Millstones in New Zealand


Warning: Draft Information.

This page presents draft information, that is still being actively researched and fact checked. It may be incomplete, and contain more than the normal level of mistakes and factual errors. If you have any corrections or additions please get in touch.

This page is intended to document the places where millstones can be found in New Zealand, especially those places where those stones are not in situ within an extant mill.

I may also from time to time augment it with any other snippets of information I uncover about millstones within New Zealand.


Millstones

Ashburton (#nzstone26)

(-43.9063,171.743)

An iron banded French Burr stone, mounted table like on a short pedestal.

Signboard says:
This millstone of imported French quartz was once used as an oat huller in Buchanan's (Flour Mills) Ltd, Ashburton.
[info] [photos]

Auckland Howick Historic Village (#nzstone5)

(-36.9073,174.902)
Partington's mill:

There are two locations within the village that have millstones that are labelled as having come from Partington's windmill.

At the first location, outside the Pakuranga School building, there are a pair of French Burr millstones, stacked face to face. The back of the topmost stone is plain, with just a flat iron ring in the centre, held in place with 6 bolts. The hole in the centre of the ring is just large enough to have admitted a driving shaft, but not for entry of wheat, so this is presumably actually the back of a bed stone. The stone underneath cannot be inspected.

At the second location, at the side of the Howick Court House, there is a single runner stone, iron banded, plaster backed, with 4 circular pockets for balancing weights. There is also an oval makers plate that says: "W. J. & T. Child. Millstone Makers. Hull & Leeds".
Other example of millstones by this maker found in the Antipodes are held by MAAS, NSW, Australia.

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Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Auckland Howick Historic Village (#nzstone38)

Onehunga millstones:

A pair of small, thin, one piece millstones, on display inside the reconstructed mill building that represents Bycroft's watermill.

Signboard says:

Mill Stones from John Bycroft's flour mill at Onehunga.

These stones were made from Onehunga basalt. They were donated by the Onehunga Fensible and Historical Society (Inc.).

In 1890 Bycroft's discarded mill stones in favour of roller machinery which was used almost universally at that time. Similar mill stones were probably used in this mill house, built for John Bycroft on the Wiri Stream at Manurewa in 1855.

Associated people

Auckland Museum (#nzstone23)

Brown's Mill, Durham Lane, Auckland:

Pair of segmented French burr stones, secured by iron bands. diameter: 1170mm, combined height: 435mm, produced from individual heights: 245mm and 180mm. Together with some wooden framework, shafts etc. Previously displayed in the Auckland Museum, but not believed to be currently on display.

[info]

Auckland Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) (#nzstone4)

Partington's mill: 3 french burr stones:

Three stones from Partington's mill, Auckland (not necessarily the windmill - there was also another steam mill on the site).

In storage, not on current display.

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Blenheim (#nzstone11)

(-41.5285,173.857)
Woodbourne Farm:

A monument consisting of a small millstone, a cast iron ring gear, and a descriptive plaque. The stone appears to be similar to french burr, but it would be most unusual to find a single piece millstone as this is from that material, so it may instead be a local substitute. From the NZ Heritage listing for the homestead, it appears that there are additional remains of the mill, including additional millstones, still on the site, thus:

Chattels included in the registration are parts of the timber waterwheel, cast iron mill machinery pieces, an almost complete iron turbine windmill associated with the stone lined well; flourmilling grindstones and a single furrow Gray plough. A memorial marker with inscription, incorporating reused parts from the original mill from the site is situated on New Renwick Road, at the entrance to the long driveway leading down to the Woodbourne Homestead.

Signboard says:
Near this site Henry Godfrey of Woodbourne Farm erected his first commercial flour mill. From 1852 until his death in 1868 he was recognized as Marlborough's leading systematic agriculturist. Nearby in 1850 he erected a cob house, and built a wooden house in the early 1860's. The remains of his water powered mill form this monument.
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[Waymarking]

Blenheim (#nzstone12)

(-41.5297,173.940)
Brayshaw Heritage Park:

A set of 8 french burr millstones, from the Redwood Bros mill at Spring Creek. Protected from the weather in a corrugated iron shed, but not otherwise prepared for display.

