Start Of Big Pine Timber Export

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1948, Page 7

Start Of Big Pine Timber Export

Press Association)

(Per

ROTOREA, June 10. One million feet of pine timber from the. State Forest Jrfervice and privatc plantations in the region bounded bro'adi y by Rotorua, Tokoroa and Tauranga will be dispatched from Tauranga Harbour for the Australian market in one sliipment about the enti of Ap^ust. The consignment is an experimental one, and it will assist forestv, harbour and other officials to ascertain approximately what facilities will be needed for the developinent of Tauranga Harbour. SpeciaJly con structed for the timber trad'e the Sleigh .Line's vessel James Cook wui tran'sport the timber. About 300, 00u feet -will be loaded at the wharf- attec which the- vessel will use barges.

.Althougli; plans, for. the .• development of Tauranga as a timber export .centJ'thave not been completed, it is t>elieved that it will not be long befort the preliminary works are put in hanu. .'lAWHhga , jj^rbour Board 1ms been boring along sections of the harbour and submitting its results to tne forestry officials who will decide even tually where the new wharf is to, Uf constructed. There are two favoureo vantage points, . either a little to thc north of tlie present wharf or jusi north of the canning factory. A depcn of about 22 feet of water is requireu. The Board 's operations revealed that the harbour bottom is sufficiently solitl to hold- piles and"'could be dredged to give .the needed depth. Probably four trains a day bearing a total of about 100,000 feet will un ' load at Tauranga^ when the schemc is completed. Thfe export is expected to grow from' about- 20,000,000 feet a vcar to 1,000,000,000 feet. In additiou to the harbour development the Government is planning an extensive housing ' schemc to accommodatO the many wo rivers and their' families who will be employed. - It is expected that about 150U houses will be erected, some of thqm at the Otumoetai area at present in thc Tauranga Countv, but which will prooably come uader the Tauranga Borougii this year.