History: Mudgee Great Western Roller Flour Mill

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1907

22 August 1907
Great Western Milling Co.

The Great Western Milling Co. contemplates building a new mill on a site at the railway station. The latest type of milling machinery will be installed and the capacity of the plant will be increased to cope with expanding business. The building will be lighted by electricity, and, when completed, the mill will be one or the most up-to-date outside the metropolis. Mr. A. C. Gaskin, who has been connected with the Mudgee Milling Co. as manager for the last ten years, will join the staff, and his extensive experience should prove of value to the Great Western, of which he is a shareholder1 .

24 October 1907
Western Milling Company New Mill

Work, in connection with the building of the Western Milling Company's new mill is proceeding very satisfactorily, and with great expedition. The section which will hold the plant is now completed, and ready for the new machinery, two truck loads of which were received from Messrs. Henry Simon, Ltd., the world famous engineers of Manchester. Some of the new machines are the only ones of the kind in the States. The engine, a high speed Davey Paxman Compound, is to arrive this week, and during the next few days the Babcock and Wilcox boiler will be erected. All the work so far has been done by local workmen, under the supervision of Mr. A. C, Gaskin, who has had many years' experience designing erecting and managing roller flour mills of all systems with the largest millers of the Commonwealth. Mr. Gaskin has been engaged by the Western Milling Company to design the mill and carry out the erection of the plant. The chimney has been erected by Messrs. Collyer and Carmichael from plans prepared by Mr. Gaskin, and the bricks used came out of the chimney at the old mill. Mr Gaskin considers that the admirable work done by Messrs. Collyer and Carmichael reflects great credit upon them, and disposes of the contention that our local builders are not able to carry out work of this kind2 .

1908

Western Flour Milling Co., Limited.

