THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 87, 18 April 1901, Page 4

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

THE MARLBOROUGH CON-

DITIONS

An interesting-report received by the Marlborough Land Board at its meeting this week from Mr Rutland, Crown Lands" Ranger, gives information as to the progress of the timber industry in the Marlborough district. The report is for the year ending March 31st last. Mr Rutland says :- —

During the past year the local timber market has steadily improved. Four sawmills are at present cutting exclusively for Blenheim and surrounding districts. Tn addition to the outputs of these mills, Messrs Browulee and Co supply a considerable quantity of timber for Picton and the Wairau. The Freezing Works afc Picton were supplied from this mill. The local demand has raised the value of timbered land, especially in small blocks that would not justify the erection of a large mill. Messrs N#es and McLean recently removed [their sawmill from the Kaitnna to the Rai Valley, and are now steadily at work. This will test whether it is profitable to cut timber in that portion of the district and cart it. to Blenheim, Seven mills are now working in North Marlborough—Mr C. White's mill, Onamaliitu Valley, from which I have not obtained returns this year; Mr Cates' mill, Long Valley, Kaituna, cutting about 50,000 sup. feet per month, and employing 12 hands ; Smart Bros', mill, Wakamarina, output for last twolv^^fflrmJhiu.^Oi^G-^ttJJr-Jeeiyims-gmtflo-yed 12, [including two waggoners; Nees and McLean's mill, Rai Valley, cutting 15,000 feet per week, employing seven men and one waggoner; Mr L. Climo's mill, Manaroa, cutting 10,000 sup. feet per week and employing six hands ; Mr Duncan's mill, The Grove, [Queen Charlotte Sounds, a small mill working; occasion-

ally, and. putting out about 1500 feet per day-; Messrs Brownlce and Co.'s mill, Pelorus Valley, cutting chiefly for the Canterbury markets- 'I'he output of this mill during the past year was 2,953,313 sup., 'fcfib, The number of men afc present employed in tho mill in the bush bringing in logs and extending and repairing tramways is 57.

Though the demand for timber has increased, the price has not advanced nnieli during the past year. At Messrs BwnyDlee's wharf the price of rimu and wklifi pijie, ordinary sizes, is 6s lOd per 100 sup, iteefc for first class and 3s 9cl per 100 feet for sswcqik]. class. Of the latter, logs brought to the mill turn out about- 20 per cent. In the Blenheim market rimu and white pine are gelling at 10s per 100 sup. feet, matai i4s "pjjtf 10.Q feet. An advance of Is per 100 feet has bjson agreed to by all mill owners supplying this market, aud will be charged from April Ist.

The rise in price of sheep has caused a large area of bush to bo felled with a view to the grassing oi; land. Ilie area ia approximately : —

Pelorus Sound, IG2O acres; Pelorus Valley, 810 acres ; KaitunvtFaljey, 220 acres; Waitohi Valley, 150 acres; Queen Charlotte Sound, -250 acres.

A larger auionnt would have been cleared if labor had been available..