Hollick's Timber Factory, Milton, New Zealand 🌍

Milton (#nz78)

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 612, 7 July 1874, Page 3

Returning to Ajax-street we note that Mr Hollick has erected, in the rear of his former premises, an additional workshop, to which is attached a small windmill with which to supply the motive power for driving, turning, and other labor saving machinery.

A report that someone looking to install a windpump went to see the windmill in action suggest that this may have been a wind engine: Bruce Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 773, 1 February 1876, Page 5

Mr Wm. Welsh, formerly of Green Island, and now of lower Shag Valley, informs us that some time ago he discovered a seven foot seam of coal on his property, which he is now opening up and hopes ere many months to have the coal in the market. The seam is evidently the same one that has been so long worked at Shag Point no great distance off, only as the new pit is situated on this side of the Horse Range, Mr Welsh is likely, we should imagine, to secure the Palmerston and Shag Valley trade. However, time will tell. Six men are now employed night and day in opening up the mine, two of whom are constantly employed in pumping water from the workings, instead of which, to economise labor, Mr Welsh purposes erecting a windmill, and visited Milton yesterday to ascertain the plan on which Mr J. Hollick has erected the windmill in the roar of his timber yard. Those who have crossed the Horse Range by the old track will remember the steep spur which leads from Shag Valley. It is on the table land at the foot of this spur that the coal has been discovered, and is now being opened up under the inspection of a competent miner recently arrived from the home country, who has been given an interest in the undertaking, which promises to be a good venture, coal being worth 14s per ton there, exactly double its price hereabouts.

The windmill was soon replaced by steam power: Bruce Herald, Volume X, Issue 928, 3 August 1877, Page 5

Mr. Hollick's New Timber Manufactory.
Our enterprising townsman, Mr John Hollick, has just added to his business premises extensive additions both in the shape of buildings and machinery. Formerly, Mr Hollick erected a windmill for driving his machinery, but this power was found to be so uncertain that he could not thus satiafac- perform sufficient work in carrying on his business as builder and joiner. He therefore determined on erecting larger and more commodious premises, and to obtain steam power. Yesterday we had the pleasure of observing the machinery at work, and we now give a brief description of the premises.
The manufactory is a large and commodious building two storeys in height, 60 feet by 20 feet, and 20 feet in height. The top storey is used principally for joiners work, and is well lighted by skylights from the roof. The ground floor is confined solely to the use of the machinery which Mr Hollick intends using for manufacturing purposes to satisfy the demands of his own business as builder and joiner. The engine-house, which joins the larger shed, is 18 feet by 14 feet, and contains both the engine and boiler. The engine - a 20 h.p. actual, - which is manufactured by J. Bourne, is of comparatively novel construction - the piston speed being over 500 feet per minute. The cylinder, bed-plate, and plummer blocks are cast in one piece. The crank-shaft is in one solid piece, with the crank pin placed between two discs, which are provided with counter weights to neutralize the vibratory motion derived from the piston. This construction causes the engine to run very steadily, indeed, even at its highest rate of speed, it is provided with Bourne's patent high-speed spring governor, which act to perfection under the most varying loads. The feed pump is provided with an air chamber; the cylinder is bushed and lagged, and the whole highly finished. A vertical, tubular boiler of 30 horse-power actual capacity, aud tested up to 300 lbs per square inch, supplies the engine with steam. The boiler has been put down of this ample size so as to be able to use as fuel, such refuse as saw-dust, chips, &c , without unnecessary forcing. It is by the same maker as the engine, and is provided with two safety valves, two water glass guages, steam pressare indicator, surface pipes, blow-off tap and feed water heater, man hole, and mud hole doors are all made with strengthening pieces round the mouth. The whole workmanship of the boiler is of the most faithful kind, amply justifying to far greater pressure than will ever be expected from it, and is placed on a solid concrete foundation.
Most important amongst the machinery is a patent general joiner by Worsam, of Chelaea. This machine will do almost any kind of joiner work with great accuracy and speed; will saw, cross-cut, bore, mortice; finish tenons at one operation; plane, groove and tongue; mould either straight, curved, or sunk; and several operations, simultaneously.
These additions of labor-saving appliances to Mr Hollick's business must prove greatly serviceable in enabling him to compete advantageously with any establishment in the Colony, and we trust that it will enable him still further to extend his already large field of operations.

Once the steam engine was in place, the windmill was offered for sale locally: Bruce Herald, Volume x, Issue 985, 19 February 1878, Page 4

FOR SALE. - A BARGAIN. SMALL Windmill, suitable for chaff cuting, &c. JOHN HOLLICK, Milton.

The ad was also pitched at a wider audience Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 189, 22 February 1878, Page 4

FOR SALE. - A BARGAIN. SMALL WINDMILL, suitable for Chaff-cutting, &c, &c. J. HOLLICK, Milton.