Signboard says:
These composite mill stones made by John Tye of Lincoln, England were used by Redwood Bros in their water powered flour mill at Spring Creek 1865-88.
Marlb. Hist. Soc.

Associated people

Cambridge (#nzstone2)

(-37.8964,175.471)
Cambridge Museum: segmented burr:

Complete French burr stone with square centre (now blocked in), drive shaft and beveled nut, plus fragments of another burr stone, all from Hally Brothers' Mill, Waikato river.

Signboard says:

Hally Brothers' flour mill, situated on the West side of the Waikato River, was built in 1870 and operated in to the 1890's.

The 20 foot diameter water wheel was driven by a powerful stream through an overshot Kauri flume.

The millstones were made of burstone which were quarried and shaped in France. Hubs and shafts were then fitted in Britain and shipped to New Zealand.

The grinding surfaces of the stone were grooved to help move the flour to the outside of the stones, where it was collected and screened.

The mill also had a rolling machine to crush maize, barley and oats. By 1888 the mill ground and crushed the produce from 2545 acres for 52 local farmers. When Mr Bob Porter of the Cambridge Historical Society retrieved this mill stone in 1979, there was little evidence of a mill having stood on the site.

Mr Porter mounted the stone at the Town Hall when the Cambridge Museum and Society of Arts occupied the old Carnegie Library in 1981.

[homepage]

Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Christchurch (#nzstone25)

(-43.5678,172.700)
Ferrymead:

There is a dressed iron bound runner stone leant up against the wall of the Rural History Society building at Ferrymead Historical Park. I was unable to establish any provenance for this stone.

Dunedin (#nzstone28)

(-45.8655,170.510)
Otago Museum:

The "Southern Land, Southern People" gallery in the Otago Museum includes a slightly incomplete segmented French burr millstone. The labelling somewhat inaccurately identifies it as a composite millstone (which typically is used to describe a millstone manufactured from mixed aggregate, rather than merely composed of large chuncks of rock), and goes on to say it is from the Wyndham Flour and Oatmeal Mills, Southland, and is on loan from the Southland Museum and Art Gallery. This thus identifies it as one of the millstones from Wyndham, Southland, and since it is loaned from another museum, it does not appear in the Otago Museum catalog.

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Foxton (#nzstone1)

(-40.4741,175.280)
segmented burr:

French burr runner stone from Henderson's Mill, Marton

Signboard says:
Millstone from Henderson's Flourmill Marton
Built 1864 Demolished 1971
Known as French Stone with Quartz rock, block inserts.

[Waymarking]

Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Invercargill (#nzstone31)

Southland Museum:

The Southland museum is actually closed at the moment due to seismic considerations.

The museum collection includes 4 French Burr millstones which were recovered from the Doull's watermill site at Wyndham in 1977. The stones are each 1.2m in diameter, and composed of an outer ring of 12 segments, and an inner one of 4. Two stones had inner square holes of 25 cm per side, and two had round holes of 28 cm diameter. One iron centre was found, with the maker's name of "Hughes & Son, London".

I have no information as to whether the millstones were on display in the Southland museum before it closed, but one millstone is loaned and on display at the Otago Museum.

Kaiapoi (#nzstone17)

(-43.3755,172.611)
Wilsons Mill:

Arranged as a memorial millstone, and a plaque, commemorating Isaac Wilson.

Signboard says:
Wilsons Siding
Isaac Wilson 1840-1912

1870 - Isaac Wilson milled flax on the south bank of Ohoka stream
1872 - He built a flourmill there
1876 - To serve his mill he had a private railway siding from the Kaiapoi-Eyreton line

Erected by The Eyre County Council and his youngest son, Alan.
Unveiled by John E Horrell, J.P, Q.S.M, 12th March 1987
[info]

Associated people

Kerikeri (#nzstone22)

(-35.2178,173.962)
Mission Station:

A collection of hand turned millstones (really quern stones) from the 1820s. At one time these were used as paving slabs in the garden path, but they have since been recovered, and placed as museum exhibits in the Stone Store. The caption board says one may still be seen in the path, though it was not at all obvious in Jan 2019, the path having a deep covering of gravel. It's possible the sign is out of date, and when the path was relaid, even this one last stone was moved in to the museum. There are currently 4 complete top stones, and two complete lower stones (which are much thinner, thus more easily broken), plus three halves of top stones, and some additional smaller pieces.

