Andrew Miller, a very versatile and talented man had a hand in building many of the buildings around Nelson and Motueka. Born and raised in Nelson, he completed his education there and took up the trade of carpentry, learning from John Scott of Nelson.
Wanting to forge out on his own, Miller moved to Motueka around 1896 where he began business doing odd jobs.
As business increased, he employed extra hands and around 1899 built a Sash and Door Factory in High Street.
The factory was powered by a 6h.p. engine and the machinery was driven by a shaft with pulleys reaching the whole length of the building.
The planning and moulding machinery was manufactured by J. A. Fay and Co. of the United States, capable of planing boards 24 inches wide and from l-8in to 6in thick.
One interesting piece of machinery was the variety wood worker imported from Haigh and Co, of Oldham, England.
With this machine and other tools, tenoning, grooving, moulding, planing and sawing was carried out.
It was with this tool that the raspberry kegs were made, the staves being tapered and bevelled in one operation, the timbers also ripped and crosscut for fruit cases.
An implement called a borer cut holes in the timber placed on a sliding table and pushed towards the auger.
Band-saws for fancy work such as brackets, a machine for mitring mouldings for doors, a lathe for turning and set of grindstones for sharpening the moulding and planing tools were vital in Millers business.
The factory, on an acre of land, was 55ft long by 35 ft wide but by 1902 Miller was considering more alterations and additions.
Miller gained contracts for many buildings in the Motueka district, some being the new Post Office, the High School, Mr Manoy’s bacon factory, the Māori church, Bank of New Zealand, several minor schools in and around Motueka, Messrs Raikes and R. Rankins residences, and many other dwellings in different parts of the district.
Miller was a great musician and violinist and on moving to Motueka took charge as conductor of the Motueka Brass Band and String Band, as well as being in charge of the Motueka Orchestra.
As if not having enough to do he became conductor of a newly- formed Operatic and Dramatic Society who had their first concert in September 1906.
He was also one of the earlier members of the Nelson Harmonic Society.
In November 1906 Miller returned to Nelson after selling his business in Motueka to Mr C. Stillwell and purchasing the business of the late John Scott in Trafalgar Street where he had served his apprenticeship.
Miller’s farewell was held in the new Post Office with a large number of his friends present.
Albert Manoy expressed his sadness on behalf of the community as to Miller departing from Motueka and the loss that was for the district.
Miller carried on in business back in Nelson until April 1926 at which point he entered a private Hospital to have surgery, unfortunately dying as a result.
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