THE SOUTHLAND STSAM SAW MILLS.

Southland Times, Issue 935, 17 April 1868, Page 3

THE SOUTHLAND STSAM SAW MILLS.

Very few of our readers are acquainted with the progress which has been made during the past few years in the establishment in Invercargill of a large and extensive steam saw-mill, possessing all the most modern appliances and machinery for turning, grooving, planing, sawing, and manufacturing wood into all shapes and sizes. But such is the fact. The large block of buildings, situate in Clyde-street, which are prominently conspicuous from the constant puff of the engine and the din and noise of the machinery, as the work proceeds in all its various branches, reminds one more of the busy manufactories in a town in Lancashire, than the quiet city of Invercargill. Through the courtesy of Mr Fraser, the proprietor, we were shown over the whole of his establishment, and for the benefit of our readers we purpose giving a slight sketch of what a steaux saw-mill is in full operation. The buildings cover in the first place nearly an acre of ground, and consist of a large irregular two-storied house, with a number of little out-houses. The lower portion of the main building contains the engine, planing machine, turning lathes, and the numerous circular saws, which meet the eye at every turn. Viewing the interior as we did, when the machinery was in full operation, the scene was most animated. On the far side of the building, which, at this point, is open to admit of logs being placed on the rollers, preparatory to being cut, men were busily engaged arranging gigantic trees, fresh from the virgin forest, to receive the sharp fangs of the circular saw ; whilst a little further on, the rough hewn planks were placed on the planing machine, a beautiful and simple contrivance, which seized on them and subjected them to fearful usage — digesting them of their uncouth and clumsyappearance, amidst such groaning, shrieking, and hissing, as almost compelled you to use a speaking trumpet to convey a whisper — and in the space of half .a minute ejecting smooth boards, of about twenty feet long, tongued and grooved, and fit for immediate use. The engine, the motive power of all this noise and industry, is of 60 horse-power, and capable of working up to much more : it drives four circular saws, planing and matching machines, two turning lathes, and morticing machine. We need only mention the extent of timber turned out each week from Mr Fraser's establishment, which amounts to the large quantity of 25,000 feet, to show the facilities of the Southland Steam Saw-Mills for executing all descriptions of work. But it may be naturally asked — How is the constant supply of timber to the mills to be maintained at a profitable rate ? Here again the display of perseverance and ingenuity is remarkable. Right across the river, and facing Invercargill, in the Otatara bush, Mr Fraser purchased over 100 acres of beautifully timbered land, but the difficulty lay in reaching it, as a mud flat extended for a distance ol about half a mile into the river from the bush side. This, however, was surmounted by laying down logs closely wedged together, over which was placed planking. Iron rails were then securely fastened, to the extent of nearly a mile from the interior of the bush to a considerable distance into comparatively deep water at high tide. A large number of men were then set to clear the bush, which now constantly resounds with the sound of the axe. The tramway is built upon an incline, reaching from the interior of the bush, which consists of high terrace land, to the margin of the estuary, the rest of the distance being level. The velocity attained by the loaded trucks in descending the incline exceeds forty miles an hour, giving sufficient momentum to carry them to the end of the tramway. The timber, which principally consists of white and black pine, totara, with a variety of other woods indigenous to New Zealand bush, when cut into logs, is, by the aid of the tramway, shot into the water, where rafts are formed of one hundred logs and upwards, and towed over to the Invercargill side of the river, to supply the mill. We have thus briefly sketched the extensive nature of Mr Fraser's mills, and the place from whence he derives his supply of timber ;• and it will be perceived what expenie, trouble, and outlay of capital this gentleman has gone to in order to place his establishment on its present basis. Indeed it is one of those undertakings of. such an industrial and beneficial a nature to the community at large, that ought to receive the support and encouragement of the Provincial Government.