C—6.

HAWKE'S BAY. v The following are some particulars relating to the sawmilling industry as carried on in the southern portion of the land district. Starting from the mouth of the Waimata Stream, which is the most southerly point of the Hawke's Bay Land District, passing through Herbertville and travelling towards Dannevirke, the first mill to be met with is known as Martin's, on the Angora Road, and cutting totara timber from settlers' holdings on royalty. The cutting-area is about 200 acres, and the engine, a portable one of 8-horse power. This mill employs three hands. About two miles from Weber Village, on the Tahuokaretu Road, is situated the Tahuokaretu Mill, cutting over an area a of about 500 4 conveying the timber by wagon to Dannevirke. McCaulay's mill, on the Tuturewa Road, is cutting timber over an area of about 100 acres on settlers' Crown leaseholds. Harper and Diehl's Ngapaeruru Mill is next to be found, situated on the main road, and cutting timber land and settlers' holdings. A public school has been established at the mill, known as the Ngapaeruru School. Next to be seen, on the Mangahe Road, is Gordon's mill, cutting on their own leasehold of 370 acres, using an engine of 35 nominal horse-power, and employing twenty-three hands. Much of the timber is carted into Dannevirke for A. L. Gordon and Co's woodware factory, where an Atlas American engine of 45 nominal horse-power is used in the manufacture of sashes and doors, mouldings, and cabinetwork. The factory is fitted up with the latest American planing machinery ; and a nail-driving machine used in the manufacture of butter-boxes is of special interest. This factory is employing thirty hands exclusive of those employed at the mill. Bennett and Sollett's yards are next met with on the main road to Dannevirke, connected by tramline with the mill which is working in the Tepapakuku Block. Proceeding south from Dannevirke towards Woodville are two mills owned by the Dannevirke Sawmilling Company (cutting from Tamaki Crown land, and paying royalty to Hawke's Bay Timber Company), Gamman and Co., Hawke's Bay Timber Company, A. B. Larsen, Totara Sawmilling Company, J. Crallan (two mills), and Palmerston Sash and Door Company, situated at Kiritaki. From Gamman and Co's 12,000 superficial feet of totara was supplied for Government road-works. Returning to Dannevirke, and within a small radius eastward of the same, are found the Union Timber Company, Tiratu Sawmilling Company (three mills), and at Mangatera a planing-mill, also the property of the Tiratu Sawmilling Company. About three miles from Mangatera, in the Umutaoroa Block, is found the Umutaoroa Sawmilling Company (cutting from Native land and exporting timber to Wellington and Wanganui). Proceeding northwards from Mangatera and along the road towards Norsewood are the following : Gamman and Co. (two mills), R. Holt, C. T. Price, Wilding and Co., Bartholomew Bros., Hawke's Bay Timber Company, Holm Bros., Palmerston Sash and Door Company, W. T. Greenaway (sash and door), and the Ruahine Sawmilling Company. Gamman and Co's mill supplied the Roads Department with 20,000 ft. of totara timber for road-works. In the neighbourhood of Norsewood are mills belonging to Brown and Nordbye, Carlson Bros., Anderson and Co., McLeod, and Sowersby and Parsons. Carlson Bros, and McLeod have practically cut out their bush. In the Waikopiro and Ngapaeruru districts, east of Ormondville, are two small mills owned by Webster and West respectively, worked with small portable engines and cutting from settlers' holdings. West's mill supplied the Roads Department with a small quantity of totara for road purposes. Near Takapau is found a Cohr and Co., cutting totara from freehold lands for local consumption. Leaving Waipawa and proceeding towards Wakarara and Hampden are found Halley and Ewing's (working on settlers' holdings, Forest Gate Settlement), Yule and Son, Manson and Co. (Attic Mill), Manson and Co. (Tikokino Mill). From the Attic Mill totara for culverts and bridges was obtained for Argyll Settlement, and from the Tikokino Mill, telegraph-poles for the Telegraph Department, Napier. Manson and Co. are now erecting a mill on one of the sections in Argyll Settlement, and close to Hampden. The engine will be of 30 nominal horse-power, and thirty hands will be employed. The mill will be called the Gwavas Mill, and a tram-line is now being laid to the Gwavas Bush (Mr. Carlyon's private property), a distance of four miles from the mill-site. The cutting-area will be from 600 to 1,000 acres, and the timber principally matai and totara. About forty horses will be in use for the haulage of the timber from the bush to the mill.

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