New Timber Mill for Marlborough Timber Company, of Christchurch

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 10, 1 June 1918, Page 232

New Timber Mill for Marlborough Timber Company, of Christchurch

Under the title of “To Build Mill in New Zealand” the Timberman, ”an American lumber journal, describes a new entreprise on the part of the above company as follows; “To construct a mill and install equipment for the Marlborough Timber Co., of Christchurch, New Zealand, E. A. Wright, of Everett, Washington, a veteran mill builder of the Pacific Coast, sailed recently from San Francisco under contract to build the mill and operate it for a time until island labour can be trained to handle the machinery. The mill will be on the South coast of the South Island. “A double circular rig from the Sumner Iron Works, Everett, Washington, with all other necessary equipment, had been landed in Wellington before Mr. Wright' sailed. All the hardware and even roofing for the mill were bought on the Pacific Coast. The mill will be one which, on the Pacific Coast, would have a daily capacity of 150,000 feet, but with the conditions to be met in New Zealand the output will probably be somewhat less, according to Mr. Wright. The mill will be the largest in New Zealand and will mean more economical production than has ever been accomplished there. A number of other timber operators are known to be awaiting its completion and operation before deciding on purchasing similar equipment. “Headquarters of Reese Bros., controlling owners of the Marlborough Timber Co., are in Christchurch, a city of 60,000 people. The nearest post office to the new mill will be the village of Tutupura. “Logging in the Southland, as the southern area of the South Island is called, is entirely by narrow gauge roads with light steam engines, because of lack of driving streams and the fact that many of the woods are too heavy to float. “I’m sending a dozen peaveys with the other equipment,” said Mr. Wright, in illustration of the primitive methods used in New Zealand. “When 1 was down ther last year I saw that the logs were rolled by natives who pushed with their breasts. I asked why they didn’t use peaveys and had to explain what a peavey is. I tried to make one in a blacksmith shop but couldn’t find a suitable piece of steel. “The time which will be necessary to complete the mill depends entirely upon the labour. A vast area is available for the Marlborough Timber Co. to cut over, according to Mr. Wright. The- timber will be mostly rimu, matai, totara and kauri. There was a young lady named Banker Who slept while the ship lay at anchor She woke in dismay When she heard the mate say, “Now hoist up the top sheet and spanker.” “Index,”