Hayes Engineering Works at Oturehua, New Zealand

Original Hayes Family Homestead of 1895

Ernest Hayes, born in Warwickshire, England, moved to New Zealand in 1882 as a married man with a wife and child, to became one of the countries leading pioneers in the early engineering and agricultural industry. He started out with simple tools to help him on his 60 hectare farm and move up from there.  By 1906 he's best known invention, the parallel wire strainer for farm fences.  For anyone who has done fencing work, they know how important this tool is in getting a tight line.  Four years later he built a successful windmill to produce power for his own works and his home. . 

Ernest Hayes work shop.

Dishes of bright colors on dinning room table. 

The master bedroom with two cribs and the lumpy  masters bed

One of the babies cribs. Hand made quilts on all beds.

By 1912 the Hayes windmills for farm pumps was produced and sold. He was now in the production business. Among the other products he developed were pulley blocks, cattle stops and a standard lifter which was used for fencing.  When he retired in 1926, his sons carried on his production business. The Hayes Engineering Works is part of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Hayes Engineering Works, at Oturehua, New Zealand

Submitted by: Bernadette Heath, photographer and writer, Janet Webb Farnsworth, writer for "Grandma Needs a Four-Wheel Drive, Adventure Travel for Seniors."  www.grandmaneedsafour-wheel.drive.com