c.—6.

the timber is sent to Wellington and Wanganui, and used for building purposes. Thirteen hands are employed at this mill. 6. Near Taihape, and on Native land (Awarua 4c 15), is situated the Taihape Sawmill, owned by Mr. J. H. Knap, who is the pioneer sawmiller here. He has recently gone in for a new up-to-date plant and has moved the mill further into the bush, so that instead of, as before, having to haul the logs a considerable distance to the mill, the sawn timber only is now taken out on the tram. The timber is obtained from Native land, and consists of rimu, matai, totara, and kahikatea. The latter timber is exported to Sydney, and the rest is sent to Wellington and Wanganui and used locally for building purposes and Public Works Department. The cutting-capacity of this mill is 1,200,000 superficial feet per annum, but Mr. Knap has only been cutting at the rate of 250,000 superficial feet per annum up to the present. He expects to be able to cut at the mill's full capacity now the railway is open to here. Fifteen hands are employed. 7. South of Taihape, and in the Village Settlement Extension, is situated the Premier Sawmill, owned by Messrs. Wright and Carter. This mill cuts almost exclusively kahikatea for the Sydney market; a little matai and totara is also cut for local consumption, and sent to Wellington and Wanganui. The timber is obtained from land held under the village-settlement conditions. The annual cuttingcapacity of the mill is 750,000 superficial feet, and it is worked up to its full capacity. Twelve hands are employed. Close to this mill is another one, owned by a Native named Winiata, and called after him. This mill was worked by a European, who got into financial difficulties, and the mill is now closed down. 8. A few miles further north is the Natural Bridge Sawmill, owned by Messrs. Bocher Bros, and Barker. The usual classes of timber (rimu, matai, totara, and kahikatea) are cut here, being obtained from Native-owned land. The kahikatea is exported to Sydney, and the other timbers to Wanganui and Wellington. The cutting-capacity of the mill is 1,680,000 superficial feet. Sixteen hands are employed. 9. Further south, on Native land, and adjoining the Potaka Native Township, is Tamaki Sawmill —B. L. Knight proprietor. The timber for this mill is obtained from Native land on Moawhango River (Awarua 3a No. 2). Mr. Knight has laid down an expensive tram-line from the bush to the mill, a distance of about seven miles. A steel cable is laid down along the tram and a steam-winch is fixed on a trolly. The cable is picked up round a drum on the winch, and the trucks are hauled up shipfashion. This is said to be the first tram of its kind in the colony. I have not seen it work, so cannot say how it answers. Eventually it is Mr. Knight's intention to put a locomotive on this tram. The timber cut comprises totara, matai, and kahikatea, and it is nearly all exported to Sydney—only a small quantity is disposed of in Wellington. The plant is good and complete, capable of cutting 3,300,000 superficial feet per annum, but is not worked up to its full capacity. The annual output is 1,200,000 superficial feet. Eighteen hands are employed. 10. In Potaka Native Township is situated the Utiku Sawmill, owned by Messrs. Perham, Larsen, and Co. This firm has secured a large contract for kahikatea for Sydney, and this is the main timber cut; but a little totara, rimu, and matai is also cut for the Wellington market and for Wanganui; all timber is cut on Native-owned land. The cutting-capacity of this mill is 4,320,000 superficial feet per annum, and the usual output is 3,840,000 superficial feet. Fifty hands are employed. 11. Another mill, owned by Mr. A. F. Gibbs, is also operating in the Potaka Native Township. It has not been named yet. It obtains its supply of timber from settlers' holdings, on the east side of the Hautapu River, across which a tram suspension bridge has been built. The timber cut comprises kahikatea, matai, rimu, and a little totara, and is all sent to Wellington and Wanganui, except the kahikatea, which is sent to Sydney. The actual annual cutting-capacity of the mill is 3,300,000 superficial feet, but the output of it is only about 2,400,000 superficial feet per annum. Twenty-five hands are employed. 12. South of Mangaweka, and about three miles west of Ohingaiti, is the Ohingaiti Sawmill—Messrs. Grice and Gower, proprietors. They obtain their supply of rimu, matai, kahikatea, and totara from freehold land, and dispose of it partly locally and partly to Wellington and Wanganui. They also send kahikatea to Sydney. The plant is capable of cutting 1,680,000 superficial feet per annum, but the actual annual output is 300,000 superficial feet. Fifteen hands are employed. The sawn timber is taken by a horse-tram from the mill to Ohingaiti Station. 13. On Silverhope Estate, near Hunterville, is the Silverhope Sawmill, owned !by Messrs. Whitmore Bros. It is only a small mill, with an annual output of about 600,000 superficial feet, but the plant is capable of cutting 720,000 superficial feet per annum. The timber cut comprises rimu, matai, and kahikatea, and is disposed of locally or sent to Marton. It is obtained on freehold land. Five hands are employed. 14. There is another mill on the Silverhope Estate, near Silverhope Railway-station. It is owned by Messrs. Zajonskawski Bros., and named after them. They cut chiefly rimu and kahikatea, and use it in connection with their sash and door factory in Marton, but a little is sold locally. This mill is capable of turning out 1,440,000 superficial feet per annum, but the actual output is only 960,000 superficial feet per annum. Twelve hands are employed. 15. Near Rata Railway-station is situated the Rata Sawmill, owned by Messrs. Smith, Son, and Auld. This mill is going over bush that was formerly milled by Messrs. Bailey Bros. They are cutting chiefly kahikatea and a little rimu. The former is exported to Sydney, and the rimu disposed of locally or sent to Wanganui. The cutting-capacity of the mill is 1,440,000 superficial feet per annum, and the annual output is 960,000 superficial feet. Fourteen hands are employed. 16. South of Palmerston, near Oroua Bridge, on the Foxton Line, is the Oroua Bridge Mill, owned by Messrs. Adsett, Baigent, and McNabb. They obtain kahikatea and matai from freehold land, and dispose of it locally and in Wellington. The mill is capable of cutting 1,680,000 superficial feet per annum, and the annual output is 1,080,000 superficial feet. Thirteen hands are employed. 17. Messrs. Smith Bros, have a small mill about seven miles from Mangaweka, on the main coachroad. They cut the usual classes of timber on Native land and send it to Wellington and Wanganui, and various stations between. The cutting-capacity of this mill is 1,000,000 superficial feet per annum ; but all this timber has to be carted for seven miles to Mangaweka Station. The annual output is 700,000 superficial feet. This mill is about to be closed down.

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