Cambridge Roller Mill, Waikato, NZ
Proprietor: Richard ChambersThe Waikato Times 31 Mar 1885 DAMAGED WHEAT!! DAMAGED WHEAT!! 200 to 300 sacks to be sold to clear out old Stock. Price 2s 3d to 2s 6d per bushel, whole; or, 6d extra, if ground, at Cambridge. Apply R. Chambers, Cambridge Flour Mills.
The Waikato Times 26 Apr 1887 In these go-a-head days it is seldom that one can find a country town like Cambridge keeping pace with a city the size of Auckland. Yet, as far as milling is concerned, we have not the slightest hesitation in saying that it is doing so. Mr Richard Chambers, of the Cambridge mill, has imported a complete roller plant, and being a thoroughly practical miller is now able to turn out an article second to none in the colony. Mr Chambers is well acquainted with roller mills, having for some years managed one in the old country that turned out 5,000 sacks a week, and has specially chosen rollers to suit the Waikato wheat. These have turned out a decided success so the farmers will now have a good customer close at hand. Mr Chambers has adopted the "Lion" as his brand, and from the quality of the article he is now making, we anticipate the gradual disappearance of any other than locally made flour. It has given universal satisfaction among the bakers, being extremely strong; in fact, one baker that we consulted regarding it said: "I have tried it, and it was so strong that the tops of the cottage loaves heaved off in the oven." We congratulate Mr Chambers upon having successfully carried out the improvements, and trust that the local people to a man (and women, for they do the baking) will give him their support.
The Waikato Times 30 Apr 1887 A large shed on the east side of the river at Cambridge, belonging to Mr Chambers of the Cambridge Mill, suddenly collapsed on Wednesday afternoon. There were 800 sacks of wheat in it at the time, none of which fortunately went into the river. Yesterday Mr Chambers had about 20 men at work stacking the corn and covering it with tarpaulins, after which he will have the shed rebuilt, and everything will be in order again early next week.
The Waikato Times 12 May 1887 Cambridge Roller Mills: Lion Brand The Undersigned desires to intimate to the Farmers and settlers of Waikato that he has just fitted up at his Mill a complete set of Roller Machinery, imported from Europe and America, and specially adapted for Waikato Spring Wheat. The whole plant is now in full operation and the proprietor's most sanguine expectations are realised, as the flour now being turned out will bear comparison with anything produced in the colony. By the process flour of the very finest quality is now being obtained from Spring Wheat grown in Waikato, and as the advantages of this are very great to the farmers, the undersigned confidently looks to farmers and other settlers of Waikato for their support. Whilst thanking the public for past support, he trusts with the new appliances at command to receive greatly increased patronage. => N.B. Ask for the LION BRAND of Flour, the best, purest, and finest on sale in Waikato, and which is entirely the product of the District. RICHARD CHAMBERS, Cambridge Roller Mills, Cambridge, Waikato
The Waikato Times 4 Aug 1887
The Waikato Times 1 Sep 1887 Wheat Growing Sir,- Do you not think there is a possibility of raising the hopes of Waikato farmers to too great a height by your series of able articles on wheat growing? Sometime since I read that Mr J. C. Firth had received some samples of Waikato wheat of very fine quality, and that he would be a buyer of 50,000 sacks of such quality next season, and somehow an impression got abroad that the gentleman had promised to pay 4s per bushel for it; and later another able article appeared in THE WAIKATO TIMES on the same subject, saying that Mr Firth would be a buyer of 150,000 bushels, or 50,000 bushels less than before stated. Again, in your issue of the 25th inst., you refer to the same subject, wherein you appear to look at two millers - Mr J. C Firth and Mr J. Lamb - for the purchasers of next year's wheat; but you seem to forget that more than once Mr Lamb has informed the farmers through your journal that he cannot use the Waikato spring or Tuscan wheats; and, as a result of his first season's roller milling, he has purchased (as he himself tells us) only a few hundred sacks. Whereas I believe I have been the largest buyer of wheat in the district this season, and have proved that I can produce flour second to none from the average - not the specially-picked samples only. A few days since one of the largest Auckland millers called on me and said the firm of which he had been a partner would not buy a sack of Auckland or Waikato wheat, as Canterbury wheat suited their trade so much better, and was far more profitable. I would not thus have trespassed on your valuable space did I not fear that the hopes of the Waikato wheat growers are being buoyed up for a purpose and that they will be very rudely dashed by the first results. "A word to the wise!" - I am, Sir, yours truly R. Chambers. Cambridge Roller Mills, 30 August 1887.
