THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 1 February 1913, Page 6

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

A NEW SAWMILL

EXPENDITURE OF OVFH £10,000

For several months past, Messrs Ellis •and Burniand have been engaged in tho work of erecting a new mill at Ongarue. Tho firm bought out the Taumarunui Totara Co.'s mill and bush, alwnt six miles from Ongarue, and replaced the wooden tramline with one of steel at a cost of £1000 per mile. The need for running a tramway into tho railway siding, the action of the Railway Department in prohibiting the construction of a level crossing, were responsible for much delay; and an e-xtna expenditure of £2000 would have been necessary to provide a subway. The Department, however, has now agreed to tho crossing, and the work is now being proceeded with. Tho dimensions of the new mill will be 139 ft by 110 ft. A start has been made with the erection of the shed, and a 240 horse-power engine is on tho way out from England. The firm will have a largo area of bush to draw supplies from, and the mill will be supplied from very good forest areas. Already an expenditure of about £10,000 has been made, and this will bo greatly added to before tho mill is in full working order. When the mill is ready to stiart 'the employees will number about two hundred. It <is /probable that this mill will be equipped with a box making plant, e-s the firm's box factory at Manunui is taxed to its utmost capacity. The mill at Ongarue will bo numbered amoiiP' th? h'Voest md most up-to-date sawmills in New Zealand, and its erection will bo responsible for tho establishment of & fairsized townshio.