Signboard says:
Grind-stones

These stone are the simplest way to grind wheat into flour and were sent out by the CMS for Maori use.

As early as 1814, Kendal reported to the CMS that Maori were very fond of bread and other flour mixtures: 'Stirabout', a boiled mixture of flour and water, which was sometimes prepared in a cleaned out canoe for ceremonial occasions, 'Rororirori', boiled flour and water with sugar, 'Riripi', and 'Thunder & Lightning', a similar mixture with molasses added.

But making flour was a laborious process and many of these grindstones never left the Stone Store. In the 1960's they were put to good use as a garden path by Ernest Kemp, the great-grandson of James & Charlotte, who was living next door at the Mission House, or Kemp House. One can still be seen in the path by the gate behind the Stone Store.

In use a grind-stone was set upon a cloth and grain was dribbled into the axle hole of the upper stone, which was turned by hand. The flour worked its way out round the rim of the grind-stone.

[info]

Lincoln (#nzstone20)

(-43.6397,172.486)
Moffat's Mill:

A millstone from Moffat's Mills is placed below the bell in the grounds of St Stephen's Church. Lincoln Flour Mill (now demolished) was built in 1864 by S Early for Henry Moffat.

[info]

Associated people

Lincoln (#nzstone21)

(-43.6402,172.482)
Meyenberg Square:

There are segmented French burr millstones fron the Lincoln Flour Mill, displayed in Meyenberg Square outside the newly built town library. They were moved there in 2016, having previously been on display at Lincoln Country Club car park.

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Associated people

Motueka (#nzstone8)

(-41.1106,173.010)
Motueka District Museum:

A pair of small millstones, one placed face down, the other vertically

William Mickell's entry in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand states

William Mickell was one of the New Zealand Company's expedition party, and landed at Nelson on the 1st of February, 1842, by the "Whitby". He was born in Bannockburn, Scotland, brought up to the trade of a carpet weaver, and followed that occupation in various parts of Scotland and Ireland. After arriving in New Zealand, he was engaged as a sawyer for some years. Subsequently he erected a flour mill in Atua Valley, where he ground grain with a stone fifteen inches in diameter. In 1857 he erected a larger flour mill at Brooklyn, and worked it till his death, which occurred in 1887, from failure of the heart's action. Mr. Mickell was highly respected for his hospitality and free sociable qualities. He was fond of amusements, and was especially beloved by children. At election times, particularly in the old Provincial Government days, he was always active, as an enthusiastic advocate of the Liberal cause. Mr. Mickell left a family of four sons and two daughters.

Signboard says:
These millstones were prepared and used between 1856-1889 in the Brooklyn Valley by William Mickell the pioneer flourmiller

Associated people

Nelson (#nzstone10)

(-41.2618,173.297)
Founders Heritage Park:

The entrance to the Founders Heritage Park in Nelson is via a mock mill replica of the windmill which once stood in the centre of town. In the flower beds alongside the entrance building, there is currently (2018) a single millstone, not so much presented, but almost just left there. The stone looks genuine, being a single piece stone, with an iron band around it, but there is no signage or other indication as to the provenance of the millstone.

New Plymouth (#nzstone3)

(-39.0610,174.075)
Alpha mill: single piece stones:

A pair of single piece stones, made of local volcanic andesite, from the Alpha flour mill, New Plymouth. The cider mill stone at the same site is unrelated, but at some time in the past the stones were placed together, and noone wants to separate them now!