Important Mudgee Industry.
Pleasing Function.
Director's Dinner.
On Monday night last the shareholders at the invitation of the Board of Directors of the Western Flour Milling Co., Ltd., attended an inspection of the new mill which was followed by a dinner. The Western Flour Milling Company began its history in the early days of Mudgee, when milling machinery, was with a few elaborations, almost similar to the process used for extraction of flour from grain as was in vogue when Joseph superintended the granaries of Egypt, after he had been rescued from the pit into which his brothers, with a keen sense of brotherly love, had lowered him, through jealously, caused by Joseph's tailor who had bedecked him in a coat of many colors. The old mill stones with their corrugations still unworn are on view at the new mill, and are a striking contrast with the modern machinery which has been installed there, and which automatically reduces the grain to flour and by-products without the intervention of the hand of man. It is more than 40 years ago since the mill was established out of which the present structure has grown, and the remains of the old building still occupies the site in Mortimer-street. It was known in those days as Crossing's mill, and it was in it that Mr. George Crossing, the owner, met a fierce sudden end by being caught in a large flywheel which may still be seen lying in the old mill yard. That shocking fatality occurred about 13 years ago, and for some years after the business was conducted by Mrs. Crossing, who afterwards sold out to a company. This company carried on operations as at first constituted until about six months ago when it was reformed to a certain extent, and Mr. A. C. Gaskin, who had been head miller for the Mudgee Roller Milling Co. for ten years - since it commenced operations, in fact - joined, taking the position of managing director, and the present Western Milling Company, Ltd., was formed. Meanwhile the area under wheat throughout the district kept increasing, and the extension of the railway into the wheat-growing land giving promise that the industry would expand still further, it was decided by the company, who are far-seeing ?men, and understand their district and its potentialities thoroughly, to purchase a site on the railway and there erect an up-to-date mill furnished with the most modern type of machinery. Mr. Gaskin was commissioned by the Company to obtain from the Railway Commissioners the concession of a railway siding, and this was finally accomplished with the assistance of the late member for the district. This desirable end gained, Mr. Gaskin, who ranks as an expert in his profession, was further entrusted with the choosing and purchasing of what machinery and plant he considered necessary for the new mill, and he, like the rest of the members of the Company, with an unbounded faith, which is quite justifiable, in the productiveness of the district, purchased a plant which is capable of treating 47,000 bags of wheat each year, by running continuously. The designing, construction, and supervising the work was all in the hands of Mr. Gaskin, who worked with dogged persistence on the great responsibility he had taken, with the result that the building was erected with amazing rapidity and the machinery installed, and ready for work within the space of fifteen weeks. It is stated by those who have undertaken similar works that there is no plant in the State of a like capacity which has been erected and running in such a short time, and it may be added that such despatch augurs well for the future prosperity of the Company. We were conducted through the building on Monday evening and though dazed with the technicalities of our guide, and bewildered with whirring wheels and endless belts, it was easy to see that the whole vast mechanism ran with the utmost smoothness and with the regularity of clock work. Our guide informed us that from the time steam was first turned on not a single hitch of a serious nature had occurred in the working of the complicated machinery which fills three floors, and receives its motive power from a 150 h.p. engine in the basement. All the latest appliances for the expeditious handling of grain in any quantity, and with ease and economy, have been installed. The weigh-bridge with a little office attached is on the western side of the grain house, and is a vast improvement on the old style, which, though accurate in itself, was frequently the cause of mistakes being made by weigh clerks, who if disturbed were apt to forget the figures. On the bridge under notice a patent attachment is fixed which cannot make a mistake. When the load is taken on the bridge and the beam balances at whatever the weight is, a ticket is automatically stamped showing this weight, and thus no error can be made by the clerk's forgetfulness. The bridge is adjusted to a nicety and has been registered by the Board of Trade. In describing the working of the mill many details must be omitted, as space will not permit of a lengthy explanation, we will, therefore, endeavor to place briefly before the reader the principal methods used for the transformation of the grain into flour. The grain room abuts on the weighbridge, and directly the weight of the load is registered the bags are rapidly cut open and the grain flows into a receptacle which is elevated to the silo attached to the mill, and after this operation it is not seen again until the flour appears at the packing machines ready for market, no handling being required between the cutting open