The Timber Trade.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6704, 10 March 1893, Page 2

The Timber Trade.

The New Piri.iri Mill,

]_BT OUR PPECIAL BEPOBTEB.]

It was at Danevirke that I met a sawmill owner who offered to drivo me to I'iripiri, so that I might see the new sawmill that has been started in that locality. Tho Phipiri block is situated a few miles south of Danevirke, and stretches for a long distance, bearing first-class timber ; in fact, enough to keep the mill going for twenty years, so I am reliably informed. The property has just lately bsen acquired by the present owners for sawmill purposes, and I was told that several parties were negotiating for it with . similar project in view. Just opposite, and also stretching as far as the eye can reach, is an immense area of native land, also covered with good timber. But the question of unsettled titles

will prevent the acquirement of this property for some timo yet. I Piripiri mill has only been set in working order three weeks as far as cuttiDg the ] timber is concer_ed, f-r the necessary build- ' ings had not been erected when I visited tha locality. This mill is being run by Mr 1 Morteusen in conjunction with the two mills at Mangatera. It is pr .posed to supply timber from tho three mills to a siding at Piripiri App icution has bsen made to the 1 Railway Commissioners for a siding, aad as i the owners contribute a very large bum monthly to the railway revenue in freight, i there is every reason to expect that the application will be granted, seeing that the ; cost will have to be paid by the applicants. '. Three siwa are kept constantly going at , each mill. The block is conveniently '. situated, for in course of time tbe other mills will ba tapped at the back of the Piripici bush. Here Mr A. Wright is manager, Mr Jno. Lee is at the head of affairs at No 1 mill, Mangatera, and Mr Chas. Winger at No. 2, at the same place. Timber from Mangatera has been supplied in compliance with orders from a long distance away. For instance, all tho timber required for the dairy factory at New Plymouth, and the Cate at Palmerston, camo from this mill, while a large order for Messrs Glendinning and Griffin's contract at Ciive in connection with the water dam there is being supplied from hero. Most of this has already been delivered. The tramway into the Piripiri bush is just being laid, and following tho traok into the interior for a littio way, one sees that Nature has almost loft an open space where tho tramway might be laid down. The tram pa-ses through some splendid timber, all of which will iv due course of time be cut for use at the mill. Napier, Hastings, and Palmerston, it is explained, take a large quantity of timber from this locality, and the fact that orders are brisk, and that it takes constant cutting to supply the demand, is evidence that things in this trade at tho present time present an extremely healthy appearance. And this is also further shown in the action of other null-owners, who, having secured all the available timber in certain blocks of land, aro removing their mills to places where ample timber may bo obtiined. _o_t- of tho milld, too, had formerly to be closed cv account of the bad condition of the roads, whioh prevented cartage, but that complaint does not now appear to bo urged, for country roads are kept in better order for traffic. Many there ara who have failed in keeping their mills open, but it is explained to mo that various circumstances which militated against the success of the mills in :he past do notnow exist, and thus owners are placed in a moro satisfactory position. The number of workmen who find employment at the mills is great. As an industry has to pay its way for the employes to get their earnings, the fact of so many being kept going shows that with judicious ' management a profitable result may be secured. At Piripiri already many men have found employment, aad as the mill business here is extended room will be found for many moro The process of cutting the timber into various sizes is being performed as we pass through, and every one seems to have his time fully occupied, so that the orders on hand may be completed in time. A busy scene is presented, and as I am informed of the large number of men that are being employed at Mangatera and here, one ht.pss that tho trade may continue to prosper. Ihere seems money in it, while the starting of mills moans more employment As gocd wages can always be made by steady workmen, it is an industry that ono trusts may meet with the success, that the owners hops to secure.