Signboard says:
The Alpha Flour Mill
This was the site of the first flour mill to operate in Taranaki. It was built and originally owned by Richard Rundle and Samuel Oliver and began operating in February 1844.
The mill was three stories high, with vertical board-and-batten cladding and a breast-shot waterwheel. During the 1860's it was converted to a timber mill and, in 1873, began producing bone meal. It was probably demolished in the early 1880s.
The dam to provide water for the wheel was made using the large rocks nearby as a base. Several cavities, excavated for the dam's braces, may be seen in them. In front of the sign are two of the original millstones from the Alpha Mill. They are unusual made from local volcanic andesite rock.
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Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Associated people

New Plymouth (#mzstone39)

Puki Ariki:

The museum at Puki Ariki displays a millstone from Whareroa mill. The stone is undressed, and I think the captioning goes on to ascribe this to the fact that the millstone was abandoned before it was ever used.

Signboard says:
Millstone from Whareroa Mill. Made in the 18?0's from Taranaki andesite. It was recovered from the banks of the ???????? Stream in the 1??0's.

Oamaru (#nzstone13)

(-45.1020,170.970)

Single millstone laid out in the riverside gardens. Replacement iron band securing the large burr pieces in place.

Ongaonga (#nzstone27)

(-39.9120,176.415)

Hawke's Bay Photo News December 1966 reported on the opening of the Onga Onga museum in the old one roomed school room. It included a photo with a caption

Mrs E. S. Bibby, at the doorway of the Onga Onga Museum. The steps are made from imported Millstone (1867) from the original Onga Onga Flour Mill.
The photo shows one millstone located in the path to the doorway, and the caption talks about the step as well. In the 50+ years since the museum was opened, it appears that the building may have been slightly raised - there are now 2 steps up the the door, both made from segments of French burr stone. The steps on the end of the building also have 3 sections of the stone embedded in them. I think that accounts for all the pieces of the stone.

[homepage] [info] [info] [photo]

[Waymarking]

Otaki (#nzstone6)

(-40.7463,175.141)
Peter Chanel School:

A broken half of a 4ft 2in diameter single piece stone, plus a metal pulley diameter 6ft 4in, both from the Pukekaraka mill, made into a memorial. There are other bits of dressed millstone partly buried at the back of the monument, but it's not clear their provenance - they do not obviously form the missing half of the main stone.

See Otaki Historical Society's Historical Journal, Vol 8 p22. Other info on mill in Vol 3 p67, Vol 31 p4 and photo

Signboard says:
This wheel and stone were once part of the Pukekaraka flour mill erected about 1854 under the direction of Father Comte s.m. The mill stood on the bank of the Waitohu River on property now owned by Mr Ray Taylor who donated these remains for erection on the site of the Pukekaraka Mission.
Otaki Historical Society Inc. 1985
[info] [info]

Associated people

Otaki Beach (#nzstone7)

(-40.7400,175.117)
Byron's Resort:

Two millstones which for many years were used as bench ends, but are now placed as features at the entrance to reception.

More about the mill on Haruatai Stream (1850-1873) they came from in various editions of the Otaki Historical Society's Historical Journal:

[homepage] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo]

Associated people

Palmerston (#nzstone29)

Goodwood:

A millstone from the 1850's was unearthed in 2005 near Edward Swallow's cottage on the Goodwood estate. Edward Swallow is believed to have installed his own millstone, following on from his neighbour John Lemon who had also installed one.

[info]

Patea (#nzstone16)

(-39.7543,174.472)
South Taranaki District Museum:

A pair of small stones from a mill at Mokoia, just south of Hawera

[homepage] [info]

Puniho Pa/Tarawainuku Marae (#nzstone36)

(-39.2062,173.825)

A pair of single piece, presumably local stone millstones, which came from the nearby flour mill next to Werekino stream at the end of Komene road.

[info]

Riwaka (#nzstone9)

(-41.0605,173.000)

A pair of small millstones, now built into the face of a monumental stone pyramid which commemorates early pioneer landings near its location. The monument was originally built circa 1934, and located further up the hill. It was moved in 2014.