of the bag and the stowing of the staff of life into bags ready for commerce, and even this is done by machinery. The silo is of ingenious construction, and, to quote our guide, is termed the American crib type, and was chosen by Mr. Gaskin after many years' experience of silo construction adapted for handling grain. It consists of four great cells, the dimensions of which are 8ft 6in square by 47ft deep, with hoppered bottoms (another technicality cribbed from our guide's inexhaustible repertoire), built of Oregon pine, in such a manner as to withstand the enormous pressure exerted by the 300 tons contained in the silo. There is an art in the construction of these silos, or huge bins, and many accidents are on record where they have collapsed, killing men and wrecking machinery in their fall. The Western Milling Co.'s silo was, however, faithfully built, and though Mr. Gaskin experienced an anxious time while it was being filled, he was rewarded when he found that it was impossible to detect any settlement or giving after it had been filled. The grain is fed from the bottom silo by a mechanical feeding device which works so well and is of such utility, that Mr. Gaskin, who is the inventor of it, is applying for a patent. It feeds the wheat in the exact quantities required from the different cells as the mill uses it. It is a clever and well thought out addition to milling machinery, and one that will find favor wherever it is installed. After this operation the wheat is elevated into the cleaning department where it passes through an appropriately named separator which is styled The Eureka, and which extracts the refuse from the pure material. One would not expect much refuse from the clean looking golden grain, but it is there just the same and is particularly dirty and disagreeable looking. The cleansed grain then continues its journey sometimes horizontally or laterally down or up in search of other machinery to complete its reduction into flour. In the fulness of time it passes through indented cylinders, fashioned by the wonderful ingenuity of man, to separate oats and barley, and then finds its way through a scouring machine which removes any smut or dust, and the onlooker receives a sudden surprise when he once more notes the amount of rubbish coming away from the bright looking grain he saw leaving the grain house some time before. Still travelling in search of further adventures the wheat reaches the conditioning bins where it is reduced to an even condition by another process, for each floor from basement to roof is packed with machinery, and, as in Italy, all roads lead to Rome, so, in the Western Mill, all roads lead to a machine and through it to yet another and another, until the process of latter-day flour milling is complete. From these conditioning bins the wheat is drawn and measured by an automatic weighing machine which passes it forward on its long turbulent journey to a brushing machine - another contrivance to ensure cleanliness - where a further polishing is administered. But no time must be wasted, for are there not thousands waiting for white soft bread, and buttered scones, and all the other delicacies in which flour is the main factor, and so the wheat goes on through its covered wooden tramway, until its course is interrupted by the first breaking roller where the grain is broken and the germ detached. A dressing machine separates the two, and the journey continues to and through the second, third, and fourth breaking rollers, and at each of these stages it is further reduced and dressed. At the fourth breaking roller the bran detaches itself and passes into the bran bag, and is the bran of commerce. The flours and semolinas (again our guide grew technical, but explained that semolinas is the term used for unreduced flour) are separated the latter graded into three sizes and purified on three different machines. The pure products then descend to the smooth rollers where they are gradually reduced. Once more they are elevated, dressed by six centrifugal dressing machines which are clothed over the drums with a graded silt mesh supplied at about £1 per yard by Swiss manufacturers, that rugged country where the tourist falls so persistently off the mountain tops, being the only place in the world where this silk mesh is made. This is the final process, and the snowy article, which is declared by the bakers of Mudgee to be of the highest quality, is ready for the market. There is little else worth noting, except that it may be stated that the whole process, from the time the wheat is weighed, is absolutely automatic. All the machinery, which is indeed a vast array, is driven by line shafting on each floor, and is fitted with self-oiling apparatus. Inch and a half ropes drive the machinery from the basement, the power used being the 150 h.p. engine already referred to. This engine is of rare British make and embraces all the latest improvements. The mill is lighted by electricity, the installation being independent of the mill. The current is generated by a separate engine, and lights the mill throughout, also attending to other duties, such as hoisting wheat, working elevators in the grain shed, and performing other trivial acts which require a little strength. To prove that electricity was a superior lighting medium (which we knew before) our guide turned a tap and the whole building was a blaze of light. This was the signal for an adjournment to the grain room, where, under the lee of a mighty pile of bags of wheat, Nicholson's had set out a sumptuous dinner3 .

