26 June 1863
ROAD RATE.
Mr. Butler moved, that in the opinion of this Council the time has now arrived when the existing Country Roads Act should be amended, so as to substitute for its present mode of taxing a system that will embrace the productions of the country, by fixing rates on lands according to their class and capabilities of production, whether in a state of cultivation or not; on all minerals according to their annual return and value; and on all water-falls according to their value when used as propelling powers to machinery. ... For assessment on waterfall powers, he made a calculation respecting Brightwater mill stream. He estimated that the power of that fall was equal to 15 horses, and as the mill went night and day, it would require 45 horses for relays. These he valued at £30 a-head, and this produced a rateable commodity of £1350, which at one per cent, would yield a rate of £13 10s, or 5s. a-week for the use of the roads. This he thought was a very moderate expense for all the mill waggons of the establishment he had referred to.
Colonist, Volume VII, Issue 656, 9 February 1864
BRIGHTWATER MILL. THE following RULES will, in future, be strictly observed in the conduct of business at this Mill:-
Unless where a special arrangement has been made, Wheat bought, and Flour or offal sold, must always be understood to be cash on delivery, and no orders will be attended to unless accompanied with a remittance or satisfactory reference for payment in the city of Nelson.
Wheat will always be paid for, and Flour charged at the market price on the day of delivery, without any reference to the time at which it may have been ordered, or any previous conversation that may have taken place on the subject.
Customers wishing to sell or buy at present prices for future delivery, must take and give a written agreement to that effect, binding on both parties.
Grists will generally be promised as ready for re-delivery within a week from the day on which they are sent to the mill, and the proprietor will always hold himself responsible for the punctual fulfilment of such promise, and to fully compensate for any loss of time, extra journeys, or other loss or inconvenience that may arise from any want of punctuality on his part.
Grists left in the Mill more than one week after the day on which they are promised, will be charged storage at the rate of one penny per bushel for every week or part of a week, during which they may be so left.
Grinding, per bushel .. .. .. 6d Grinding and Dressing in quantities of not less than 6 bushels 9d.
Cleaning, Grinding, and Dressing in quantities of not less than 20 bushels 1s.
All Grinding and Storage must be paid for on delivery.
ALFRED SAUNDERS.
Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 753, 13 January 1865
STRANGE POST-OFFICE SURCHARGES
To the Editor of The Colonist.
Sir-You recently made some very just remarks upon the increased taxation that has lately been inflicted upon us in the shape of additional customs duties. There is another tax of a still more objectionable kind, that has for some time past been exacted from a portion of the Nelson public, which I have long wished to see become the subject of a leading article in your paper, and the only reason I can assign for it not having been so honored is that it has not afflicted the city, where all the editors and other noisy persons live, but has been almost exclusively confined to the quiet, passive, suffering, but uncomplaining, country settlers.
I of course refer to the double postage that has been placed upon country letters by the late Post-master-General, or possibly by our Nelson Postmaster or some of his clerks.
If letters were so insufficiently or incorrectly directed as to render re-direction necessary to cause them to reach their destination I should not complain of a small additional charge; but when they are directed with perfect accuracy, and the clerks in the Nelson post office simply alter the direction in such a manner that they never would have found me had they been so directed in the first instance, and charge me 2d. or 4d. for so doing, it appears to me an imposition which even a meek country settler ought no longer to submit to without complaint.
Judge Johnson lately doubted the claim of Nelson to be called a city; the clerks in the post-office appear to think that it is not a province, as they invariably strike out the word Nelson from letters directed to me, and put Spring Grove in its stead, although I do not live in Spring Grove, but do live in the Province of Nelson. Where do you think, sir, our English letters would go to if our friends there were to direct them to Spring Grove, and not to Nelson?
I will enclose for your inspection some envelopes orginally directed to me at
Brightwater Mill, River Terrace, Nelson, N.Z,
Now, sir, that direction is strictly correct, and you would think minute and distinct enough for anything, yet you will observe that Nelson has been struck out and Spring Gove stuck in, and 2d. and 4d. charged for the misdirection.
If it were the intention of the late Postmaster-General to charge a double postage for letters so correctly directed, and to insist upon all country letters being directed to the little village in which a branch post-office may happen to be placed, I feel sure that he would not have allowed such a practice to commence until he had duly advertised his intention, and given the public notice that they must direct letters, not to where their correspondents live, but to where the nearest branch post-office happens to be.
I am perfectly aware, sir, that we must and shall be taxed far more heavily than we even now are to pay the interest of money lately borrowed, but I trust it will be done in something like a constitutional manner, and not left to the will and pleasure of a post-office clerk.
I am, &c,
ALFRED SAUNDERS