William Mickell's entry in The Cyclopedia of New Zealand states

William Mickell was one of the New Zealand Company's expedition party, and landed at Nelson on the 1st of February, 1842, by the "Whitby". He was born in Bannockburn, Scotland, brought up to the trade of a carpet weaver, and followed that occupation in various parts of Scotland and Ireland. After arriving in New Zealand, he was engaged as a sawyer for some years. Subsequently he erected a flour mill in Atua Valley, where he ground grain with a stone fifteen inches in diameter. In 1857 he erected a larger flour mill at Brooklyn, and worked it till his death, which occurred in 1887, from failure of the heart's action. Mr. Mickell was highly respected for his hospitality and free sociable qualities. He was fond of amusements, and was especially beloved by children. At election times, particularly in the old Provincial Government days, he was always active, as an enthusiastic advocate of the Liberal cause. Mr. Mickell left a family of four sons and two daughters.

Recollections by WAA (Albert) Ryder written around 1960, make a number of mentions of the mill(s), but the information must have been told to him, since he was not born at the time of the mill's construction. The recollections note:

I have mentioned wheat being taken to the local flour mill which was owned by Mr Mickell. His first essay at flour milling was by utilising a small waterfall on a branch of the Atua Creek which crosses the road where Lance Cook lives. This was by an overshot wheel, but I think the volume of water proved inadequate. The stone grinding wheels were cut from local stone by Mr Mickell and are now part of the memorial to the early settlers which stands on the roadside at Old Pah Point where the road to Kaiteriteri starts along the coastline. The mill was next tried with an undershot wheel near the Riwaka Library. Water supply was again unsatisfactory so it was eventually moved to Umukuri, water being drawn from the Brooklyn stream. Then the mill was eventually abandoned and before being included in the memorial cairn the millstones served for some years as part of the stone work in the approach to the first traffic bridge over the Riwaka river.

Signboard says:
These mill stones were cut in 1844 by William Mickell the pioneer flourmiller
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Associated people

Subantarctic Islands - Auckland Islands (#nzstone24)

(-50.5001,166.279)

The headstone of Isabel Younger, daughter of the Enderby Settlement's civil engineer, who died aged three months in November 1850, is made from what is sometimes described as a millstone. However from pictures, it appears to be an undressed stone, with a small almost square hole where it would have been rotated, so in fact I think it is really a grindstone rather than a millstone. Isabel actually died on 19th Nov - it's not clear why the headstone carried a date a few days later.

headstone says:
I.Y. DIED 22nd NOV 1850 AGED 3 MONTHS
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Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Tauranga (#nzstone19)

(-37.6769,176.168)
The Elms:

Within the grounds of the historic house called The Elms, outside the library building, there is a millstone from Union Mills, New Plymouth. It is pictured (and captioned as being from the Union Mills) in Robyn Oliver's thesis, The Flour Mills of Taranaki.

[homepage] [info] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo] [photo]

Flickr images are copyright their individual photographers.

Tawhiti museum (#nzstone34)

(-39.5681,174.311)

This museum has original parts from the local watermill on display, and has a small replica waterwheel driving them. There are a number of segments of french burr from the millstones - these were recovered not from the mill site, but from where they had been reused in the local village.

[homepage]

Wakefield (#nzstone30)

Ryversdale:

The mill building still exists here, and one of the millstones can be seen outside the building.

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Wellington (#nzstone18)

Te Papa:

Not on public display, but kept in storage. A pair of 3ft diameter stones, each cut out as a single piece, but now cracked/broken and held together with iron bands. Face of bedstone shows dressing for both clockwise and anticlockwise rotation, suggesting the stones have been reused from an earlier mill. (Suspect runner stone shows same, but unable to lift up to see). Found in the hedge on Section 42 in Tawa, and thus thought to have come from the water powered horse feed mill built on that section by the Morgan family. Given by A. G. Blight in 1968.

[info]

Associated people

Wellington (#nzstone37)

Te Papa:

An indian rotary quern stone, 26cm in diameter. Currently on display as an example of items that New Zealand immigrants brought with them.