The Waikato Times 6 Sep 1887 Reply to Mr Chambers To the Editor: Sir, - I observe a letter in your issue of 1st inst., from Mr Chambers, in which he endeavours to put a wet blanket on wheat growing in Waikato and brings to his aid a partner of an Auckland milling firm, who says it is more profitable to buy Southern wheat and it is better for their trade. No doubt we have men who profess to be millers, and whose judgement is generally taken before that of an experienced miller. I ask Mr Chambers when, or where, he read such a statement of mine quoted, in any journal, that I could not use Waikato wheat. For his information I may say I bought Waikato wheat before Mr Chambers saw New Zealand, and I would like him to name a year, when I have not used Waikato wheat. It is true that I use a large proportion of Southern wheat, simply because the quantity has not been grown locally to supply our wants, and I again repeat, let the farmers grow the class of wheat which we can use freely, and I will be a buyer of Waikato wheat. As to the quantity of wheat purchased this last season, Mr Chambers states that I have only bought some few hundred sacks I say that I have bought some thousands, and last month alone I bought 941 sacks for my Auckland mill, and during the season I bought 5,000 sacks for the Ngaruawahia mill. No doubt Mr Chambers can top these figures. - Yours truly, John Lamb.
The Waikato Times 14 Apr, 22 May 1888 and 10 Jan 1889
Archives NZ Auckland Ref: BCDG 11232 1b Cambridge Civil Record Book 1887-1902 1888 Jan 13 Plaint No. 143/87 Plaintiff: Richard Chambers of Cambridge West, Mill owner Defendant: John Mohr of Te Kuiti, baker Amount of Claim: 16 pounds 15s Judgement for whom and amount: Plaintiff 16 pounds 15s and costs 2s 6d Dis. Warrant Issued 25 Jun 1888
The Waikato Times 9 Jun 1888 Spring v. Winter Wheat To the Editor. Sir, Your article "Winter v. Spring Wheat" which appeared in Tuesday's issue gives a very incorrect version of what I may have said in some conversation between myself and some one, although I am not aware that any deputation has waited upon me on any subject. I told Mr Allen that I consider Waikato grown winter wheat does not improve the colour of my flour to anything like the extent Canterbury winter wheat does, as it is usually coarser in the skin, very frequently blighted, of darker colour, and often sprouted. I am not fool enough to say that winter wheat damaged the colour or quality of the flour, but I did say, by using it, say 1 to 3 of spring, I failed to see difference enough in the flour to pay any more money for it. I may say that my reason for going in for milling spring wheat was that farmers have invariably told me that spring wheat pays them 30s to 40s per acre better than winter. - I am, yours truly. R. Chambers Cambridge, June 7th, 1888.
New Zealand Herald 24 May 1889 Bankruptcy R. Chambers - Richard Chambers, bankrupt, made the following statement yesterday before the Official Assignee:- After a service of 19 years as manager of a flour-mill in England, I came out to this colony in 1883, with my savings, amounting to 1,020 pounds. I landed in Auckland in October, 1883. Four months afterwards, I obtained a situation as manager of a flour mill in the Waikato, at a salary considerably less than I had at home, and continued there until January 1885. Shortly afterwards I entered upon my present undertaking at Cambridge - a flour mill, which I leased for five years at 100 pounds a year rental, 1,000 pounds being the purchase money. The machinery was old, and I have had to spend 820 pounds on improvements at various times. It never has been a success until this last year, when I managed to clear 500 pounds. The first two years were worked at a loss. At the end of that time the dam burst, causing loss and delay to the extent of 200 pounds. In the third year I had to wipe off nearly 400 pounds of bad debts, and there was a further loss of nearly the same sum through a fall in the price of wheat, but the latter was compensated for in the fourth year when, as stated, I cleared 500 pounds chiefly by a rise in price, and the production of a better class of flour, the latter result being the fruits of expenditure on improvements. In order to carry on my business it was necessary to have a guaranteed bank overdraft of 1,000 pounds. I actually started with a capital of 675 pounds - all that was left of the 1,020 I brought to the colony. At the end of two years, say February, 1887, my indebtedness to the bank was 1,800 pounds, and it was then arranged that I should work under their supervision, and this has continued ever since. Seeing no prospect of retrieving myself, and in view of the necessity for extensive repairs and improvements to anything like successfully compete with modern milling appliances, without means or credit to carry on, I determined to file after offering to assign my estate. None of my creditors pressed me in any way. My books are thoroughly kept by double entry, and posted to date. My assets are all unencumbered, and I have estimated values as follow:- Stock-in-trade, 750 pounds 9s; book debts, 600 pounds; cash in hand, 55 pounds 1s; insurance rebates, 29 pounds 11s; furniture, 25 pounds; working plant, 500 pounds; and farming stock, 85 pounds: total, 2,045 pounds 1s. There are five creditors, and the claims amount to 2,436 pounds, of which the principal creditor claims 1,899 pounds 13s. A meeting of the creditors in this estate was held yesterday at the offices of the Official Assignee, Mr Lawson presiding. The debtor's statement was read, and a letter was produced signed by a number of Cambridge settlers, who stated that they learned with very great regret of the probability of Mr Chambers' flour mills being closed, as he had done much to stimulate the growing of wheat in the district, and had proved that first-class flour could be produced from Waikato spring wheat. On the motion of Mr Allen, seconded by Mr Tewsley, it was decided "That the Official Assignee and Mr Brooks, the representative of the Bank of New Zealand, make arrangements for the realisation of the estate at their discretion, and that Mr Brooks be appointed supervisor, under the provisions of the Act, at a remuneration of 1 pound per cent on the net sum realised." The following motion was also agreed to:- "That Mr Chambers be allowed to retain his furniture and household effects, and that the creditors recomment that Mr Chambers' services be retained, if possible, during the realisation of his estate."
