MESSRS DAVYS BROS.' RUKUHIA SAWMILLS.

Oor Tuhikaramea correspondent writes: Hearing that our enterprising .fellowsettlers, Messrs Davys Bros., had been going in for some extensive works at their Rukuhia mills, I paid them a visit recently, and was certainly astonished at the very complete manner in which the firm have gone to work to secure a large output of sawn and dressed timber. The new mills are fully. a mile nearer the Waipa than the former works, and in reaching them from this district one has to pass through the western portion of the Rukuhia Estate, and the pity is that the whole of Messrs Williamson Bros, property is not as fertile and amenable to '.good cultivation as that which this road ' passes through. A prettier piece of rural scenery would be hard to find. The ; broad ridge along which the road winds is coated with a fine sward of young grass, well stocked with a herd of the white-faced Herefords. On one hand lies the extensive bush from which the mills are supplied, while on the other is a beautiful lake, the waters of which gleam in their setting of dark foliage. • But as we ride onward the dull grey expanse to be seen ahead tells only too plainly that we, are approaching the - south-western fringe of the great swamp, the satisfactory treatment of which, has, so far, proved an unsolvable problem to the owners of Rukuhia, and must with. Its miles of trackless bogs and waste, all bearing rates and taxes, be a heavy burden upon them, and at the same time is a serious drawback .to, the progress of this district. The road is in good order, and we are sooa at the mill, which with the men's cottages, stables, etc., forms quite a small village by the tdge 'of ilie bush. A striking feature in approaching is the large stock of sawn timber (over 100,000 feet) stacked in the yards, and the careful manner in -which every board is placed up on stands, '.or fitted?i'u compact squares,.serves as a fitting example of the manner in which the firm carry out their] business. The mill buildings are, all under one iron roof, and the machinery, driven by a nine horsepower engine, comprises breaking down,circulars, planing benches, etc., the timber-cutting operations being under the supervision of Mr P. Millet, who hails from that land of timber, the Manakau, and is probably one of the best eaw-millersm the colony. Being situated ,: on the dry land at the edge of the bush, '• * the logs are brought out by horse tram, the latter being quite a work of magnitude, the line being neartyitwo miles, in length, arid, with the heavy traffic of big s■, logs over it, the cost of wear and jtiearw .no small iterii in theiexpiose pf the; mill; No doubt, the latter could have been more conveniently to the bulk of the timber, but its present position, which is on the. main"'road-leading . through from the Waipa to the Rukuhia "y railway station; ; with\t hej,iucreased tacir" V Jities thus obtained for delivering timber' eitherway, compensates for the increased* length of the tramway? A walk'down' ''""■ the'line'-'is'' veiry'interlg'sfcingV'as' showing' 7 liow.,the logs are got; out. From each side of the train way," at intervals of a few chains, the rolling roads are cut into the bush, and alougUhese, ; upon; heavy skids, the big logs' are jacked, -until the line is reached. Some, of the logs are very large,' the; trees- nearthe base being as much as 18 feet in girth, and from SO '/', feettp.9o feet A; log; from such a ' tree would yiejd about 2,000 feet of I timber I .''' Contrary to"'wnat mighi have been expected,'the trees are full of heart i wood.--'This;is explained by the bush : : being.an old o;»e, and standing on ■• clay land instead of the- usual peat bottom; • This 'difference in the soil is also aptly shown by the luxuriant growth of grass, which was surface sown a,' few monthrago, along the? tramline, arid it is certaiuthat when the Keayyj timber is removed; and" the lighter stuif fe UecV and burnt, the estate will have a grand block of grass land where the bush now stands. The. Messrs Davys Bros, who, by the '': way, do a large share of the labour them" selves, .have, during the past winter, opened'up the bush, laid most of the' tramway, and 'felled a considerable quantity of timber, and are uow in a j position to supply a large quantity of milled stuff in the most expeditious manner, full particulars of which will ,be found in their advertisement. All that is needed are timber orders, and if the opinion of carpenters generally, and, others who have used the timber from these mills can be taken as a guide, such orders will be filled to the satisfaction of' purchasers, whether as regards quality of timber, prices, or terms. ,