AUSTRALIAN TIMBER

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 June 1937, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN TIMBER

SUPPLIES DELAYED. Bridge construction in the Grey County has been seriously delayed through an inability to obtain supplies of Australian hardwood to schedule. On the Mitchells—lnchbonnie road, the abutments and approaches of Waterfall Creek bridge have been conpleted, but the construction of the bridge itself is held' up awaiting the arrival of timber, whjfch is some months overdue. A similar position exists in regard to Moore Creek bridge, on the Big River—Rough River road. Good progress has been made by the contractor, Mr G. Burich, and the bridge is almost completed. The actual completion, however, is delayed pending the arrival of only two pieces .of timber. Supplies of timber were ordered by the County Council in November, to be delivered in four- months, and it was expected that -the whole quantity would arrive in two shipments. To date, there have been four shipments and portion of the order is still awaited. '• In reply to a protest by the County Engineer (Mr J. Higgins) against the delay, the Australian company which were the successful tenderers for the supply of timber, advised that it was brought about by circumstances of which they had no control. Right from the month of January, through February and March there had been abnormally heavy rains in the northern river district of New South Wales, which absolutely dislocated' the mill and bush work. The mill had advised that a quantity of timber cut for the Grey County order and stacked on the river banks had been washed away in the floods and some pieces of heavier sawn timber it was impossible to get from the bush, owing to the sodden state of the country. Other contractors, it was stated, were in exactly the same position, and it was caused by circumstances over which the millers had no control. On May 10, the contractors advised that the timber was ready and awaiting shipment, but as yet there are no indications of-it coming to hand.