MIZEN SAWMILL STUDY
Copyright       David Mizen  2021
Images Added & Published by Gordon Freegard 2021

MASON & BIRD 1870

Following the difficulties suffered by Mason, a cashed-up partner was needed. This came in the form of Francis Bird. Bird through his family injected a substantial sum into the business and Mason and Bird entered into partnership agreement (Slee & Shaw, 1979, pp. 18-19). Following Birds induction into the business, a proposal to improve the efficiency of the operation was put to the government, including the building of a proper railway and port facilities at Fremantle. This proposal was refused. A scaled back proposal was put which included the construction of a ‘tram way’ from Cannington to the mill site in exchange for a larger area of timber for cutting together with an extension of the duration of the license to cut. This proposal was accepted and was approved in July 1871. As the ‘tram way’ did not require the expenditure of public money the partners were free to start construction immediately. The ‘tram way’ was completed January 1872 (Slee & Shaw, 1979, pp. 19-21). The location of the Mason and Bird ‘tram way’ is well known and documented (see map below). The Crown Grant creating Canning Location 75 was issued the 22nd August 1873 (GC 1-11). The grant was issued to Francis Bird. However, there are transactions recorded in Lands Department memorial books prior to the issue of the grant.

FRANCIS BIRD          #1
 

Section of map South West sourced from State Records Office item 506238 (Department of Lands and Surveys)

Note:          1.     Location 75 far right.

2.     the ‘tram-way’ is the black line through the centre of the map.

The map section records the position at the end of the Mason and Bird era.

The first of these transactions record that on the 24th August 1872 Francis Bird and Henry Hetherington entered into a loan agreement secured by a mortgage to George Glyde, George Randell and William Thorley Loton for slightly more than 1,789 pounds plus an unspecified “arrears of rent”. The witness to this transaction is Joseph Shaw (Lands Department, Accumulation , p. 109). The transaction implies that there was a partnership of some sort between Bird and Hetherington. The next transaction bears out that proposition, Hetherington transfers his interest in the land to Bird on the18th June 1873 (Lands Department, Accumulation , p. 144). This appears to end Hetherington’s direct involvement in the business.

The third transaction records Bird redeeming his mortgage to Glyde and company, there is a follower transaction in which the land is re-mortgaged to George Bird. The witness to this transaction is again Joseph Shaw who describes himself as “Law Clerk” (Lands Department, Accumulation , p. 171).
 

   Map drawn by GORDON FREEGARD

Copyright : Gordon Freegard  2008-2021
 

In the next transaction dated November 19 1877, “George Bird and Francis Bird trading under the name Mason and Bird and Co” transfers their interest to the National Bank of Australia, this appears to be a mortgage (Lands Department, Accumulation, p. 3). On June the 11th 1878 the mortgage is extended, Shaw is again the witness to the document (Lands Department, Accumulation, p. 38).

The next transaction records Joseph Shaw as a lender to Francis Bird (Lands Department, Accumulation, p. 132). This transaction appears to be a second mortgage.

On the 13th September 1879 it is quietly announced that the partnership of Mason, Bird and Co was dissolved and Francis Bird was now the sole proprietor of the business. However, the notice is dated the 19th May 1879, some 4 months prior to its publication (Leake, Burt & Stone, 1879, p. 2). This contradicts the position put by Slee and Shaw who state Bird withdrew from the business in 1877 (1979, p. 30), and is approximately 2 years after the date of dissolution stated by the authors.

On September 20 1879 Shaw’s loan to Bird is extended (Lands Department, Accumulation, p. 143). The next three transactions spell the end of Mason and Bird and Co. The first of those records that the executors of George Bird’s estate redeemed the National Australia Bank mortgage on 24th November 1879 (Lands Department, Accumulation, p. 352). As a result of this transaction it is clear the operation was engaged in a financial restructuring in 1879, again this is two years after the date stated by Slee and Shaw as being the end date of the business. Slee and Shaw refer to the company also being bankrupt (1979, p. 30), the Lands Department transactions referred to above imply the endeavour was a partnership, initially between Bird and Hetherington and then between George Bird and Francis Bird. There is nothing in the memorial books that refer to a company as borrower, if the trading entity was a company it is unlikely Bird would have been forced into bankruptcy. Slee and Shaw also note they could find no record of Mason being declared bankrupt (1979, p. 30). The reason being that Mason either retired from the partnership or was bought out by Bird in May 1879 as per the Notice in the Herald referred to above and reproduced below.

 ( Leake, Burt & Stone, 1879)

It appears that Mason could see the end coming and took the opportunity get out before he sustained more losses.

The final two transaction record how Joseph Shaw gained control of the land and are dealt with in the chapter relating to him. In any event following Bird’s financial demise the business was liquidated and the assets were listed for sale, this job fell to James Morrison.
 

References:     Article:      David Mizen

Copyright : Gordon Freegard      2008 - 2021