Most of the references to Brightwater mill are due to letters or advertisement by Saunders, but the mill also featured in an unfortunate news report of a fatal accident at the mill: Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 809, 28 July 1865

Fatal Accident at Brightwater Mill. - Last Wednesday morning, Harry Hoby, aged sixteen, son of Mr. George Hoby, late of Nelson, and now of Taranaki, was discovered dead among the driving gear of the machinery of Brightwater Mill, the property of his Honor the Superintendent. The particulars of this fatal occurrence was brought out at an Inquest held the same day before Mr. Connell, the Coroner, and a jury of which Mr. N. T. Lockhart was foreman. Thomas Flowers, miller at the mill, deponed, that at two o'clock in the morning, after the conclusion of his own watch, which was the first of the night, he called Harry Hoby about ten minutes past two o'clock, and left him in charge of the mill, and went to bed in a house close to the mill. He last saw him alive about a quarter past two. Deceased was perfectly sober, and was a total abstainer. The accident occurred at the shaft of the upper wheel of the elevator. Deceased had on a loose wrapper of flannel and calico, the breast part of which was entangled in the elevator shaft. His head was rather below the shaft, and the back of his neck was close to it, his garment being twisted tight round his body. His eyes were closed, his mouth a little open, and some blood was issuing from his nose. He was dead. His extremities were cold, but the chest was still warm, he was not stiff when he was cut down. His clothes were twisted so tight that it was a difficult matter to get a finger under them so as to introduce a knife to cut them; they had to be cut almost in pieces. From the quantity of work done, and the number of bags placed to receive the flour, two of which had been so placed by deceased, witness judged that the accident could not have occurred before five o'clock, and as he did not call the rest of the hands at six, witness believed that the accident occurred between five and six o'clock. None of the hands came to the mill before a quarter past seven. It was the duty of deceased that morning to set the elevators going. (By a juror.) The strap had not slipped from the elevator wheel; the driving wheel was still running when the body was found. He had put on the lower strap, but the upper strap had not been disengaged from the hook it hung on. From the position in which the body was found, witness believed that he was about putting on that strap when the accident took place. He had frequently done it before, and there was no danger with ordinary care. If he (witness) had to do the same, he should not have done it in the jacket which deceased then wore. He thought it highly imprudent to do so; but other men in the mill have done it. - George Gray, apprentice miller, deponed that his proper time for going to work that morning was six o'clock, at which, time it was the duty of the man who had the morning watch to call him. No one called witness that morning. He got up and went to the mill at a quarter-past seven. He was the first to arrive. When he came, the bell which gives warning of the stones being empty was ringing, and he saw that they were empty. He knew Harry Hoby had the morning watch, and went to look for him. After searching among the machinery in the lower part of the mill, witness went up stairs, and found him at the elevator shaft, with his clothes entangled in it. Witness called him by name, but got no answer. He then went up to him and saw that he was entangled by his clothes being twisted tightly round his neck. He then felt his hands and tried for his pulse. The hands were cold, and there was no pulsation. He then went for assistance. Witness corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. Being again interrogated, witness said he had frequently put on the strap, and did not consider it dangerous; but he would not have done so with such a garment as deceased wore. - Mr. Oldham, surgeon, deponed having seen the body about twenty minutes before 9 o'clock. The cause of death was stoppage of respiration, and deceased had been dead about three or four hours before witness saw the body. - The jury found a verdict of accidental strangulation, deceased "having imprudently worn a loose garment among machinery."