1909

2 December 1909
Purifier

Mr. A. C. Gaskin, manager of the Great Western Flour Milling Co., of Mudgee, has designed and had erected in the Company's mill, near the railway station, a handsome Middling's purifier, which is the first of its kind built in the Commonwealth. The machine stands alone for elegance and finish beside the many continental purifiers in the mill, and it is claimed to have more than one advantage over the imported machines. The motive which prompted the innovation was that the imported machines did not come up to the ideas of the enterprising manager of the mill, and the completed machine as it now stands is a credit to Australian ingenuity. The total cost of construction was equal to the usual price of an imported machine landed at Darling Harbor, thus the cost of railway freight from Sydney to Mudgee was saved. The work of erection was carried out by Mr. Chas. Garnham, assisted by Mr. Fryer, and under the personal supervision of Mr. Gaskin. The iron fittings were supplied by the firm of Henry Simon, of Sydney, and the tin-smithing was performed by Mr. G. Dykes, of Mudgee. When the mill was started for the season's operations on Thursday last it was found that the new machine acted quite up to expectations and gave complete satisfaction4 .

1912

2 May 1912
A New Mill.

Great Western Company's Progress.
The Manager on District Patriotism.
On Tuesday afternoon the directors of the Great Western Milling Company invited shareholders, the banker of the company, and representatives of the press to visit the new mill, which they recently purchased from the Mudgee Roller Milling Company. This mill has been thoroughly renovated, new machines have been installed, and the whole process of milling has been simplified and co-ordinated in such a way as to give increased facility in production and greater ease in handling.
The party, some dozen strong, was conducted over the building by the manager, Mr. A. C. Gaskin, and the whole of the processes through which the wheat passes from the time it enters the mill to the time it reaches the storing shed was lucidly explained. Incidentally, it is astonishing to see the tremendous amount of machinery necessary to produce flour. The wheat passes through something like 500 processes before it finally becomes clear enough to be classed as flour. The four outstanding features which strike the casual observer are: (1) The completeness of the plant; (2) its cleanliness; (3) the way space is conserved; (4) the absolute purity of flour, and of that delectable breakfast meal, "Semolina."
When the inspection had been finished the party repaired to the manager's house, where Mr. W. F. Kellett (chairman of the company), gave the toast of "The King."
Mr. J. Tozer then proposed "The Mudgee Milling Company." He said it was a great pleasure to him to see the mill running so smoothly, and he was sure the shareholders were similarly gratified. For this highly satisfactory state of affairs Mr. Gaskin was almost solely responsible. He asked his hearers to drink success to the company, and expressed the hope that it would pay a hand some dividend.
Mr. Chester, in supporting the toast, said that he was present at the opening of the other mill some five years ago. At the banquet on that occasion he referred to the little that has been done in the way of grading wheat. Since that time scientists and experts had devoted a great deal of time to this matter, with the result that wheat grading was now a fine art. Mr. Gaskin that afternoon had taken great pains to explain the process of flour manufacture, but he (the speaker) could not grasp it. The works seemed about as complicated as the mechanism of a watch; and, he was glad to say, they seemed to be running as smoothly. He had the impression that the company had made a good bargain in purchasing the property. The wheat market was somewhat disturbed at present, and in the event of a rise in price, which was probable, the company stood to come out handsomely.
In replying, the chairman, after expressing thanks, said that when the present company started milling it was in a very small way. Some years ago the property formerly owned by Mr. George Crossing was for sale. A few townsmen, some of whom were directors of the present company, decided to purchase the property. After doing so, they found it was on a bad site. Owing to lack of railway facilities, they found that the cost of handling was much too high, and they were unable to compete with the large mill just inspected. The company then decided to build a mill on the line - the old mill - and Mr. Gaskin, who had left the other firm, decided to throw in his lot with them. This old mill had done fairly well. Recently the company was given an opportunity to purchase the fine building, etc., that had just been visited. They embraced the chance. Mr. George Stewart, who was a member of the Mudgee Milling Company, had thrown in his lot with the Great Western Company. The milling trade in New South Wales was considerably behind Victoria, South Australia, and New Zealand. In these last-mentioned places there was more combination amongst the millers. In New South Wales there was great jealousy amongst the big millers - there was no combination and pooling of interests. However, there were signs that the leading millers on every side would come together and work harmoniously, as they did in other places. When this occurred the milling trade would be improved, and better results to the millers would follow. The company had a property which they considered to be one of the best outside Sydney. Considerable expense had been incurred in renovating the mill and bringing the machinery up-to-date. They had now to put their shoulders to the wheel, and turn out a flour equal to anything in the State. There was no reason why mills should not pay their way, not only when the market appeared to be going their way, but in ordinary years. Again, he thanked them.
Mr. V. D. Cox gave the toast of "The Press" and Mr. G. Stewart supported it.
The "Guardian" representative responded, at the same time apologising for the absence of the "Post" representative.
