William
Webster
of
Wairere,
Hokianga
Harbour
 |
William
Webster
was
born
in
1816
in
Scotland.
In
1839
he
left
for
New
Zealand
and
came
on
the
"Arora"
to
the
Hokianga
Harbour.
With him he brought machinery for a saw mill which he erected at Wairere. This was New Zealand's first water driven timber mill. Production started in 1845. |
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Photo: William Webster, Wairere, Hokianga |
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The
"Aurora"
loaded
up
spars
for
England.
A
flood
damaged
his
saw
mill.
The
timber
business
declined
and
he
abandoned
operations.
He
sold
the
mill
and
parts
of
the
machinery
was
put
at
Mahurangi
in
a
flour
mill.
The
circular
saw
etc
was
sold
to
Thomas
Henderson.
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Wairere
Boulders
Old
Homestead
NZ
fern
trees
Buildings over Water