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 10 March 1866

Within the last few days, Mr. Saunders has disposed of Brightwater Mill, on the Wairoa, to a gentleman lately arrived from England in the Dona Anita, in conjunction with Mr. Hounsell, of Nelson. We have not heard the price which the property brought. One of the conditions of sale was, we understand, that the late proprietor should retire altogether from the mill and flour business.
Colonist, Volume IX, Issue 889, 8 May 1866
BRIGHTWATER MILL.
ROD AND HOUNDSELL, MILLERS, &c, (Successors to Mr. Saunders),
HIGHEST PRICE GIVEN, IN CASH, FOR BEST QUALITIES OF WHEAT.
Samples can be left at H. Hounsell's Store, Bridge-street, Nelson, where orders will also be received and promptly attended to.
Brightwater Mill, Nelson, March, 10, 1866.

TO BAKERS, FLOUR DEALERS, MERCHANTS; &c.
THE undersigned begs to inform his numerous customers and the public that he has this day DISPOSED of his MILL, and all interest in the business connected with it, to Messrs. Rod and Hounsell; and while taking the present opportunity of thanking those who have hitherto favored him with their custom, he begs to express a hope that his successors may obtain the same liberal patronage that he has so long and so steadily received.
ALFRED SAUNDERS. Nelson, March 10, 1866.
WITH reference to the foregoing announcement the undersigned beg to express a hope that by punctual attention to orders, and by supplying Flour of superior excellence, they will merit a continuance of those favors so liberally bestowed upon their predecessor.
ROD AND HOUNSELL. Brightwater Mill, Nelson, March 10, 1866.
Colonist, Volume IX, Issue 878, 30 March 1866
FOR SALE. 2000 THREE bushel sacks. 15s. per dozen. Apply to ROD AND HOUNSELL, Brightwater Mill, or at HY. HOUNSELL'S STORES, Bridge-street, Nelson.

The mill now had a steam engine to drive it, but within a few months of being sold, the mill was again being marketed: Colonist, Volume IX, Issue 930, 24 August 1866

STATIONARY STEAM ENGINE.
MECHANISM for a FLOUR MILL.
FOR SALE, - A First-class Condensing Vertical STEAM ENGINE, Wolf system, High and Low Pressure of 16-Horse Nominal Power, can be worked up to 28-horse; made at one of the best London Manufactories, and carefully examined before being packed by one of the first London Engineers, who also prepared the plan of the Engine to facilitate putting it up. This Steam Engine is guaranteed not to consume more than 3lbs. of coal an hour for each horse power.
Also, TO SELL, the complete MECHANISM for a FLOUR MILL, comprising all the latest improvements, with 5 Pairs of Superior French Stones, arranged to be worked by the Steam Engine; with all the accessories necessary, as well as the plan of the building, and all the ironwork requisite in the construction.
The whole has been prepared with the greatest care, the seller having intended using them himself.
The Steam Engine, or the Machinery for the Mill, can be purchased separately, at the option of the purchaser.
THE ABOVE IS OFFERED FOE SALE AT A GREAT SACRIFICE.
For further particulars apply to ROD AND HOUNSELL, Brightwater Mill, Nelson
The same ad was repeated many times until November of the same year, when it stopped - perhaps Rod and Housell found a way to continue the milling business as it was.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 173, 24 September 1866

WANTED, a Steady, Single MAN, to drive a waggon and to make-himself generally useful. Apply to ROD & HOUNSELL, Brightwater Mill; or H. HOUNSELL, Bridge-street.
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 159, 10 July 1867
TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. WANTED, an intelligent respectable Youth, about 14 or 15 years of age, as an Indoor APPRENTICE. He is required to be able to read and write, and make himself useful at the accounts if necessary. Apply to ROD & HOUNSELL, Brightwater Mill.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, 14 May 1868

BRIGHTWATER MILL.
NOTICE. - Whereas some evil-disposed Person or Persons having made it their business (evidently with the intention of doing us an injury) to spread the report that we have CEASED to RECEIVE GRISTS to GRIND, at our Mill, we hasten to inform the Farmers, and all other Parties interested, that we have never done anything of the kind, but that all GRISTS sent to us have been, and will be, as carefully and as PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO as was done by our predecessor, Mr. Saunders. Any information which will throw any light as to who is the author of the above, will be thankfully received by the undersigned. Rod and Hounsell.