Mr. J. Tozer proposed "The Health of Mr. Gaskin," remarking that what that gentleman did not know about mills was not worth knowing.
Mr. G. Stewart, in supporting the toast, said that the Mudgee Company some years ago advertised for a miller. Some 25 applications were received. Each application was ac-companied by good references. These were considered, and Mr. Gaskin was appointed. During his term with the Mudgee Milling Company, Mr. Gaskin gave every satisfaction. The quality of the flour was never faulted. Recently he (the speaker) went on a trip with Mr. Gaskin through the district. He (the speaker) then discovered that Mr. Gaskin was very popular with outside district folk, and was besides an able dealer. These were qualities which further served to increase the prestige of the mill.
Mr. W. G. Marks said that some little time ago there was talk of increasing Mr. Gaskin's salary. The question was then asked, "What is he worth?" The directors found that Great Western flour commanded 5/ per ton above the Sydney market prices, and just at that time commanded £1 above Sydney price. It was then realised that there was justification for a rise. Mr. Gaskin was the right man in the right place.
Mr. A. Brown also remarked on Mr Gaskin's high qualifications.
Mr. W. G. Kellett, referring to the manager, said that he was whole-souled in his endeavors to do his utmost for the company by which he was employed.
Mr. Gaskin, who was received with applause, said that circumstances had a good deal in making a man. When he was 12 years of age he was pitched into a very large mill, under one of the old type of foremen, who was prepared to swear at a man, or prepared to knock him down if he became obstreperous. He could trace the ascent of the millers who had been under this man. One was receiving £1500 a year from the Adelaide Milling Company; others held leading positions in Australasia and Argentina. As a lad he was taught to either do a thing well or leave it alone. Consequently, he had a good, but hard, training. After 18 years' experience in Victoria working for such firms as Brunton and W. C. Thomas, he left owing to the big drought of '97 practically closing the mills. He went to Sydney. After having a couple or offers, he was eventually given the option of coming to Mudgee. He promised to take it providing the job was guaranteed, but received a wire from a man named Mr. Loneragan, reading "If you are willing to come on your merits, come along." He thought that good enough, and did come along. The first year's work was trying; but he had been challenged on his merits, and thought it good enough to stick to. In less than five years the output was raised from 5000 or 6000 bags to 60,000 bags. This was in a district that some of its leading residents said could not grow wheat. Mudgee could grow as good wheat as could be grown anywhere in the State. A recent visitor, travelling the district, when he had reached Cullenbone remarked, "This is all good wheat country." As he passed Mr. Atkinson's, he said, "This is as good for wheat as anything about Wellington." Later on he remarked, "You have quite as good wheat land as Wellington; all you want is more of the right class of people." He (the speaker) had hard wheat in the mill at the present time which would weigh 671bs. to the bushel (some of it grown by Mr. Stewart). This could be put on Mark Lane, London, tomorrow, and would compare with wheat grown in any part of the world, not even excepting the famous No. 1 Red grown on the lands of Minneasota. The Comeback and Bobs grown by Mr. Stewart. Mr. D. Cox, and others, was as good as anything in the world. So far as quality of the flour was concerned, he had only to say that he had made a ton for the Agricultural Department, and it was exhibited in Sydney, and then sent to London, and exhibited as a flour made from Australian hard wheat. He could show them contracts for flour £1 above the Sydney market. Mudgee could produce wheat as good and in as large quantity as any in the much vaunted western districts. The day for the sheep man had gone by. Australia must have millions of population to defend it. If the land was to be used as a sheep run, this could never be. The wheat grown in Australia at the present time was a mere flea bite. If Australia's wheat lands were properly tilled, Australia could produce more wheat than even Canada without any effort. A successful Wellington sheep farmer had told him that before he started wheat growing he was always in difficulties with the banks. Since beginning to grow wheat he was independent of them. This gentleman had 6000 to 8000 acres under wheat, and carried as many sheep on his land as ever he did. He (the speaker) hoped that the Mudgee sheep men would learn to use wheat to help them to get more wool. The mill would have a capacity of about 40 tons a day of 24 hours. This meant a mill that was one of the largest in the State. It was about a third larger than formerly. If all the wheat lands within 20 miles of Mudgee were properly used, there would be no necessity for the mill to go outside the district for wheat. Every ton of flour manufactured in Mudgee cost 10/ in wages alone. Other industries were being fostered by protective tariffs; why was it that the oldest form of industry - one of the soundest, and one which benefited the people more than any other - was not fostered by bonuses. Every ton of flour exported from New South Wales was being exported at a loss. The reason of this was because shippers bought wheat, sent it to England or the Continent, where wages and machinery cost 50 per cent. less, and there turned it into flour. Australia only milled about one-sixth of her wheat, she should mill the whole of it. Wheat should be prevented from being exported by means of an export duty. The people of Mudgee should remember that every ton of flour made in the Mudgee mill meant the payment of 10/ in wages, which money would afterwards be expended in the town or district. Therefore, the grower who sold his wheat to a Sydney firm at the same price as the Mudgee mill would give for it was unpatriotic, and not public spirited. Again he thanked them5 .

