Through my family tree research, Joseph and his sons seem to appear through the media during the late1800s and early 1900s. While they successfully ran a business in Palmerston North, the contactor side did not seem to fare so well. There were issues with one local council where they ended up in the Supreme Court. All this being played out through the local newspapers. Joseph was my 4x great grand uncle and his presence would be why my direct line ancestors moved to Palmerston North, although I don’t know how often they would have interacted.
Joseph would have been to some degree part of the Palmerston North founding story, if not the early stages of the town. He and his sons did own land and were business people through the company, Milverton and Sons. They sold produce within their Main Street shopfront in Palmerston North, and for a short time were contractors with local councils even if they seemed to be plagued with issues. The contractor side of the business does throw up some entertaining stories through the news.
Milverton and Sons possibly ceased trading around 1950 with the death of William Milverton. A produce book survived from when the contents of the business was auctioned off and later handed over to the Palmerston North Archives. The business had its beginnings around March 1881. Joseph had been living in the area since around 1878, when he had been contracted by the government to paint Foxton and Palmerston railway stations.[1] One of the possible reasons for the contractor side of the business could be in 1879 when Joseph Milverton and several other locals were wanting a bridge to be built along the Milnerline with 12 chains of road (approx. 240 metres) and had contacted the Manawatu Highways Board in this regard. The Manawatu Highway Board existed between 1872 to 1902 before merging into the Kairanga County Council.[2] In March 1881 the produce side of the business Milverton and Son was operating from Main Street in Palmerston North. They were selling produce like flour and oatmeal. There were many advertisements from Milverton and Sons trying to sell their produce in Palmerston North.[3]
In 1883, a Mr Milverton sent a letter to the Palmerston North Council asking for them to grade Main Street, which was the location of the business. The grading would have been beneficial for everyone else too.[4] Edward Joseph Milverton appeared within the Parliamentary Papers between 1899 and 1900, receiving a certificate of competency to use a traction or locomotive engine. The same department inspected similar equipment like boilers, which did include accidents. The inspectors issued certificates depending on the type of Engine being used. At this time there were limited number of inspectors who could be sent out into the field.[5]
February 1902, Milverton and Sons provided a tender to the Manchester Road Board with the offer for a roller for a period of five years with it being in use for three months of the year so long as the board provides fuel. The Engineer for the board decided to go with another contractor who was cheaper.[6] May 1902, Milverton and Sons notified the Manchester Road Board of their willingness to enter a contract for three years of road rolling with 10 months of the work being guaranteed.[7] In New Zealand metalling roads were another term for roads being covered in crushed gravel. Roads changed as vehicles using the roads changed especially from horse to motorised vehicles.[8] In 1903 Milverton and Sons were involved with metalling the Ngawhakarau Road and the Manawatu County Council had inspected the road and thought there should be a special rate to be paid by those along the road who would benefit from the construction.[9] Problems arose about the quality of work provided by Milverton and Sons on the metalling of Jackeytown Road south of Palmerston North, but at that time period controlled by the Kairanga County Council. The overseer mentioned the contractor had not done enough of the contracted road section but had made some repairs to the road. Council made suggestion they complete the work at the expense to the contractor. Milverton and Sons had confronted the Kairanga County Council over the issues, and was recorded within their council minutes about them being informed over various issues related to the road metalling.[10] The Kairanga County Council took issue with Milverton and Son over their contract to metal the Ngawhakarau Road, and they had been fined in connection with their contract.[11] By December the same year a report from the Kairanga County Council states Milverton and Son were doing great work metalling the Ngawhakarau Road and there was around 130 chains (2615 metres) left.[12]
In January 1904, Milverton and Sons had written a letter to Kairanga County Council about issues in regards to metalling Ngawhakarau Road. They claimed progress had slowed due to workers not wanting to work over Christmas and the weather. The council responded by wanting 90 yards of metal to be delivered daily and if insufficient work made then the contract would be taken off them.[13] By February Kairanga County Council took away the contract from Milverton and Son with the endorsement of the entire board, although Milverton was hopeful for support, which didn’t work in their favour. Ngawhakarau Road seemed to be the gift that kept on giving or a very big annoyance all round.[14]
Both Joseph and the contractor business, Milverton and Sons appear within the 1905 issue of the Inspection of machinery annual report. The boiler was being used for hauling in Palmerston North, which was a locomotive and traction. Others in the area were using them in sawmills and brickmaking as examples.[15] By 1906 the Ngawhakarau Road issue between Milverton and son, and Kairanga County Council came to a head through the Supreme Court with a claim of around £935 in damages in regards to metalling the road. Ngawhakarau Road was not the only contract that was held by Milverton and Son, although their claim was, they had to conduct work on the actual road before it was ready to be metalled, and there were delays in the arrival of the metal so work could commence.[16] The council during cross examination mentioned the tender had been the cheapest and the business had little experience in metalling contracts. William Milverton duid claim there was interference due to issues with the road and a council contractor.[17] The case of Milverton vs Kairanga County Council appeared in the Palmerston North Supreme Court again later in the year during September where council had appealed the previous ruling, although the Judge this time said he would see the evidence first before making a decision. The council had reasoned making the contractor spread 90 yards of metal a day would be reasonable, when Milverton and Son argued that it was too much. They pointed out it was unfair of the council to terminate the contract. [18]
In October of 1906, Milverton and Sons were the highest of five tenders in Wanganui for the excavating and construction of a new gasholder for the gasworks. They were one of two companies from Palmerston to place a tender.[19] Perry’s Biorama and specialty co from Wellington put on a show with several new movies, where Milverton and Sons provided a traction engine for power. According to the newspaper the pictures experienced no delays, but there were other attractions too.[20] 1907 meant Milverton and Son were before the Supreme Court again with a fresh trial against Kairanga County Council. This time the two Milverton’s were mentioned by name, father Joseph and son Edward Milverton. Ngawhakarau Road was again on the agenda, but also Foxton line. Neither party had agreed to the settlements, so had appealed the case, which meant why it was still before the courts in 1907. The same explanations were made from the last court sitting.[21] The court cases managed to vanish after 1907, but the way it looked with the rulings, neither party really won the case through appeals.
