GRADUAL CUTTING SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 25 June 1931, Page 8

GRADUAL CUTTING SCHEME

TIMBER PLANTATIONS CASE AND BUILDING WOOD “The exploitation of both gum and pinewood is being carried out according to the projected gradual cutting scheme,” stated a review of the year’s work of the Selwyn Plantations Board, reports the Christchurch “Times.” “So far, a ready sale has been found for case and building timber, while care has / been exercised in accumulating only a sufficient quantity of firewood that might be readily disposed of in the city. “The mill at Kimberley has been kept working steadily and the demand for fruit and packing cases has exceeded that experienced in any previous year. Although the stands are not quite cut out some 560,150 sup. ft. of pine, 5175 sup. fl. of gum and 18,600 ft. of oregon were sawn from Masterton’s, Hart’s and Murchison's plantations. Under normal conditions these stands hould be completely cleared by February next when the marginal pine on McHugh’s plantation will be felled and transported to the present mill silo. Some 60,000 sup. ft. of pine were also milled from the logs carted from Sleeman’s Road plantation. “The effect of installing electric power is noticeable by the rapid accumulation of slabwood, some 300 cords of which are now in hand. An effort is being made by the miller to introduce a quick auxiliary sawing plant in y the hope of being able to transport profitably pine slab blocks direct to the consumer in the city. “In the fulfilment of orders a number of gum fencing stakes were split. At odd times wood-cutters are employed at this work and the seasoning at the stump of the fencing material is regarded favourably by farmers.' The scheme of supplying' consumers direct witli sawn eightinch blocks or four-foot lengths by motor truck is working quite satisfactorily and little trouble is anticipated in being able to dispose of all seasoned full in stock.”