1913

18 September 1913
Local Brevities

Now, and for a considerable time past, the Mudgee Milling Co. has been working at high pressure. Since this company moved' from its old building into the present upto date premises east of the railway station business has been doubled. Last week alone five thousand bags of flour of the quality that has made the Mudgee mill famous were des patched. This large increase of business is due in no small measure to Mr. Manager Gaskin and the members of his staff. The output of the mill is 100 tons per. week. Judging from the eagerness with which buyers of flour snap up the product from tho Mudgee mill, we can predict a very big future for this local industry6 .

11 December 1913
A BIG BLAZE.

Mudgee Mill Gutted. £16,000 Gone in Smoke. A Terrific Spectacle.
On Wednesday morning about 1 a.m. the town of Mudgee was startled from slumber by the loud and insistent ringing of the fire bell. Three times the brazen alarm rang out, and before many minutes had elapsed the balconies and verandahs of the houses began to show signs of life. No sooner had a glance been taken than it was seen that a big blaze occurring in the south-eastern quarter of the town. Huge tongues of flames could be seen leaping into the sky, while a heavy pall of smoke began to sweep westward before the high wind that was blowing. The news soon spread that the Great Western Flour Mill was on fire. It was the most majestic, awe-inspiring sight ever witnessed in Mudgee - the largest fire the town had ever experienced. Flour mills are proverbially easy to burn once they catch alight. The interior was so honeycombed with woodwork, in the shape of flour and wheat "conveyors," that flames shoot from ground floor to roof in a few minutes. When the fire brigade arrived on the scene the building - which consists of four stories - was a seething mass of fire. Flames burst from every window. Huge sparks, as large as a man's fist, fell in a shower to the eastward of the blaze, while hot sheets of iron came swirling down from the roof, some being carried by the high wind a distance of sixty or seventy yards. Above all could be heard the awesome roar of the flames as the draught through the lower windows helped to incite the flames to greater fury. One by one the floors gave way with a crash, then the roof fell in with a terrific report, and a shower of blazing sparks rose high in the air. Inside the building could be seen huge piston rods, cranks and steel work writhing like red-hot snakes in the fierce heat. Considerable excitement was caused when it became known that there was a boiler inside the building. When the report got round the people scattered, momentarily expecting an explosion. How-ever) a fall of beams from above snapped a pipe and let the steam out with a roar. As the scalding, driving steam struck the wall of brick work nearby and rushed up the wall, the top of the northern side of the building crumbled like butter and fell outwards with a terrific succession of crashes. Luckily the wind was blowing from the east, and the big grain silo on the east end of the building, together with one store room and the offices, was saved. The huge stack on the west was wreathed in flames, but it withstood the fierce test and did not crumble as was confidently expected.
THE BRIGADE. About twenty minutes after the alarm was given the fire brigade appeared upon the scene. Under the direction of Captain Cohen the engine was run down to the big mill dam and the motor set off. The water hydrant at the mill gate was also tapped, and two good streams of water were soon being utilised to prevent the destruction of the grain silo, the offices and No. 4 storeroom. It was seen from the very first that no attempt could be made to quench the tremendous conflagration in the main building. The brigade did effective work in confining the flames to the main building.
THE SILO. The huge grain silo on the eastern end of the mill was saved. It contained from 80 to 100 tons of grain. However this was damaged by both fire and water, and it is anticipated that none of it will be saved. In fact, it is believed that in the course of a day or two chloride of lime will have to be requisitioned to keep down 1 the stench of the rotting wheat and flour.
THE LOSS. It is estimated that to cover the company against loss of trade as well as loss of machinery, plan and building, a sum of £17,000 or £18,000 would be required. The milling machinery alone cost £7000. The big marine engine and boiler, one of the best in Australia, cost £2000. The building would cost about £4000 to replace. So that the total actual loss was about £13,000 or £14,000. As against this the building, plant and stock was insured for between £10,000 and £11,000. Once upon a time the insurance companies used to accept a floating stock insurance. This was a great protection to a miller; but the companies of late stopped this form of insurance. In fact, mill insurance is a most intricate actuarial matter.
WHAT WILL THEY DO? A meeting of shareholders is called for next Wednesday, when the question of what shall be done will be considered. We understand that the majority of the directors are anxious to begin right away to rebuild the mill, meanwhile installing machinery in the old mill and making shift to meet contracts.
