Bruce Herald, Volume XV, Issue 1406, 25 April 1882
We paid a visit to Mr P. M'Gill's mill on Saturday and noticed that improvements of considerable magnitude are being made. An additional story is in course of erection, which will make the building four stories in height. Another pair of stones are to be added, and when the present works are completed, the mill will be one of the most complete establishments of the kind to be seen in any country district in Australasia. We only wish that other business men in Tokomairiro had as much energy and tact as Mr M'Gill. They would benefit themselves, and in so doing do good to all classes of the population.Bruce Herald, Volume XV, Issue 1416, 30 May 1882
The traffic on the siding to Mr P. M'Gill's mill has of late so much increased that a loop line, connecting the Goods' shed with the siding just at the turn, is in process of construction. These improvements indicate that certain branches of trade in Milton are in a healthy state.From Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1708, 14 May 1886
Flour Mill Burnt.Otago Daily Times, Issue 7568, 20 May 1886
(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION)
Dunedin, Friday.
McGill's flour mill at Milton was totally destroyed by fire last night. The insurance barely covers the loss on grain and flour in the mill, which was packed from floor to ceiling.
Sales by Auction. J. A. Duthie and Co.Otago Daily Times, Issue 7570, 22 May 1886
TUESDAY, 25th MAY, At 12 o'clock.
SALVAGE! SALVAGE! SALVAGE!
At Mr M'Gill's Mill. J. A. DUTHIE AND CO. have received instructions to sell by auction, on the ground, 3000 bags of Oats, Wheat, Barley, and Flour, the Salvage from the late fire at Mr M'Gill's mill. A very large proportion of the above is uninjured by fire, and is suitable for either seed, fowls' feed, or pig feed.
Will be sold without reserve, and in lots to suit purchasers.
The Clutha Leader states that the inquiries made with reference to the fire at Mr M'Gill's mill at Milton indicate that it occurred by a spark from the machinery igniting the dust which is highly inflammable. Mr M'Gill estimates his loss at £7000 above the insurance.Otago Daily Times, Issue 7611, 10 July 1886
The Bruce Herald states that Mr P. M'Gill's mill recently destroyed by fire is to be reconstructed of brick. Within a few weeks Mr M'Gill will sail for Great Britain, where he intends to obtain machinery and plant which will be second in completeness and all modern improvements to none in New Zealand. He also contemplates erecting machinery for the manufacture of roller-flour, an article which is everywhere quoted at considerably higher rates than that made in the ordinary way.Otago Witness, Issue 1819, 1 October 1886
Flour Mill.—The contractors for Mr M'Gill's mill, Mr Baskett, has commenced operations and expects to finish in about four months.Bruce Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 1897, 7 October 1887
Some conversation took place at the instigation of the Chairman as to the nonpayment of County rates by Mr P. M'Gill. The Chairman asked the Mayor how it was that if there was a chain alongside the river outside the Borough boundary that the Borough receives rates for that chain. The Mayor replied that if the County could prove that the Borough was responsible for the maintenance of half the bridge, the Borough would be willing to share in the maintenance of the bridge. He added that the Borough never received a shilling of rates from Mr M'Gill's mill. Cr Smith moved, "That the Chairman be authorised to enquire into the matter of the boundary between the Borough and the County." Carried.Bruce Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1930, 7 February 1888
THE GALE.Bruce Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1932, 14 February 1888
The wind in this district for the last week or so has been something to remember. The gale reached its culminating point on Friday afternoon, when it swept along in furious gusts, against which it was almost impossible to stand. The stack of Mr M'Gill's mill was blown down from about 25ft of the base. Considerable damage was done to the roof and a part of the wall, but fortunately the machinery escaped injury. The whole will probably have to be rebuilt, as there is a serious crack some 10ft or 12ft from the ground. The foundation was known to be somewhat insecure, and Mr M'Gill intended having the whole stack pulled down and rebuilt after the busy season. The accident happened at a very unfortunate time, as the whole power of the engine is needed to carry on the work.