Milverton and Son put in a tender to the Palmerston North council for the construction of sewer pipes in Featherston, Taonui and Lombard streets. The tender price was over the council’s engineers estimate, council estimated the cost might be higher than the estimate by the engineer anyway.[22] In September 1906 it was reported the sewer contract was now completed up to Lombard street, and that the connections to the main sewer from George and Lombard would be made within the week.[23] There were some issues relating to the sewer work as some of the concreting had issues, where some of the concrete joints had collapsed, and William did not really want to take the advice from the council.[24] William Milverton who was part of Milverton and Son, objected to being docked £5 from the contract due to not building a manhole that was part of anothers contract.[25] William Milverton in 1908, tried his hand at being elected to the Palmerston North council, was mentioned to be proprietor of the threshing mill, Milverton and sons. He would stand for the Liberal seat in the area.[26] In 1910 William Milverton was mentioned to have been the contractor who had worked on one part of the road around the Oroua Bridge that was celebrated as a wonderful piece of metalling by the Kairanga County Council and motorists.[27]
While researching William Milverton’s journey as councillor in Palmerston North, I came across an entry within the council minutes in October 1928, where William had been caught by the local contractor, Stevenage Construction co. who were working on the sewer pipes. William had damaged 2 joints and a concrete block scraped out from under the pipes. William admitted to his actions during the meeting.[28] It would seem the ghosts from 1906, where similar issues had arose, although council wanted William Milverton to fix the problem by providing advice, which seemed to be ignored. Though the council minutes would exist for this period in time and might provide more information than the newspaper. An interesting little bit of a twist in the story that I had not come across before.
Kairanga County Council no longer exists, but most of the records are held by the archives in Palmerston North. Kairanga County Council operated between 1902 and 1988, and was mostly absorbed into the boundary of Palmerston North.[29] There isn’t any information that I have found about when the contractor side of Milverton and Sons came to an end. The main business kept on functioning until the death of William. Joseph Milverton the father had passed away in 1912.
Sources and links
Researching the death of Joseph Milverton – A previous blog about Joseph
https://tangaroa81.blogspot.com/2015/10/researching-death-of-joseph-milverton.html
PNCC, Council Minutes Vol. 13 – Ordinary meeting October 15th 1928, page 182.
‘Public Works statement, by the minister for public works, The Hon James MacAndrew, Tuesday 27th August 1978’,Appendix to the House of Representatives, p.46, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1878/I/704, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Manawatu Highway Board’, Manawatu Times, 11 June 1897, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18790611.2.7, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Page 3 advertisements column 6’, Manawatu Times, 19 March 1881, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18810319.2.15.6, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Page 3 advertisements Column 1’, Manawatu Times, 2 March 1881, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18810302.2.19.1, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Borough Council’, Manawatu Times, 11 January 1883, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18830111.2.6, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Marine Department. Annual Report for 1899- 1900’, Appendix to the Journal of the House of Representatives, 1900, p.10, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1900/I/3010, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Manchester Road Board’, Manawatu Standard, 8 February 1902, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19020208.2.48, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Manchester Road Board’, Feilding Star, 3 May 1902, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS19020503.2.33, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Building Roads’, The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/roads/page-3, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Manawatu County Council’, Manawatu Times, 12 February 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19030212.2.22, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Kiaranga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 May 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19030520.2.5, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Kiaranga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 October 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19031020.2.28, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘The Manawatu Daily Times The oldest Manawatu Journal’, Manawatu Times, 16 December 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19031216.2.3, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Kairanga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 January 1904, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19040120.2.9, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Kiaranga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 16 February 1904, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19040216.2.34, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Inspection of machinery: Annual Report of the department 1904 – 5’, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1905 session, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1905/I/5540, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 11 June 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060611.2.23, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 12 June 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060612.2.29, accessed 10/08/2021.
‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 11 September 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060911.2.29, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Untitled’, Manawatu Standard, 4 October 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19061004.2.17, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Perry’s Biorama and specialty co.’, Manawatu Standard, 11 May 1907, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19070511.2.34, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 25 March 1907, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19070325.2.39, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Borough Matters’, Manawatu Standard, 1 March 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060301.2.25, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Untitled’, Manawatu Standard, 26 September 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060926.2.17, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Borough Council’, Manawatu Standard, 08 August 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060808.2.3, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Borough Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 March 1907, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19070320.2.40, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘The Elections’, New Zealand Times, 28 October 1908, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19081028.2.51, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Oroua Bridge’, Manawatu Standard, 31 May 1910, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19100531.2.5.5, accessed 09/08/2021.
‘Kairanga County Council’, Archives Central, https://archivescentral.org.nz/agents/corporate-body/kairanga-county-council, accessed 09/08/2021.
[1] ‘Public Works statement, by the minister for public works, The Hon James MacAndrew, Tuesday 27th August 1978’,Appendix to the House of Representatives, p.46, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1878/I/704, accessed 09/08/2021.
[2] ‘Manawatu Highway Board’, Manawatu Times, 11 June 1897, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18790611.2.7, accessed 09/08/2021.
[3] ‘Page 3 advertisements column 6’, Manawatu Times, 19 March 1881, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18810319.2.15.6, accessed 09/08/2021; ‘Page 3 advertisements Column 1’, Manawatu Times, 2 March 1881, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18810302.2.19.1, accessed 09/08/2021.
[4] ‘Borough Council’, Manawatu Times, 11 January 1883, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT18830111.2.6, accessed 09/08/2021.
[5] ‘Marine Department. Annual Report for 1899- 1900’, Appendix to the Journal of the House of Representatives, 1900, p.10, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1900/I/3010, accessed 09/08/2021.
[6] ‘Manchester Road Board’, Manawatu Standard, 8 February 1902, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19020208.2.48, accessed 09/08/2021.
[7] ‘Manchester Road Board’, Feilding Star, 3 May 1902, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS19020503.2.33, accessed 09/08/2021.
[8] ‘Building Roads’, The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/roads/page-3, accessed 09/08/2021.
[9] ‘Manawatu County Council’, Manawatu Times, 12 February 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19030212.2.22, accessed 09/08/2021.
[10] ‘Kiaranga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 May 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19030520.2.5, accessed 09/08/2021.
[11] ‘Kiaranga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 October 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19031020.2.28, accessed 09/08/2021.
[12] ‘ The Manawatu Daily Times The oldest Manawatu Journal’, Manawatu Times, 16 December 1903, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19031216.2.3, accessed 09/08/2021.
[13] ‘Kairanga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 January 1904, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19040120.2.9, accessed 09/08/2021.
[14] ‘Kiaranga County Council’, Manawatu Standard, 16 February 1904, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19040216.2.34, accessed 09/08/2021.
[15]‘Inspection of machinery: Annual Report of the department 1904 – 5’, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1905 session, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1905/I/5540, accessed 09/08/2021.
[16] ‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 11 June 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060611.2.23, accessed 09/08/2021.
[17] ‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 12 June 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060612.2.29, accessed 10/08/2021.
[18] ‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 11 September 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060911.2.29, accessed 09/08/2021.
[19] ‘Untitled’, Manawatu Standard, 4 October 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19061004.2.17, accessed 09/08/2021.
[20] ‘Perry’s Biorama and specialty co.’, Manawatu Standard, 11 May 1907, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19070511.2.34, accessed 09/08/2021.
[21] ‘Supreme Court’, Manawatu Standard, 25 March 1907, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19070325.2.39, accessed 09/08/2021.
[22] ‘Borough Matters’, Manawatu Standard, 1 March 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060301.2.25, accessed 09/08/2021.
[23] ‘Untitled’, Manawatu Standard, 26 September 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060926.2.17, accessed 09/08/2021.
[24] ‘Borough Council’, Manawatu Standard, 08 August 1906, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19060808.2.3, accessed 09/08/2021.
[25] ‘Borough Council’, Manawatu Standard, 20 March 1907, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19070320.2.40, accessed 09/08/2021.
[26] ‘The Elections’, New Zealand Times, 28 October 1908, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM19081028.2.51, accessed 09/08/2021.
[27] ‘Oroua Bridge’, Manawatu Standard, 31 May 1910, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19100531.2.5.5, accessed 09/08/2021.
[28] PNCC, Council Minutes Vol. 13 – Ordinary meeting October 15th 1928, page 182.
[29] ‘Kairanga County Council’, Archives Central, https://archivescentral.org.nz/agents/corporate-body/kairanga-county-council, accessed 09/08/2021.
