Nelson, New Zealand 🌍

Nelson (#nz1537)

Established in 1845, as a company rather than by an individual.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, 21 June 1845

Flour Mill. — After repeated delays caused by the difficulty of obtaining all the necessary machinery, the flour mill was got fairly at work on Thursday last. We are highly pleased to be able to state that it does its work in the most satisfactory manner; and, from what we hear, we believe it to be by far the best mill in the colony:. The only thing not completed is the smut machine, which, however, is so far advanced that it will be ready in a couple of days. The price for grinding is fixed, we believe, at 10d. per bushel, and 1s. if the smut machine is used. The directors regaled the shareholders, on the occasion, with a luncheon of bread and cheese and beer, all the produce of the settlement; and we might challenge any of the southern colonies to produce similar cheer equally good.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 223, 13 June 1846

Flour Mill. — The flour mill is now in a most efficient state, but the supply of wheat for the last few weeks has been very inadequate. Unless the mill is kept in full work at this season of the year, it is impossible that it can grind the wheat now in the settlement. Our farming friends should think of this.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 224, 20 June 1846

It is to be regretted that in the only settlement in New Zealand where agriculture can be pursued with perfect safety, without hindrance or molestation of any kind from the Maories, and which therefore might become the granary of the colony, that any cause should operate to discourage the cultivator from reaping the full benefit of his fortunate position. Yet something of this kind is the case here at present. Though cultivation at Wellington and Auckland will this year be more inadequate than ever to supply the wants of those places, and while there is a probability of high prices in the neighbouring colonies, our cultivators seem afraid of sowing any increased quantity of wheat, because, as they say, they are unable to find purchasers at fair prices for their last year's crop. But why should not a few settlers combine together, get their wheat ground, and send the flour to Wellington ? We learn that at present it is worth at least £17 a ton, with an expected advance; and we are sure that at that price it would pay the cultivator well to adopt the course we suggest. To prove this, we take a statement furnished us by the manager of the mill, of a lot of wheat ground recently, which had been grown by R. Tod, Esq., at Ellendale :—
"Nelson Flour-Mill, June 17, 1846. Particulars of 36 Bushels of Wheat, ground and dressed at this Mill, May 11, 1846. lbs. Weight received 2,185 Proceeds. Good flour for bakers, 431bs. p' bushel 1,550 Do. for ship biscuits, 7 „ . 255 Pollard and bran .9 „ 328 Loss 14 „ . 52 60i 2,185."
We have the word of the baker by whom this flour was worked up, that it was superior to that recently brought in the Augustus, acknowledged to be among the best ever imported here. The wheat in question was undoubtedly a fine sample, but, from being winnowed by hand, rather light. Not to overstate the matter, we will take wheat at 60 lbs. to the bushel, yielding 40 lbs. of flour, and see whether the farmer might not get a good price for his produce, by adopting our recommendation.
50 bushels of wheat will yield £ s. d, 1 ton fine flour . . . .17 0 0 5001bs. thirds, at Bs. per 100lbs. . 2 0 0 450 lbs. pollard and bran, at 3s. 4d. per 100lbs 0 15 0 £19 15 0 Cost : 50 bushels wheat, at ss. Ud. . 13 8 9 Grinding do., at 10d. . . .218' 10 bags, at 2s. 6d. each . .15 0 Freight per ton to Wellington . 15 0 Commission, &c, 10 per cent, on £17, 1 14 0 £19 14 5
The thirds flour, pollard, and bran, whether sold or consumed by the farmer in feeding his pigs, are worth the sum estimated; so that on the supposition that the flour will realize £17 per ton in Wellington, of which there can be little doubt, the farmer will get about 5s. 4 1/2d. a bushel for the wheat he may thus dispose of. We have made these remarks, hoping they may induce a few individuals to make trial of the plan we have suggested. The loss individually cannot be great, even if our calculations should prove erroneous; while the benefit to be derived from the experiment, if successful, is out of all proportion to the risk; for if the fact be once established that a ready market for our surplus produce exists in an adjacent settlement, we shall hear no more fears expressed of overproduction. The thing once done successfully, the sceptical will gain confidence and do likewise. If our services can be of any value to our friends in making an experiment, they may command them.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 226, 4 July 1846

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FLOUR MILL COMPANY.
The second annual meeting of the Flour Mill Company was held on Wednesday last at the Institution, to receive the report of the directors, and elect officers for the ensuing year. The report commenced by detailing the extensive additions and improvements made since September, 1845, by the lessees, at an expenditure of more than £120. The first eight months of the lease had yielded a rent of £56 to the Company, the amount received at the mill for that period being £225. The directors have made the stipulated allowance of £10 to the lessees for their improvements, had provided for the interest on the £100 of debentures due 28th of June, and had redeemed £36 of those debentures. The report was unanimously adopted, amid many expressions of satisfaction at the condition of the Company's affairs. The directors for the ensuing year were then elected, and the meeting separated.