The work of rebuilding the stack at Mr M'Gill's mill has been commenced, and fair progress is being made. It is being built up from the foundation. The shape will be square as before, but, had it not been for the delay which would have been occasioned by getting suitable bricks, a round chimney would have been put up. The inconvenience caused by this untoward accident is very great, as large orders demanded prompt fulfilment, which it is impossible to execute without steam power. The turbine scarcely suffices to keep the oatmeal machinery going.Bruce Herald, Volume XX, Issue 2022, 14 December 1888
The additions to Mr P. M'Gill's mill will consist of building up the angle now left vacant, and so making the building square. This means an addition of about a fourth to the size of the structure. The new portion is required chiefly for storage purposes.Otago Daily Times, Issue 8762, 26 March 1890
A man named Frank Thomas was admitted into the hospital last night, suffering with a fracture of the left leg, caused by a bag of wheat foiling on it at M'Gill's mill at Milton.Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2152, 28 March 1890
An accident happened at Mr P. M'Gill's mill on Tuesday, through which Frank Thomas sustained a fracture of the left leg. He was engaged with others in unloading wheat and stacking it. Owing to some of the bags being improperly placed, they gave way while he was mounting them with a bag on his back, aud he slipped and fell against the wall, and the bag he was carrying fell on his leg. He was at once conveyed to the Dunedin hospital by the express, where the fracture was reduced, and Thomas is doing as well as can be expected.Otago Daily Times, Issue 9349, 13 February 1892
In noticing some improvements at M'Gill's mill. Milton the Bruce Herald says :-"Another new idea, which we can hardly adequately describe is the invention of Mr C. Nissen, the head miller and is most ingenious. Its object is to get all the waste from the mill to the furnace of the boiler with as little expenditure of labour as possible. Previously it had to be carried down to the engine room, now it is blown down and received in a hopper not far from the furnace door. The contrivance must be seen to be understood, but as nearly as we can describe it, it is as follows :— the sids, that is the hulls of the grain, are forced for a considerable distance by the entrance of air from an opening in the sid-house along a horizontal box on to the first floor, when a large suction fan draws it up some 40ft or 50ft, and then blows it about 60ft further into a hopper in the stoke hole."Otago Witness, Issue 2005, 28 July 1892
The Bruce Herald says :— "Some time ago, in noticing the fact that trout were being destroyed by the wheel of Mr M'Gill's mill, we stated that it was an open question whether they came up or down the stream. Mr T. M'Gill, who takes great interest in the conservation of fish, has subsequently ascertained that those getting foul of the wheel are on their way down after spawning. When going up they take the river which makes a detour below the mill, and in coming down they gain access to the mill race near Mr J. E. Brown's. No pains are being spared to remedy the destruction of the trout. A short time since 18, weighing about 801b, were rescued and placed below the mill. These had all spawned."Clutha Leader, Volume XIX, Issue 971, 24 February 1893
The Balclutha Flour and Oatmeal Mills ... have just been purchased by Messrs William and John Davie, who hail from Aberdeen, both thoroughly experienced practical millers. ... For the past two years John has had charge of the oatmeal department of Mr P. M'Gill's mill, at Milton.Grey River Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 7905, 9 April 1894
Dunedin, April 7. Andrew McLaren, a butcher at Milton, was found drowned in M'Gill's mill race early this morning.Otago Witness, Issue 2244, 4 March 1897
Frank Thomas was also brought up for having broken the conditions of his probation. His Honor : What are the conditions of probation that he has not fulfilled P Constable King, probation officer at Milton, being sworn, said that on the 31st August last his Honor admitted the accused to 12 months' probation on condition that he paid 2s 6d a week, and also that he abstained from drink during that time. His Honor : Is this the case of a robbery in a watchmaker's shop ? Witness replied in the affirmative. Since then the probationer had not paid any money at all towards the expenses of the prosecution. Otherwise he behaved very well for three months after being liberated on probation, but unfortunately he had fallen back on his old habits of drinking, and he seemed to ignore altogether the terms of his license. At the time he committed the offence he was working at M'Gill's mill at 30s a week, but he was discharged from the mill about a month afterwards and then he did odd days work for about a month. His Honor : Why was he discharged ? Witness Said work was slack and Thomas was not wanted. Then he got work, on the 14-th October, at a limekiln near Milton at 6s a day, but