NEW TIMBER AREA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10261, 3 December 1926, Page 5

NEW TIMBER AREA

BLOCK OF 15,000 ACRES TO 1 BE

OPENED UP,

ENOUGH WOOD FOR THREE MILLS FOR 20 YEARS.

(Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 2,

An important sawmilling venture is approaching fruition. Preparations are well advanced for the construction of. a railway from the line at Edgecumbc to open up a block of 15,000 acres fourteen miles to the eastward, containing an estimated amount of 300,000,000 ft. of millable timber, mostly best quality rimu timber. The land is known as tho Matahina Forest, and the owners, the Matahina Rimu Co., Ltd., Syme Ltd., of Ilawera, and Mr. R. W. Smith, of Raefcihi, have formed the Matahina Tramways Ltd., with the object of handling the whole of the cut timber. The railway line is to be of 3ft, Gin. gauge, and already about 600 tons of rails are stacked at Edgecumbe station. Generally, the country is of a nature that presents no' difficulties to the laying of a line, no cuttings or fillings of any magnitude being necessary, while the grades are easy. A tunnel of some length will be required near The bush end of the line.

A siding for the handling of timber freights has already been constructed at Edgecumbe station, and the three companies have secured mill sites at this point, {lie Matahina Co. . having a site of 25 acres adjoining the station. It is understood that jßyme. Ltd., contemplates the erection of an up-to-date milling plant during the current year. ft is intended to have the greater part of the tramwav built by contract, and the work will give employment to a large number of men. It is estimated ther e is sufficient.timber in the forest to keep three, mills going for. twenty years. "