THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IN AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3876, 19 March 1877, Page 2

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IN AUCKLAND.

The Auckland Herald, in. givipg ad account of the sawmills at the Thames? says: — The most important is that; of the Shortland Sawmill Company* . ia the town of Shortland, which is, indeed, the most complete of its kind in the colonyIt is fitted with two breaking-down saws, two circular' saw's acd planing-machines, driven by steam power, the fuel being almost wholly the sawdust, leafing all other timber, such as slabs and wastepieces, to be turned into money, and which find a ready sale, either aS firewood to the townspeople or temporary timbers for mining purposes. The mill is capable of cutting as much as 70,000 feet weekly, but this depends upon the class of timber required, the general run may be stated at 60,000 feet. To supply this quantity, the dock attached to the mill ia filled periodically with logs drafted down from the booms, situated about 1£ miles up the Kaueranga, just above the influence of the tide. Here most J substantial piles of hardwood are driven firmly into the rock, triplicate, forming one of the most extensive and strongest booms erected in the north of New Zealand* From the nature of the country, and fits apparent impracticability, great doubts were at one time expressed whether, logs would ever be floated down the tortuous streams. These fears hare, however, been dispelled, and the company have now on hand, and in the main creek, sufficient logs of the finest kauri timber" to supply requirements for twelve months constantly running at their milL The company's operations have, hithertoV been carried on at stations on the Whangamata and Mangarehu. creeks. From these two stations there have been supplied and cut at the mill up to the end of 1576, 14,000,000 feet of timber, and there are about 3000 logs in the creeks ready for driving, while remaining standing in the bush there are yet 3,000,000 feet to be quartered. The company have opened their way into 1 another bush on the Horitoritori creek, and in doing so have preferred to employ their own men rather than let it on contract. Under the direction of the general manager, the dam has been erected in the most substantial manner, presenting to view an immense structure scientifically . constructed, having a present width of 180 ft. by a height of SZftL! These respective measurements will be increased by the addition of planking at the top, thereby increasing the area of the water space. It makes, when full, a small lake, and, in. its present state, takes 10 minutes to run off with. both gates open. One gate ia termed a Scotch gate, the other a passing gate, contrived for the passage of logs.. Both these gates are let off by a trigger, the vent thus given being equal to two openings of lift by 14ft. When the gates are opened the placid water is transformed into a mighty torr-ent, carrying everything before it, and, by the experimental discharge last week, carried 100 logs through all the sinuosities of a mountain stream that could be stepped across in ordinary circumstances, a- distance of about two miles to the main Kauaeranga Creek, demonstrating that the whole of the timber in this bush can be sent down even without extraordinary rain; the dam having filled within a fortnight and proved sufficient. The most of the standing timber on this Horitoritori Creek is situate below the dam, and will be cut and thrown into the creek by the company's men, nine of whom were from the station, and appear to be mastery of the art of wood-cutting. About ten million feet of standing timber is available. On other portions of the company's estate there are forests of noble kauri trees, which from time to time will be felled and brought to the market. . It is probable that a quarter "of a century will elapse before the resources of this company are crippled in the matter of material. Besides the men employed by the contractors, and the company's bushmen, there are upwards of twenty men employed about the mill, while the constaut shipping and delivery of timber to the mines, employ indirectly a large number. In the mill yard, there is stacked about one million feet of timber suitable for building purposes, and facilities exist for executing orders for almost any quantity and size. Timbers 80ft. long by 7ft. Gin. in diameter, are capable of being aawn.