[info]

Whakatane (#nzstone14)

(-37.9909,176.989)
Jean Guerren NZ Wars memorial:

commemorates French miller Jean Guerren, who died defending the Te Poronu flour mill on 11 March 1869

Signboard says:
Erected to the memory of a gallant son of France
Jean Guerren
who died March 11th 1869 heroically defending the Te Poronu Mill on this site, against the rebel forces under Peka Makarini, Lieutenant of the Maori insurgent leader, Te Kooti
Erected by Y Squadron Legion of Frontiersmen
[info] [info] [info] [info]

[Waymarking]

Associated people

Whakatane (#nzstone15)

(-37.9499,177.004)
Ngāti Awa’s Wairaka Marae:

The matching stone from the pair used in the Jean Guerren NZ Wars memorial.

Associated people

Whanganui (#nzstone35)

Whanganui Regional Museum:

As of Jan 2019, the Whanganui Regional Museum is closed, so it is unclear if the millstone that was mentioned on one of its webpages is still in the museum. The page which appears to date from Feb 2015, and talks about mills and millstones in the region, notes that "a millstone from the Jerusalem mill is currently on display at the museum". There is no matching record for a millstone in the museum's online collection search.

Winton (#nzstone32)

According to The Story of Murihiku/Southland there used to be a pair of millstones at the gateway of the landowner at the former steam powered flour mill, on the corner of Gap Road West and Substation Road. All that now remains is the brick fire box.

Woodend (#nzstone33)

(-43.3136,172.669)
St. Barnabas' Anglican Church:

Reportedly "the font rests on a millstone from Archer’s flourmill that had been in Woodend."

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Associated people

Non-specific

Timaru Blue Stone:

The suitability of the rock formations near Timaru for producing millstones appears to stem from a geological report from 1865: Timaru Herald, Volume I, Issue 48, 29 April 1865

Report on the Geological Formation of the Timaru District, in Reference to Obtaining a Supply of Water. By Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.G.S., F.L.S., &c, PROVINCIAL GEOLOGTST.

TO THE SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
Christchurch, February 25, 1865.
Sir, — According to your instructions to examine into the geological structure of the locality where the town of Timaru is situated, in order to see if, by boring of artesian wells or other means, an ample supply of good water could be obtained, I have the honor to communicate to you for the information of his Honor the Superintendent, that I have just returned from that examination, and I beg to lay before you, in the following notes, the result of my researches, accompanied by some geological sections in explanation.

...

I shall now proceed to give some details concerning the nature of the cliffs which form the Timaru roadstead, as they will assist in following the deductions at the end of this Report, based upon the results obtaiued during this survey. The cliffs south of the landing place consist entirely of silt, forming banks often 50 to 60 feet high; but as, besides the occurrence of the dolerite in Saltwater Creek (Otipua) and Pighunting Creek, near the sea, the Patiti Reef shows these loose banks have been protected by the dolerities, which form here reefs in the sea, and which have broken, and are still breaking, the force of the waves and currents. After having passed the landing place, where I had an opportunity of examining the silt in the new cutting, giving a vertical section of about 25 feet, we reach the first bed of rocks. It is a dolerite of a normal character, almost identical with that of Harper's Hill in the Malvern Hills, of which I gave an analysis made by the Chevalier Chas. de Haver in my Progress Report of last year. It is porous, often cellular; the pores generally empty and only occasionally filled by calcite, or with a zeolite, probably chabasite. This rock, if properly selected, would form the material for excellent millstones, for which it is used extensively on the Continent of Europe, and even exported to many parts of the world. I was glad to see that some persons have begun to use it as a building-stone, for which, for many purposes at least, it is well adapted. The rock, for a thickness of about 10 to 12 feet is here visible, and consists of large blocks, being irregularly jointed, which has been without doubt the effect of cooling. These joints are filled with silt, often hardened and ferruginous, as if it had been deposited during the cooling of the rock, so that the heat had been sufficient to produce some change in it; or should we attribute to the decomposition of this basic rock that the silt between the joints or fissures has become more compact by being impregnated with oxide of iron derived from the dolerite?

