THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 24 October 1912, Page 7

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

ON THE MAIN TRUNK LINE

HEAVY RAILAGES TO WELLINGTON.

POLLUTION OF STREAMS QUESTION,

The timber trade just now is not quito so brisk as might be desired. October, November and December are usually regarded as quiet months, but October has not been up to expectations so far.

According to the Waimarino correspondent of the "News," large quantities of timber are being railed to Wellington, and a special train wa6 Tun last week with a heavy freight from the Waimarino mills. Special trains, however, are not being requisitioned so frequently of late as has been the case until recently. All the goods and mixed trains have been heavily loaded for some time past, and it is expected that specials will have to be again utilised during the summer. The timber traffic was somewhat dieorganisod last week owing to the big slip on the line near Horopito. The resalt was that no timber could be railed north from Ohakune and none south from Horopito. These two places are important timber centres, and supply both th© northern and southern markets. A large proportion of the timber milled at Owhango and one or two other places south cf Taumarunui is usually consigned to Wellington firms; but the slip prevented supplies getting through for several days. This, however, would not affect consumers to any great extent, as there was a sufficiency of trucks on each side of the slip to keep supplies up to the normal level. Owing to a slip on Messrs Wilson and Co.'s tramline near Horopito, the teams were unable to get to the station for some days. The slip occurred in a bad place on* the bank or a creek, and considerable difficulty was experienced in effecting repairs. More than any other section of the community sawmillers have a grievance against acclimatisation societies in regard to the restrictions re pollution of streams. The majority of millers prefer to utilise water for carrying 8 way sawdust, as it is the only really satisfactory method. Sometimes it is a matter of years before the sawdusf from a mill finds it way to a stream of any size, as the r-aces are so designed as to distribute the sawdust over an area, of flat ground. So long as the ground is free from floods, the sawdust ••an be confined to a fairly small area. It is a debatable noint as to whether sawdust really pollutes a stream, but the acclimatisation societies are very emphatic in their contention that it does. The Bill in regard to the pollution of streams places the sawmiller ml. a belter footing, as clause 3 is interpreted to mean that the societies' present check will disappear altogether hy reason of the necessity of costly and doubtful litigation to assert their claims. The matter is heinor considered by the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society.