Clearly the business got in to financial trouble - but the appointed trustees authorised the existing millers to carry on the business: Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1203, 6 April 1869

IN the ESTATE of DAVID LOUTS ROD, of Brightwater Mill, in the District of Wnimea South, in the Province of Nelson, in the Colony of New Zealand, and HENRY HOUNSELL, of the City of Nelson, in the said Province, Millers, trading together as such under the Style or Firm of ROD and HOUNSELL:
NOTICE is hereby given, that the said David Louis Rod and Henry Hounsell, did by DEED, bearing date the First day of April instant, CONVEY and ASSIGN all their ESTATE and EFFECTS whatsoever unto us, the Undersigned, UPON TRUST, for the BENEFIT of all their CREDITORS: And that such Deed was duly executed by the said David Louis Rod and Henry Hounsell, and by us, the undesigned on the First day of April instant, in the presence of and witnessed by John Aiken, Book-keeper. Nelson, and William Adams, of the said City of Nelson, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Dated this Fifth day of April, 1869. NATH. EDWARDS AND CO.

WITH reference to the above, it is hereby notified that Messrs. ROD and HOUNSELL are APPOINTED TO MANAGE and CONDUCT THE BUSINESS AS USUAL at BRIGHTWATER MILL on account of us, the undersigned. NATH. EDWARDS AND CO. Nelson, 5th April, 1869.

IN the ESTATE of HENRY HOUNSELL. of the City of Nelson, in the Colony of New Zealand, Storekeeper:
NOTICE is hereby given, that the said Henry Hounsell, did by DEED, bearing date the First day of April instant, CONVEY and ASSIGN all his ESTATE and EFFECTS, whatsoever (except as in the said Deed is excepted) unto us, the Undersigned, UPON TRUST, for the BENEFIT of all his CREDITORS:. And that such Deed was duly executed by the said Henry Hounsell, and by us, the undersigned, on the said First day of April instant, in the presence of and witnessed by John Aiken, Book-keeper, Nelson, and William Adams, of the said City, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Dated this Fifth day of April, 1869. NATH. EDWARDS AND CO.

WITH reference to the above, it is hereby notified that Mr. HENRY HOUSELL is APPOINTED TO MANAGE and CONDUCT THE BUSINEES AS USUAL in BRIDGE STREET on account of us, the undersigned. NATE. EDWARDS AND CO. Nelson, 5th April, 1869.

NOTICE TO FARMERS IN THE WAIMEA DISTRICTS. MESSRS. ROD AND HOUNSELL are AUTHORISED to PURCHASE WHEAT on our account for DELIVERY AT BRIGHTWATER MILL. NATH. EDWARDS AND CO. Nelson, 5th April, 1869.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 161, 12 July 1869

BRIGHTWATER MILL.
REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF FLOUR.
ROD & HOUNSELL
Beg to notify that they now quote Fine Silk-dressed Flour at £14 per ton, Wholesale; to be obtained Retail, at 15s. per 100lbs., at the following Agents: -
Messrs. Neale and Haddow Collingwood-street
Mr. H. V. Phillips ... Bridge-street
Mr. W. Wilkie ... "
Mr. M. M. Webster ... Trafalgar-street
Mr. J. C. Phillips "
Mr. Rentoul "
Mr. W. Jones Haven-Road
Mr. Marris .... ... ... Waimea-road
Mr. Painton .. .. Wakefield
Mr. E. Hooper ... ... "
Mr. Hodgson ... ... "
Bran, Wholesale, £6 per ton
Pollard " £7 "
Sharps " £9 "
Nelson, July 12, 1869

The partnership was dissolved, and Rod carried on the milling, with Hounsell returning to his retailing: Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1235, 27 July 1869

