EFFECT ON THE TIMBER OUTPUT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 105, 27 January 1908, Page 8

EFFECT ON THE TIMBER OUTPUT.

SAWMILLERS' LOSSES. : (BY TELEQEAPII—FBEfiS ASSOCIATION.) ' /•■ . Mastcrton, January 25. _ ■ The. recent fires have had a paralysing effect oil,the sawmilling industry in'the district. lying between Wellington, and WocklVillo.' The/ordinary monthly output of timber ■ from the 'localities indicated is estimated at; ' £5000 worth.. . This month it, is ostimated ■ that the'valtie' will fall W about £500. . The ordinary wages; which range between £31)00 and' £4000 per .month, aro_ being paid, •••'so that' the sawmillers are suffering a double ' loss —first in destruction of property, and sec-. ; ohdly in reduction of output. The inevitable result wi!!; be a further advance in the cost of building matorial. .The.Roads Department has received information that, on Tuesday about four thousand, f£et of timber,: beiii2'material for the bridge which the contractor, Mr. M'Calmont, was about to erect over tho-Waihi River, was * destroyed by fire. Timber and ironwork for the bridge-had been placed'at the sito, and ■.work was just about to'-be when a ; bush lire; swept everything before it. '~ A NARROW ESCAPE. ■'••■• ,' • (UTi TEIiSGEArni-rrBESS association.! ( Mastertori, January 25. ; A,fine- piece of Native bush,, preserved for, ~ . scenic purposes, near Kaitoke,' narrowly escaped .destruction recently. It is believed ... that some;dry bush was fired by sparks from : ,a\ railway, engine, - and/three fine rata trees ; were speedily ablaze. Fortunately tho bush '. was too green for, the fire to make headway. -•Alt is suggested that the Tourist Department 'might advantageously vest the care and.control of this greatly-admired piecci of bush in some local residents, who would look after ,*■ - '