he had some broken time. He worked there till the 13th February, and his earnings from the 14-th October to the 13th February were £26 8s 3d . He was then taken on again at M'Gill's mill at 30s a week, and since the 1st November last he had also a son employed at the mill at 10s a week. Witness understood that Thomas paid 2s 6d a week for house rent to M'Gill out of his wages. His Honor : What family has he to support? Witness replied that Thomas was married and had seven children. He had been the worse for drink on four occasions since the 4-th November. Witness had asked him several times if he could not pay the costs, as he had been ordered, and he said he could not afford it. His Honor : I do not think I was informed that he had a wife and seven children to keep, otherwise I would have hesitated about making the order. Witness said his Honor was informed. Thomas was a very hard-working and inoffensive man when sober, but when drunk he was very rough. There was nothing wrong about him when he kept from drink. Thomas, when asked if he had anything to say, stated that though he was working at M'Gill's for 30s a week he owed his employer £5, and he kept 2s 6d a week off for the payment of that and 2s 6d a week for rent, and that left him 25s a week to support his wife and family. His boy was earning 10s a week, but needed it all for himself. His Honor : You say your employer deducts money from your wages for the debt? I am not sure that the law allows that. I think that the Truck Act prevents it. Thomas added that he did take a drink or two, and he could not stand much. His old mates liked to see him drunk to get some fun out of him. His Honor asked the probation officer if he thought Thomas was in a position to pay 2s 6d a week. Constable King said he did not think he was. He did not think there was much economy studied in the man's family. They did not seem to be able to live on what he earned. His Honor, addressing the accused, said : It seems you are a decent enough man when you are sober, and I have no wish to send you to gaol unless it is really necessary to do so in order to keep you from drink. If, however, you cannot keep from drink, remember, you will have to go to gaol. I am willing, however, to give you one more chance, and release you on probation for the rest of your original term on condition of your abstaining during that time from all intoxicating liquors. If at the next sittings of the court or at any time during the year it appears that you have taken to drink, you will have to go to gaol. That is the only course I can, adopt with you. I do not wish you to go to gaol, for you have a wife and large family to support, and you seem to be a hard working man when you are sober. As for the 2s 6d a week, the constable states that you are not able to afford it, and it is no good imposing a condition that you cannot afford to fulfil. That condition, therefore, will be dispensed with, but you will be released on probation for the rest of the original term on condition that you abstain from all intoxicating drink. If you do not comply with that condition you will have to go to gaol. The best thing you can do is to consent to a prohibition order being taken out against you at once. Thomas: Thanks, your Honor.Bruce Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2839, 26 March 1897
Dipping and carting grain are now the chief occupations of the farmers in this district. The strings of drays conveying grain to M'Gill's mill are as long as in former years although the threshing is by no means finished.Bruce Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2903, 15 October 1897
The machinery at M'Gill's mill has been at a standstill for a few days to allow of the boiler being shipped and other repairs effected.Bruce Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 74, 24 September 1901
THE PRICE OF BREAD.Bruce Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 151, 10 July 1903
To the Editor. Sir,— I see your reporter obtained, from one of the bakers in Milton, what seems to be a very fair statement for raising the price of bread, and I am sorry to hear that they can only make eight shillings of profit in turning fifteen bags of flour into loaves. I for one think the remuneration ought to be much more than that. I am, however, unable to reconcile the statement, with what I learned in Invercargill three months ago. To my query "What do you pay for your bread?" I received this answer : "If we go to the baker's shop we pay threepence half-penny, but if it is brought to the house we pay fourpence for the loaf." They were amazed when I said we always go to the baker's shop in Milton, and they always charge fivepence for the 41b loaf. Now, Sir, as I have verified these statements, can you explain them? Are the bakers of Invercargill working at a loss to oblige their customers; or do they get their fine flour at a much lower price than it can be got at M'Gill's Mill? There must be some good reason for the difference in the price of bread in Milton and Invercargill, to which I have referred. — I am, &c , B. A.