NOTICE is hereby given, that the PARTNERSHIP for some time past subsisting between us the undersigned, David Louis Rod, and Henry Hounsell, under the style or firm of Rod and Hounsell, as Millers, at Brightwater Mill, and elsewhere, in the Province of Nelson, in the Colony of New Zealand, was this day DISSOLVED by mutual consent, and that the business will henceforth be carried on by the said Davi Louis Rod, on account of and for Messieurs Nathaniel Edwards and Company, Merchants, Nelson, as Trustees; and the said David Louis Rod is authorised for and on behalf of the said Messieurs Nathaniel Edwards and Company, to discharge all debts, and to receive all credits on account of the said partnership.
As witness our hands this twenty-sixth day of July, one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-nine.
DAVID LOUIS ROD.
HENRY HOUNSELL.
Witness— WILLIAM ADAMS, Solicitor, Nelson.

In the Estate of Henry Hounsell, of the City of Nelson, in the Colony of New Zealand, Storekeeper.
NOTICE is hereby given, that we, the undersigned, have RE-ASSIGNED to the said Henry Hounsell, all his estate and effects whatsoever, which were assigned to us UPON TRUST for the benefit of all his Creditors, under a Deed, dated the 1st April last past, and the said Henry Hounsell is hereby authorised, from and after this date, to carry on and conduct his business in Bridge-street, Nelson, solely on his own account.
NATH. EDWARDS & CO. Nelson, July 27, 1869.

TO BAKERS AND OTHERS.
THE undersigned are the SOLE WHOLESALE AGENTS of ROD and HOUNSELL'S BRAND of SUPERFINE SILK-DRESSED FLOUR, in 200lb, 100lb, and 50lb Bags.
Superfine Silk-dressed Flour ... £14 per ton
Bran ... ... ... ... 6 "
Pollard 7 "
Sharps ... 9 "
NATH. EDWARDS & CO. Nelson, July 27, 1869.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 63, 6 December 1871

The Crops. - Although the weather has been unusually favourable for the crops this season, the wheat in many cases is not looking so well as might be expected. This is accounted for by the past winter being unusually wet, so that the land could not be got into proper condition before sowing, and is now baked into hard clods, which afford but little nutriment to the growing plants. An insect, never before observed, is attacking the wheat this season. It is a species of weevil, and is conjectured to have been introduced in wheat imported from America or Adelaide, shipments of which received some time ago at the Brightwater Mill, in Waimea, having been full of these destructive insects.

Rutherford was milling at the mill from at least 1878. Colonist, Volume XX, Issue 2340, 24 January 1878

Flour. - Mr Rutherford, Brightwater mill, quotes flour at £16 per ton wholesale.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 231, 11 October 1879

FOR SALE. THE BRIGHTWATER MILL and PROPERTY. Will be sold cheap. Apply to N. EDWARDS & CO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 10 February 1898

THE UNDERSIGNED IS A CASH PURCHASER OF WHEAT (OLD AND NEW). JOHN RUTHERFORD, Brightwater Mill.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 11115, 26 August 1904