THE MANAGER. The mill manager, Mr. A. C. Gaskin, is one of the old school of millers, a man who takes a pride in the quality of his flour. He has made the reputation of Mudgee flour all over Australia and in various parts of the world. In fact, he mostly gets a price in advance of the market rate. For 16 years he was manager of Messrs Jas. Lonoragan's mill in Mudgee. Some five years ago he left that firm's employ, and became manager, of the Great Wes tern Co. Two years ago the Great Western Company bought out Mr. James Loneragan, and Mr. Gaskin found himself back in his old mill again. After this deal the machinery was improved considerably, and the mill made thoroughly up-to-date. Much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Gaskin.
THE EMPLOYEES. By the fire some nine permanent This would have meant the employment, After Christmas it was intended to work three shifts a day. This would have meant the employment of about 14 extra hands.
LOSS OF TOOLS. Mr. Fred. Fryer, carpenter, who was always doing work at the mill, left his kit and tools worth over £30 in the mill on Tuesday night, and lost them all.
THE TOWN WILL SUFFER. Directly and indirectly the conflagration will seriously affect the business life of the town. Not only are nine or ten men out of employment but the present is harvest time when the vehicle traffic and wheat teams makes the streets lively, and keeps business brisk.
FIRE CARRIERS. Mr. Gaskin, the manager, compares a flour mill to a powder magazine, and states that at the Mudgee mill there were 23 sets of wooden elevators running from top to bottom of the building. Once these catch alight the flames spread with marvellous rapidity.
THE MACHINERY.
The machinery at the mm was of the very latest and best description. Everything that could be done by machinery was so done. As an indication of the excellence of the plant, it is only necessary to state that the big marine engine ran for the past twelve months twelve hours each day without a penny of expense in wear and tear. This beautiful piece of machinery is now scrap-iron. It would not fetch sufficient to pay for its cartage away.
LOSSES. It is almost impossible to gauge the losses of stock. Over 200 tons of wheat and flour, besides the 100 tons in the silo, were completely destroyed. Fully 10,000 second-hand bags and from 8000 to 10,000 new bags were consumed.
IRONY. A touch of irony was added to the conflagration by the fact that only that day two machines from the old mill were despatched to purchasers in other parts of the State. Only for this the company would have been able to commence work in the old mill at a much earlier date than will now be possible. As it is, it will take fully two months before the old mill can be fitted up sufficiently to allow of work to be started.
SMOULDERING. The ruins smouldered all day on Wednesday, the fire brigade visiting the scene during the day, and temporarily checking some of the blazing portions. Last night the mill hands got to work with the hose, and thoroughly quenched the smouldering beams, woodwork, and wheat.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. It is believed the fire originated on the south side of the building. There No. 3 storeroom, which was completely destroyed, ran close up against a fence, which was only about fifteen or twenty feet from the railway. Between the rails and the fence a considerable amount of dry grass lay about, while between the fence and the shed were dry "foxtail" and other grasses. It is surmised that a spark from an engine, which passed by about 9 p.m. that night, ignited the grass, which led the flames to the fence, and so on to the storeroom. This grass, we understand, has been set alight in this fashion before; and, as a matter of fact, both the matron at the hospital and Mr. Fowler, of the Mudgee loco. department, who first saw the conflagration, definitely state that it was on the south side, about the storeroom.
THE MANAGER'S STATEMENT. Mr. A. C. Gaskin, manager of the Great Western Mill, in an interview stated that he and the accountant (Mr. Cal Clark) knocked off work that night about 10.15 p.m. They never noticed anything unusual at that time, and thought everything safe. He went to his residence (which adjoins the mill yard on the north), and went to bed. The first intimation he had that anything was wrong was a scream from his daughter, who cried out, "The mill's on fire!" "I jumped up," continued Mr. Gaskin, "and hastily pulled on my trousers and boots. On rushing out I could just see the flames breaking out through the lower part of the mill, where we used to receive and screen the wheat. By this time the windows in the office to the north were beginning to crack with the heat. The fire must have been going for some time. I rushed to the telephone, and rang up, but it was five or ten minutes before I got an answer. I suppose in a time of danger like that time seems to pass very slowly. However, it did seem a long time before I got the exchange. I got on to the fire station, and heard the bell commence to ring. Then I ran over to the office, and with the aid of Mr. "Bob" McKnight (engineer at the mill), who came running up, managed to get the books out of the office. Soon after this the brigade turned up; but it was of little use - the whole building was a mass of flames, and the whole waterworks would not have saved it. However, the brigade helped to quench the roof of the office building, which had caught alight, and also saved No. 4 storeroom. The loss is a very serious one, and will cause a great dislocation of business in the town. I
cannot say what tho shareholders intend to do yet."
COINCIDENCE. On Wednesday morning Messrs. Jas. Loneragan's, Ltd., mill at Gulgong was put out of action owing to the collapse of portion of the silo. This meant that within 12 hours the only two flour mills in the Mudgee district were closed down7 .

