WESTLAND LAND DISTRICT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1918, Page 1

WESTLAND LAND DISTRICT.

CO ALA 11SSTO NELL’S ANNUAL REPORT. Mr Thomas Brook, Commissioner of Crown "Lands, for Westland, in liis annual report says: The output of sawn timber for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1918, is 3,450,000 ft., less than that for the preceding year. The shortage is due principally to the lack of labour, but operations are also hampered by the difficulty of procuring iron rails and other necessary material. There is good reason for satisfaction with the shipping which was available. There were occasions whfCii some inconvenience was claused by tall storage-space at the mills being filled and one or two mills were compelled to cease work for a short period, but the timely arrival of vessels relieved the position before the trouble became acute. Notwithstanding the difficulties created by war conditions, there has been and is now an exceptionally keen demand lor timber areas, all accessible supplies being taken up. The better prices now obtained are no doubt responsible for this, and although the cost of production has increased considerably, the industry is now on a better footing than for many years past. There arc forty-three mills in this district. Three are operating on freeholds lands only, four have closed down temporarily, and thirty-six are cutting on Crown land and freehold. Two mills of large cutting-capacity are m the -courso of erection. During the year 46,760,100 ft of sawn timber were were cut and marketed, 35,210,/00ft. being obtained from Crown land and 11,549,400 ft. from freehold. This output comprised 8,000,000 ft. of white-pine 38,360,100 ft. of rimn, i111(1 400,000 ft. of brown-birch (Tagus fusca). There is an increasing demand for the latter, principally for mining purposes and bridge-work, and a limited quantity is used in the manufacture of furniture, feilver-pinc sleepers are always in good demand but they arc becoming more and more difficult to procure. No other kinds of timber have been used to any appieciable extent. ,

There are no State forests in Westland, and as all timber on Crown lands is cut under the regulations made under authority of the .Alining Act the increased royalties under the Land Act and State Forests Act. which came into force last year do not apply here. The total amount received by the Department in rents and royalties is £8,28G,/19/o, being £7,524/7/11, from national endowment lands, £6OO/8/7 from Crown lands, £152/7/9 from education endowments, and £9/15/2, from other endowments. These sums do not in elude rents and royalties which are deemed to be goldfields revenue in accordance with the provisions of section 148 (a) of the Alining Act, 1908. At present there is a much improved market for rough timber of short length, and some millers are making the most of the opportunity for reducing waste. Sales of timber are made under * very wide classification, which varies for each individual market and the prices vary accordingly but the following is a fair average for recent sales 1.0. b., Greymouth: Rimu —Clean heart 18s.; clean 13/6; 0.8., 9/6. White pine— AVides (12in. and over-), 155.; smaller sixes 8/6 to 10/9; seconds 1/- loss. The prices for export to Australia are better and that market has the additional advantage of being able to absorb a large quantity of low-grade timber for which there is little demand in the Dominion. No timber of commercial value has been destroyed in this district. Information as to the extent, of accessible timber country is very meagre and guesswork must outer largely into any attempt to estimate the probable duration of supplies . Having now a better knowledge of the. district, I believe my last estimate of twenty years is too low and that thirty years is nearer the mark .