Westerfield is in the county of Ashburton. It is sixty-five miles from Christchurch, with which it has postal communication three times a week. The district is on the Ashburton-Springburn line, eleven miles from Ashburton. There is a telephone service at the local post office. The local school is attended by between twenty and thirty children.

The Westerfield Flaxmill (E. S. T. Simpson and Herbert Chinnery, proprietors), Westerfield. The Westerfield flaxmill was started in 1897 by Mr. Herbert Chinnery and others. In is situated in the centre of an agricultural district, which abounds in flax in its native state. The Westerfield mill is capable of turning out four tons of well dressed flax per week. On reaching the mill the raw material is first sorted, and then put through the stripping machine, which removes most of the vegetable matter and gum. It is then thoroughly washed, and laid out in the field to bleach in the sun for eight days. After that it is placed in the scutch, which rapidly cleaves the fibre of all the remaining matter, laving it in long silklike tresses, which are knotted together, and packed in bales, each of about five hundredweight. It is then ready for export to England. A considerable quantity, however, remains in Canterbury, where it is made into ropes, binder twine, lashing, etc. The mill gives employment to fifteen hands. Its motive power is supplied by a four-horse power turbine, and a nine-horse portable steam engine.

Mr. E. S. T. Simpson is a native of Manchester, England, where he was educated, and was apprenticed to the engineering trade. After was apprenticed to the engineering trade. After serving several years at his trade, he joined the 70th Regiment of Foot, and served on the Indian frontier under Colonel Chute. He came to New Zealand with the Regiment in 1860, was on active service in the colony during the greater part of the Maori war, and took part in several fights, including that at the Gate Pa. After serving on the gold escort in Otago he went to Napier, where he received his discharge in 1865. He holds the Maori war medal. After receiving his discharge, Mr. Simpson took up land at Alford Forest, and farmed it for twenty-five years. In 1902 he joined Mr. Chinnery in partnership in their present business.

Mitchell, photo.
Messrs Simpson and Chinnery.

Mr. Herbert Chinnery, who is a native of London, came to New Zealand with his parents in 1882. His father settled at Woodend, where he was engaged in farming for many years. He himself was first engaged at flax dressing with his uncle, under whom page 839 he gained valuable experience. he left Woodend to take charge of a flaxmill belonging to Mr. W. Burt, at Featherston, in the North Island, where he spent two years. In 1897 he settled at Westerfield, and was one of those who established the flax dressing industry there in that year. After working the mill for six months he went back to the North Island, but returned to Westerfield to manage the mill for Mr. Sutherland. In 1902 he and Mr. Simpson entered into partnership, and leased the mill.