15 December 1913
Mudgee Mill Fire.

Coronial Inquiry. Open Verdict Returned.
On Saturday last Mr. Arnott, P.M., held an inquiry into the fire which destroyed the Great Western Roller Mill last Tuesday night.
Mr. Rook appeared for the underwriters.
Arthur Cressen Gaskin, manager of the Western Flour Milling Co., and a director, deposed: The premises are situated in Inglis-street, in the municipality of Cudgegong. The mill itself was working till 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Mr. Clarke, secretary of the Company, and I were in the office till 10 p.m. We both left the premises together and walked to my back gate. It was about 10.15 when we parted company. There was no smell of fire nor anything to give us warning at the time. I went straight across to the house and went to bed at 10.45. I didn't know any more until I heard my daughter in the hall screaming "Fire!" This was somewhere between 12 and 1 a.m. My daughter was sleeping on the verandah. When she screamed I rushed into the yard, and fire appeared to be coming from what we term the "bag room" in front of the silo. The fire was coming out of the window. I unlocked the door and got to the telephone and rang up the exchange. I had to wait at least five minutes. Ultimately I got on to the fire station. From the time the bell rang till the brigade got to the place was very short. The only complaint I have to make is about the delay in getting on to the fire station. If I had got through right away and the brigade had responded as quickly as they did there might have been a chance of saving the mill. As it was, when the brigade arrived the mill was a mass of flames. I removed the books as rapidly as possible. Mr. McKnight assisted me and other people. The fire appeared to travel very rapidly - so rapidly that had anyone been on the top floor they could not have escaped. From the time I got out of bed till the time the building was a seething mass of flames was not more than a quarter of an hour or 25 minutes. There was a fair breeze blowing. The shed in which the office is situated ignited at the window and sign board. When the brigade came they did very effective work in stopping the fire from getting to other buildings. The shed the office is in is recognised as No 2. We assess the damage to that building at £30. No. 3 was totally destroyed. No. 1 shed is intact; it contains wheat. We have not assessed the damage to the wheat by smoke and water. No. 4 shed's facing boards were destroyed and the windows damaged. The value of the property and stock destroyed I estimate between £15,000 and £16,000. I estimate that it would take £9900 to replace the engines, the boiler, and the milling machinery. I have got an estimate of the buildings from local builders, and they say it would take £5000 to replace. We have been through the fire insurance policies, and, as far as we can get, on a reasonable basis, the insurance companies are liable to £9970. But that has to be checked, yet. I don't think the salvage is considerable. The insurance on the whole of the buildings, including the sheds not destroyed is £12,000. The salvage (sheds and stock not burned) I estimate at 3,000. The calico bags, being packed, were kept on the balcony. Bags for distribution along the line were kept in No. 3 shed. Mr. Bolton always locks the mill up at night after the railway engine has taken away the trucks. I think he gave the keys to me that night. I hang the keys on the back verandah so that the men coming in the morning can get them. No. 3 shed is about 30 or 40 feet from the railway line. I think it is possible for engines to throw off sparks to such a degree as to cause a fire. Some years ago, while the mill was under Mr. Loneragan's control, we had to put a fire out, which we believed was due to a spark from an engine. The grass was on fire. There are no appurtenances at our mill to extinguish a fire.
To Mr. Rook: To my knowledge no one was in the bag room that night. The men are not allowed to smoke on the premises. Notices are posted up to this effect on the premises. We consider we are very much under-insured. We have bought about 40,000 or 50,000 bags of wheat.
Jessie Mertyl Gaskin, daughter of the previous witness, deposed: I was sleeping at the mill residence on Wednesday morning last. I was sleeping on the verandah. I was awakened by the falling of glass and heard iron falling. I got up at once and went to the end of the verandah and saw the flames coming out of the front door of the mill. That is the door right opposite our back gate. I rushed in and sang out to father that the mill was on fire. Father and mother came out, and father went straight over to the office and took the books out. When I first noticed the fire it was coming out of the bottom door, but it was no time before it was coming out of the top windows.
Percy Fowler deposed: I am a railway employee at Mudgee. I was in the Mudgee loco shed on Tuesday night. I was fireman in charge. The last train went out at 20 minutes past 8. Between a quarter to 1 and 1 o'clock I noticed the fire. The loco shed is about 150 yards from the mill. It was the end nearest the loco shed which was alight. I didn't notice the fire in any other portion of the building at the time. I went to the telephone in the loco room, and rang up the night officer at the railway station, and told him that the mill was on fire and to ring up the police and the fire station. I could not ring up the fire station myself because there is only a little line between the shed and the station. The turntable is about 30 yards from the mill. The last time I turned an engine on the table was about quarter to 10. I did not notice any fire then. It is an impossibility for a fire to be caused by an engine on this occasion, because the engine had new coal, and an engine has to be working heavily to cause sparks to fly.
To Mr. Rook: There was a great deal of smoke from the fire. There might have been a fire inside early in the night, but I did not see it.
Robert Thos. McKnight deposed: I am an engineer and have been driving the engine at the Western Mill. I was working there on Tuesday night, 9th instant. I knocked off at 6 p.m. When I knocked off the damper was almost down, just drawing the smoke off from the furnace. The fire was banked in the furnace. It is the usual thing to leave the fire like that every evening. Before leaving the engine it is my duty to see that everything is right. I did this on Tuesday evening. It is the custom in mills to leave the fire like I left it that night. It was not my duty to lock the mill. About 1 o’clock I heard screams coming from the direction of the mill. It is about 300 yards from my home, which is on the south side of the railway. I got up and looked in the direction of the mill, and saw flames on the south side of No. 3 shed (next to the line). The whole of the shed appeared to be in flames sweeping towards the mill. When I got to the corner the blaze was sweeping in through the mill. I assisted Mr. Gaskin to remove some of the things out of the office and rendered assistance generally. I have been at the mill about 17 years. I have seen fire coming from a railway engine along there light the sleepers on the main line. It would come from the grating underneath the engine.
To Mr. Rook: The Gaskins must have seen the fire before I saw it. The boiler was full of water. There is a proper ashpit under the boiler. It is not possible for any sparks to blow out of that. There was no fire escape provided to enable anyone to escape from the top storey. I cannot tell yet what damage was done to the boiler.
Lilian May Clarke, Matron of the Mudgee Hospital, deposed: I was at the hospital on the morning of the 10th. We can see the mill quite distinctly from the hospital, which is about a quarter of a mile away. I noticed a fire at the mill between 12 and 1 o'clock. The fire was in the shed on the south side near the hospital, and was coming out of the top of the building. The blaze was not very big when I first saw it.
Albert Edward Bolton deposed: I am a storeman at the Western Mill. I was working at the mill on the 9th instant. My duty is to lock up and see that everything is right before I leave. A railway engine came into the private siding a little after six o'clock and took some trucks out. I shut the railway doors. They are made of wood. I came out of the front door and locked it. When I locked the mill up I gave the keys to Mr. Gaskin. That was about 6.30. I woke up about half-past 1 and found the mill on fire. It was all in flames. The employees don't smoke on the mill to my knowledge. Only one man works in the bag room. He worked there that day.
The Coroner said that he would have to return the usual open verdict. He found that these premises were destroyed on the 10th day of December, 1913, but as to whether the origin of the fire was accidental or otherwise, the evidence did not enable him to say8 .

1914

12 March 1914
Local Brevities

A. C. Gaskin has been registered liquidator of the Western Flour Milling Co. Ltd. This is the final stage of the disintegration of the only mill that Mudgee possessed9 .

References