Many mentions of the stone strata then followed: The Canterbury Land District:

bluestone rock is found at Timaru suitable for millstones.
Canterbury Provincial District - Mining
A blue stone, known from the place of its origin as "Timaru stone" is used for building and for millstones.
THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF NEW ZEALAND 1875
Banks Peninsula furnishes fine dolerites (bluestones), quartzose trachytes, and trachytic sandstones, which are already used largely in building. The first-named rock can also be obtained in the Malvern Hills, and in the Timaru district, where it often offers fine material for millstones.
Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2228, 11 February 1868
The Malvern Hills have lately been described to the public as rich in mineral wealth of almost all kinds, and as needing only the advantages of railway communication, to make their treasures available for the speedy enrichment of this quarter of the Province. Although there may be considerable exaggeration in the language used, it is but right that every attention should be paid to any reasonable endeavours to develop the material resources of so accessible a part of the country. ... The Malvern Hills stretch from the gorge of the Rakaia to near the lower gorge of the Waimakariri, in the direction of north and south, for a distance of about sixteen miles. Their average breadth, from east to west, is about ten miles. On the east, they join on to the great Canterbury Plain, and are bounded on the west by the Kowai, the Upper Selwyn, and a small dividing ridge which forms the watershed of these two rivers, and stretches across to the great thirteen-mile-bush range. Four small streams, running in a general direction of from east to west, mark the principal divisions of the mass. These are the Hawkins, which runs close along the north side and not far from the old coal beds which were worked several years ago, and latterly by Mr Sheath and Mr Jebson, the Wai-Aniwa, the Upper Selwyn, and the Hororata. These unite to form the Selwyn river on the plains. Whichever of these four streams is traced, the rocks met with are substantially the same, though of course with local peculiarities. At the foot of the hills are met certain eruptive or volcanic rocks of comparatively modern date, among which is an excellent burr-stone suitable for millstones and grindstones.
Star, Issue 648, 21 June 1870
Timaru Blue Stone. - The Timaru paper of June 18 says : - We observe that masons are at work on the beach cutting and shaping a pair of millstones out of the ordinary blue stone which abounds in the quarries near Timaru. The stones are ordered by a miller at Moeraki, who we hear has a high opinion of the stone for the purpose.
(Timaru Bluestone is currently the name applied to a blue/grey vesicular basalt rock which resulted from the eruptions of Mt Horrible to the west of Timaru).

Not in New Zealand, but across the Tasman Sea in the neighbouring colony of Australia, there was a rock outcrop that produced suitable millstones, as reported in The Adelade Observer c1845:

Mr. Gratwick, of Mount Barker, has discovered in that district, and within four miles of Echunga, a quarry from which he is preparing mill stones for his own. use. The resemblance to French burr stones cannot be called perfect, but the material is very hard and cellular in its structure; and Mr. Gratwick, who is well experienced in the formation of mill stones, is confident of the successful application of his discovery, which in that case will be a very important one.

Auckland

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 28, 13 December 1845

FOR SALE, A PAIR OF FRENCH BURR MILLSTONES, now lying on the wharf of Mr. W. S. Grahame,- Price £10. Apply at the "New Zealander" Office.

B Corcoran

The UK firm of B Corcoran is listed as a millstone builder and mill furnisher in the New Zealand Post Office Directory (Wises) for 1892-93. Presumably this was just an advert for the London based firm, rather than any local branch of the operation.

The same directory lists the following as millwrights:

Auckland

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 640, 2 June 1852

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 1st June, 1852
TENDERS, in duplicate, will be received at this office until noon on Wednesday the 9th instant, for the supply of two pairs of MILLSTONES, of from 3 feet to 3 feet 6 inches in diameter.
Further particulars may be obtained at the Native Secretary's Office. By His Excellency's command, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.

