MAMAKU.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 206, 11 November 1896, Page 2

MAMAKU.

Messrs KrsABS Bros. Sawmills. In pursuance of a long; formed resolution a Chronicle representative paid a visit to Mamaku the other we</- and j. filled with regret ever since that he did not sooner make acquaintance with this picturesque spot. Marnaku, as most peo pie are aware, is distinguished as being the loftiest railway station in the Colony, being 1,888 feet above the sea level, or over 800 feet above the lake level at Rotorua. The view from the carriage window in the course of the 14 miles spin from Eotorua is most interesting. Before one tires of the magnificent prospect afforded by the lake he sweeps into the " forest primeval," and finds himself-gazing down successive vistas of the most luxuriant vegetation, the interest in which is heightened by their ever and again being shut from view as the train rattlesjthrough a heavy cutting. At the railway station we are met by Mr E. Eusabs, resident manager, and as one member of the party of two happens to be Mr "Tom " Boland, who is enjoying a brief holiday from the labor and strain of the local telegraph office, the greeting is an extra hearty one. An iron railed tram track, about; a mile in length, leads through the bush to the sawmill, and as we wind our devious way along we pass piles of timber cut to various gauges, some destined for building purjioses in llotorua, but the major pail under order for large bridges, &c, in course of erection near Paeroa. Near the sawmills Mr Kusabs points out an area of two acres, partially cleared, which has been reserved for a football ground ; for, as he very sagely remarks, " if we don't, provide some amusement for our men we can't expect to keep them." The block owned by the Messrs Kusabs comprises 2,000 acres and is heavily timbered with riniu, totara, hinau, tawa, tanikaua and other valuable trees. The mountain rimu obtained here is fast gaining a name for itself as being in no way inferior to kauri and, for some purposes, is deemed superior. Orders are now in hand for many thousands of feet of heart of rimu for the battery at Owharoa, which is being erected by the Waihi Goldmining Co., ako for the railwaystock building on the Mokau Section. The tawa grown to an immense girth and boards may be seen at the mill .'sft Gin. wide by 18ft long. Another variety is used extensively for dado work. Slabs of rimu for counter tops can also be got up to five feet. The hinau is used principally for house blocks and the tanuaua is good for almost any purpose, but is chiefly utilised for posts of picket fences and similar work. Another valuable timber is the black maire which has all the characteristics of the lignum vitce, being hard and durable. Strange to saythere is but little demand for it at present, but like many other New Zealand woods it only requires to be better known to be more widely used. The soil throughout is very rich being a light chocolate, overlying a foot or so of pumice. As the timber is cleared and the undergrowth burned, grass is sown and tho crop is a. luxuriant one. On one of these clearings what was supposed to be oats turned out to be rye-grass, breast high, and the cocksfoot was doing nearly as well. At the present time there are about 100 acres ir grass. The stock at present on the place comprises 56 head of cattle, 16 horses .and 100 sheep. More could easily be carried, but until the roads promised by the Government are made tho onlymeans of access is by the railway line. Nearing the mill we find several small cottages in process of erection. These are for the men and will accommodate two in each. They naturally prefer this to living in the present large houses, the interiors of which are arranged somewhat after the style of a ship's fo'c's'le. The cook-house and dining-room also demands attention as in that department a well-cooked and most substantia] dinner was served, to be followed by an equallysatisfactory tea. A new cook-house, store and bake-house will shortly be erected and the present building is looked upon as merely temporary. On an eminence overlooking the mill and cleared area, the foundations are now being dug for the manager's house. It will occur y the top of one of many curious sugai - loaf shaped hills which rise abruptly here and there all over the property. The rock which enters largely into the composition of these mounds is of a grey porous nature not veryhard and therefore pretty easily broken up. On many of them large rimu trees three or four feet through are found, growing from out the bare rock. How they obtain sufficient nourishment is a mystery. Their long roots may be seen twisting and twining throughout the interstices of the stone, but to 1 supply of soil is but scant, even when they reach it. At the top of one of these mounds, about 200 feet high, is seen the stump of an immense totara fully four feet in diameter. The gnarled trunk lies on the tram track about 100 yards away, where it has been taken for removal to Auckland, the moHled character of the wood making it admirably suited for fine inlaid cabinet work. (To be Continued^