BRIGHTWATER ROLLER FLOUR MILLS.
Geo. Trapnell from Christchurch having purchased the above Mills, and having overhauled and put the same in up-to-date working order.
Is NOW PREPARED TO SUPPLY - The very best ROLLER FLOUR (registered brand "Radium") manufactured by an up-to-date Roller Mill plant, and from choice selected milling wheats from Canterbury.
Also SEMOLINA, for Biscuits, Puddings, Porridge, etc, and whole Wheat Meal for Brown Bread. Also, Porridge Meal.
ALWAYS ON SALE Flour Bran, Pollard, Oatmeal, Fowl Wheat, at lowest cash price at mill door; all retail sales for cash.
Agent for OSMOND & SONS Cattle Oils and Medicines, for all cattle ailments. Stock kept in store at the Mill.
GEO. TRAPNELL, Proprietor,
Nelson Evening Mail, 1 December 1905
ASK FOR Radium Roller Flour, Wheat Meal .... and Semolina. MADE FROM THE CHOICEST WHEAT. GEO. TRAPNELL, BRIGHTWATER MILL
Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11312, 20 April 1905
The old Brightwater Flour Mill, under the influence of Mr Trapnell, has entirely been brought up to date. The latest machinery is in position, and everything is being done to lessen labor, and to produce a first quality of "radium." The water supply, which was destroyed by the big flood, is now better than ever. Six pairs of hands are at present kept busy, and everything promises a prosperous future.
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 27 June 1907
Mr Geo. Trapnell, of the Radium Roller Flour Mill, Brightwater, advertises his thanks for public support and notifies the importation and erection of special machinery for the manufacture of "Ideal," a digestive flour claimed to contain all nourishing phosphates. The firm also draws attention to the awards its flour and semolina have won at the Christchurch Exhibition.
Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 12064, 12 October 1907
Radium Roller Flour Mills. HAVING To-day concluded the purchase of a large line of Primest Milling Wheat, I am enabled to keep my mill running as usual, and customers can rely on prompt supply of Radium and Ideal Flour and usual lines. GEORGE TRAPNELL, Brightwater. 12th October, 1907.
Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 12072, 22 October 1907
Mr George Trapnell of the Radium Flour Mills, Brightwater, desires us to explicitly state that he has no intention of closing down his mills. So far from this being Mr Trapnell's intention he is able, through a recent advantageous purchase of milling wheat, to run his mill for several months to come from recent stock alone. Mr Trapnell's special "Ideal" flour, for the milling of which ho imported special machinery, is finding much favor with housewives. This flour is as fine as ordinary white flour, but it has all the properties of whole meal as well, and constitutes a very valuable food product. Mr Trapnell has an advertisement in another column.
Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 104, 2 May 1908
For sale, as a going concern, The Radium Flour mills,
Situated at Brighwater 12 miles from Nelson City and within Half a mile of Brightwater Railway Station, Township; and Telegraph Office.
The mills are equipped with the very latest milling machinery, made by Henry Simon, Ltd., of Manchester, England, driven by a new American water turbine. The turbine, which is set in solid concrete foundation, is supplied by a never-failing and practically unlimited water supply obtained from the Wairoa River. Capacity of mill - 5 bags per hour.
The mill buildings are of totara, and both buildings and plant are in splendid order.
The property comprises 38 1/2 acres of rich agricultural land, together with substantial 9-roomed residence, fitted with every modern convenience, including hot and cold water. Substantial farm buildings. Radium flour has a colonial reputation as being SECOND TO NONE. In open competition at the recent New Zealand International Exhibition this brand was awarded the ONLY GOLD MEDAL for the whole wheat meal, in addition to a GOLD and a SILVER MEDAL for other exhibits.
Stocks can be taken over at valuation. The owner's sole reason for desiring to sell is that he is retiring from business.
For further particulars apply to HARCOURT & CO., Wellington. PITT AND MOORE, Nelson. GEORGE TRAPNELL, Brightwater, Nelson.
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 25 January 1909
It is always a pleasure to record the success of Nelson manufactures, and when these manufactures gain high awards at such an exhibition as the Franco-British Exhibition recently held in London it is all the more gratifying to note that local exhibits have been deemed worthy of the honour of a gold medal. It was stated some time ago that Messrs G. Trapnell and Co., proprietors of the "Radium" Mills at Brightwater, had forwarded to the Exhibition a shipment of flour, semolina, wheatmeal, etc, to be judged in open competition with the world's best milling produce. Mr Trapnell has just received official intimation that the "Radium" exhibit was awarded a diploma of honour and a gold medal, and a copy of the "British Trade Review" to hand contains a list of the awards. To have gained such a meritorious award it is evident that the judges must have been impressed with the superior quality of the exhibit, and it is a matter for congratulation that products from this district should have achieved such a success at so important an exhibition. Mr Trapnell is to be complimented on venturing so far afield and on his determination to meet strong competition, and he has every reason to be proud of the place taken by the products of the Brightwater Mill. A great honour has been conferred on the "Radium" mill, and Nelson has secured a good advertisement as a result of the award. It is learnt that there is a strong demand nearer home for "Radium" products, and the mill at Brightwater is kept going at full capacity to meet the demand for the lines manufactured.

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