An accident, which happily did not result in serious consequences, occurred at M'Gill's Flour Mill on Tuesday afternoon. While assisting with the erection of a new kiln, a young man named Fred Burchell, who was standing on a ladder, driving a hole in the wall in which to fix a joist, lost his balance and fell some 15 feet. He was fortunately caught by some wood-work at that point, which stayed an other-wise inevitable fall of another 20 feet to the ground where loose bricks and other building material was lying. We learn that he is about again though still suffering from the bruises he received from the fall.Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 21, 16 March 1908
Wedding Bells
POWLEY--REED.
A MOTOR WEDDING. There was quite a flutter of excitement in Milton at noon to-day when Mr A. E. Powley was married to Miss Annie Reed at St. John's Church. The fact that Messrs Marshall and Summers, the well-known Milton cycle agents, had placed a 16 horse power Buick automobile, with an experienced chauffeur, in charge at the disposal of the principals invested the ceremony with more than usual interest. ... Last week Mr Powley was presented with a purse of sovereigns by his fellow employees at M'Gill's mill, and Mrs Powley, prior to closing her engagement at Manchester House, was presented by the management with a handsome quilt, and the employees gave her a very handsome afternoon tea set, with many good wishes for her future welfare.
Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 67, 2 September 1904
MR ALEXANDER BEVERIDGE. (From Our Milburn Correspondent.)
It is with feelings of deep regret that I chronicle the death of one of Tokomairiro's pioneer settlers, and the more so when he has passed away at the age of 57 years. ... He then purchased a home at Helensbrook, and was a well-known figure in M'Gill's Flour Mill for many years.
Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2060, 2 November 1906
REMINISCENCES OF EARLY TOKOMAIRIRO.[photo] [photo]
(By Alexander Brown, in the Bruce Herald).
- My brother, James Elder Brown, - had been trained as a teacher in the Home Country, and had been conducting a school for some time when he broke down in health, and was advised to try one of the colonies for a Change. He came out to Otago in the ship Ajax, landing on 8th January, 1849, Mr W. H. Valpy being also a passenger. My father had been manager of the sawmills at Gordon Castle for many years, and my brother had become acquainted with the practical working of them. Mr Valpy became aware of this, and wishing to put up a combined flour and sawmill on the Water of Leith, he engaged my brother to superintend its erection and put in the machinery and work the sawmill for a time.
- Mr Peter M'Gill, - a trained miller, arrived the same year by the Mooltan, and was engaged by Mr Valpy to work the flourmill. They stayed together in the same hut. The mill proved a success in the way of working, and both stayed on until our family arrived in the ship Eden, landing on December 27th, 1850, and my brother went to settle with us at Anderson's Bay. There was a Small Coasting Vessel being built in the Bay at the time, the first, I believe, in Otago, afterwards called the Endeavour. The milling season not lasting long for want of grain to grind, Mr M'Gill, in company with Messrs Sinclair Harold and Richard Cragie bought her for the coastal trade and sailed her for eighteen months, during which time Mr M'Gill was married to my sister Jane. They sold the vessel, and M'Gill went back to the mill, working it on terms. But in 1856, when the colony was prospering, M'Gill, who was a pushing man, thought he would try to
- Start a Flourmill for Himself - in one of the country districts and, selecting Tokomairiro as one of the likeliest, in company with my father and brother went out to the district, and, being satisfied with it, selected the land suitable for the site of the mill, and took levels for a water race. My father and brother made up their minds to sell out where they were and settle in Tokomairiro, where they could get more land and help to put up the mill. For the purpose of getting more fall for the mill-race they selected 100 acres of land next to what Mr M'Gill meant to apply for, alongside what is now the main road, and which they secured. M'Gill made arrangements with
- Mr Henry Clark, - who had also purchased land in the district, and they sawed the timber in the bush for both their houses, and Mr Clark being a carpenter he put them up, and we all came out to the Plain about the same time. As soon as possible M'Gill, with William Baskett as mate, commenced to saw the timber for the flourmill in the bush, and we sawed the timber necessary for a clay house for ourselves. The
- Mill was at Work in October, 1857 - and an oatmeal mill was soon added to it. About 30 years after, the mill, with a large quantity of grain stored in it, was destroyed by fire, and was replaced by the present large brick building, contracted for and built by Mr Baskett who had helped to saw the timber for the first one.
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