Auckland

Newman & Ewen:

Newman and Ewen were Auckland merchants and auctioneers, who often dealt in millstones. The name of the firm can be found several times in the section on cargo reports. In addition they took out their own ads: New Zealander, Volume 12, Issue 1030, 1 March 1856, Page 1 (Supplement)

TO ARRIVE Per Josephine Willis, THREE Pair French MILL STONES. Cast steel Mill, Picks, and Chisels, &c, Newman & Ewan, Shortland Crescent. Feb. 16, 1856.
Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIII, Issue 984, 2 December 1856, Page 2
ON SALE, Ex "CONFERENCE." 6 PAIRS French BURR MILL STONES, 3 feet 6 inches diameter. Newman & Ewen. N. B. - Mill Chisels and Machine Wire. Dec. 2 1856.
Daily Southern Cross, Volume XV, Issue 1182, 26 October 1858, Page 1
NEW GOODS EX MARY ANN & AVALANCHE ... 3 pair French Burr Mill Stones, Machine Wire, all sizes Newman & Ewen. October 21st, 1858.
New Zealander, Volume XIV, Issue 1314, 20 November 1858, Page 3
FOR SALE, ONE Improved Portable Corn Grinding and Dressing Mill, with 18-inch French Burr Stones, large Fly Wheel, complete. Newman & Ewen.
New Zealander, Volume XV, Issue 1404, 1 October 1859, Page 2
New Goods, ex "Tornado." 1 pair French Burr Mill Stones, each 3 feet 6 and 3 feet 9 inches NEWMAN & EWEN 30th September, 1859.
New Zealander, Volume XVI, Issue 1450, 10 March 1860, Page 1
To Millers and others.
FOR SALE, CHEAP - A pair of 4 feet French Burr Mill Stones, new, by the well known Makers W. J. & T. Child, Hull. For particulars apply to Messrs. Newman & Ewen, Auckland, or to Judd & Greenway, Russell.

From the Diary of John Johnson

John Johnson (1812-1872) kept a diary of his life in New Plymouth. He notes:

11 Mar 1848 A public auction was held. Mr Gillingham & Mr White. Smith’s machine and Millstones £35. Mr Dows things 19s, sold also
A later entry talks of
13 Mar 1848 Arrived 11s the poundage for A. Dows goods the sale of. Sergeant Halse received £1 7s for the sale of Whites and Gillinghams goods.
so the first entry must be recording the name of the seller rather than the purchaser, though clearly Gillingham was still in business, since another entry records
09 Aug 1848 Brought flour from Gillingham’s mill 92 lb flour, 22 lb bran, out of 114 lb wheat ought to have been 116 lb wheat.
Other mill related entries include:
21 Mar 1849 3 bushels wheat ground at Mr Hulk’s mill
04 Apr 1849 3 wheat ground at the mill. Received £5 from P. Groves for an acre of land, in part payment thereof. The Sarahberry left for Wellington with flour.
24 May 1849 Took 3 bushels of wheat to mill to grind.
04 Aug 1849 Had 50lb flour from Olliver’s mill
15 Aug 1849 Bought half a hundred of flour from Olliver’s mill 5s 6d
04 Sep 1849 50lb flour from Olliver’s Mill.
14 Sep 1849 Brought 50lb flour from Olliver’s mill.
23 Oct 1849 Had 100lbs flour from Hulks mill
13 Nov 1849 100lbs flour from Hulk’s mill 11s.
15 May 1850 Went to Olliver’s mill for a 100lb flour had the seconds

Cargo reports from various ships

For an island nation, just getting up its own manufacturing base, foreign shipping was a major source of scarce or locally unavailable items, so the newspapers of the time often listed the cargo manifests of ships in port, presumably so that people in the market for supplies could know what was available. There are plenty of records of millstones amongst those cargoes, though it's rarely possible to link these with a particular mill. Originally the imports were direct from Britain, but increasingly the shipping was from Australia - though it's unclear if the millstones were of Australian origin, or had come originally via Britain. Sometimes the papers also listed exports, though it's clear that exports (and to a lesser extent imports) were not always "foreign" exports - they could also refer to goods that were just transiting through the port perhaps for another domestic destination.

Imports

Exports - possibly for local destinations

Explicitly Local traffic


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