The New Farmer July 1889 We are pleased to hear that the Cambridge flour mill will be restarted shortly by Messrs Chambers and Ridler, late of Hamilton mill. A Petton wheel is to be put in, and many other improvements made, which will render the mill second to none. We trust the new firm will be a successful one. Both the members are hard workers, and we hope they will receive a just reward for their labours. It is certainly a great benefit to the farmers to have local mills, and we trust they will encourage the industry in every possible manner.
Bond's Waikato, Te Aroha and Rotorua Almanac and Diary for 1892 page 187 The Cambridge Roller Mill continues to turn out flour of the best quality under the able management of Mr R. Chambers. This gentleman is undoubtedly an "expert in the craft" of milling, and also a genius, for if ever a man had a special taste or disposition qualifying him for a particular employment, Mr Chambers has it for milling. The numerous machines he has invented, made, and erected for cleaning and drying the wheat and separating other seeds from it, are marvels of ingenuity, and the perfection of the work is shown by the quality of flour made. Messrs W. Souter & Co. are the agents, and find a ready sale for the whole of the flour &c., manufactured at the mill.
Cambridge Independent 22 May 1979 Old Mill Site Busy The remains of an old flour mill which ceased production 75 years ago, are being excavated by two Cambridge men. Mr Bob Porter and Mr Arthur Moore have already unearthed four mill stones, some shafts, steel work and a screw feeder at the site on the banks of the Waikato River. Mr Porter bgan excavation work about a fortnight ago at the site which is a few hundred metres upstream from the Aotearoa Meats Abbatoir on the west bank. A stone wall is about the only remaining evidence that a mill once operated there. Mr Porter has spent most of the past few years locating places of archaeological and historical significance. These are either recorded by the Hamilton Archaeological Society or the Cambridge Historical Society or excavated. One of Mr Porter's most notable finds was the Maori meeting house at Te Miro. PROBLEMS Mr Porter expects problems when attempts are made to transport the mill stones from the site which is at the foot of a steep bank. "They weigh between two and three hundred-weight each" he said. All four mill stones which were used to crush the wheat and powered by a massive water wheel, are intact and there is apparently another somewhere on the site. Two of the stones were found firmly embedded into the ground in an upright position. The other two were laying on their sides not far from the surface. In uncovering the stones, other mill equipment has been found and parts are gradually being pieced together. It is estimated that it will take about a month to unearth what is left of the mill. The Cambridge Historical Society will hand the remains over to the museum. According to Mr Porter it may be possible to place the mill stones in the museum's walls. "There is no chance of placing them inside the museum because of their weight" he said. ESTABLISHED 1870 James Hally's flour mill was established in 1870 to handle the increasing quantities of wheat being grown in the Cambridge district. It was a substantial building stretching from river level to the top of the bank not far from where Aotearoa Meats are now. The mill reached the peak production in 1888 but by 1904 was no longer in use. In the 80s settlers on both sides of the river were sowing increased acreages of wheat and Mr Hally had to install a barge to handle the supply from the east bank. TRAM ON WIRES Water power was used to the fullest extent; first grinding the wheat and then depositing the flour on the opposite bank by means of a tram suspended on wires. During the hey-day of wheat growing many local threshing plants went round the district, notably those of Jarrett Bros and Jared Allwill. Most of the wheat grown was the tuscan variety. Even after Hally's mill closed, considerable areas were still planted in wheat, which was exported to Australia. An indication of the importance attached to wheat growing was the establishment of a corn exchange in Cambridge in 1889. TWO OTHERS According to Mr Porter there were two other mills, one at Maungatautari and the other at Te Miro, in the Cambridge area around the 1850s. Both were also driven by water wheels from streams and were owned by Maoris. The dams used in conjunction with the mills are still standing but the buildings have long since disappeared. "The stones of the Maungatautari mill have been found and are set in the house now on the property" Mr Porter said. 30 YEARS AGO Mr Porter estimates that the final tangible evidence of Hally's Mill's existence, disappeared about 30 years ago. "Due to stock movement and other natural changes a lot of rubbish has fallen on the site since then and it is difficult to uncover the lot" he said. The time Mr Porter and Mr Moore have devoted to archaeological and historical activities is voluntary. But there are very few of Mr Porter's age who would spend part of their retirement working on the cold, dark and damp banks of the Waikato River during the worst season of the year. But it's not the first time and certainly won't be the last that he has worked in unpleasant surroundings. He helped locate and uncover Kauwhanganui, the former Maori Parliament buildings at Te Miro just over two years ago. "Hundreds of artifacts and a canoe were discovered and these are all currently being treated by the Hamilton museum before they are passed on to the Ngatihaua tribe at Kiwitahi," Mr Porter said. Mr Porter and fellow archaeologists working on the Kohanganui site struck problems in the excavation work along with criticism. These are factors that do not affect people like him and so he continues to donate his time and energy.
