A COMPLETED SAWMILL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1924, Page 1

A COMPLETED SAWMILL

A I.AKtJK I'NDKKTAKINf

Monday siw the completion rif the work of the i iiaugui at ion of the Kan-ieri-llukitika Cox Ltd. sawmill on the Kaiiicri when the branch railway line connecting the mill with the main line at Hokitika stat'.nn was inspected and passed hv the railway authorities, and yesterday the lirst few trucks were loaded at the skids at the mill, therc'iy (ipeuiii.tr nfi what bids fair t> he a verv successful and lucrative uiid.'i't -iking.

It is mow over four years since the Company commenced operation* on tin present venture. A start was made id Slniey Creek, on the Lake Kanieri road where a small mill was crerlc" mainly to provide the timber require' for the making of th.o line and bridge: for what was a very large and cesll' undertaking. One of the lirst wurkunilert aken was the erect inn of a large pile bridge across the right hand liraneli of the Ixanieri river, which tv aeleven chains ill length. and mmtliei bridge of two eliains ill length. The work of the making of the necessary railway te. carry the timber from tin Tush to the new mill was then put ie hand. This railway line which commences at, the junction with the main Government railway at the foot . •>” Fitzhcrbcrt Street, extends a distance at present of seven miles into the Inis' country some two miles ahead of Sidney Crock on the Clerille Annie terrace. The line traverses Hibson's Ounv, a lout' the site of the old Kanieri tram, unti' it reaches the cutting iil-t hel’ore entering the township of Ixanieri. It tliei' turns off to the hack of the town-hie mill runs .•done to Commissioner's Flat and thence alone practically level loiintry. till Stonev Creel; is reached (a ditimtly opposite eomlition of nll'nirs t< the rough. up and down main Ira Hi' ivml). Alter ri"ichiiie Stonev Creek the Lake Ixanieri road is eiu-'cd. and thenee after passing over the pile bridge previously referred to, the line passes through a lar.ee cutting. Mime I I chains lone and at otie end lee’ ill height. a work of some magnitude and expense. From this point onwards the line Items to rise to the higher country. in which the hush area lies, and if the next 1 t miles there is a i i-e ol some li!::> feet until the top of the plateau ireached, and one end of the area i>'< Jilt;,) acres i- tapped. The hush, which is reported tile a very fine lelt o' milline timber extends Irom Stonev Creek to (ii'iitle Annie terrace to the foot of Ml. Graham. lying hetweeli I.'ike Kanieri mil l and the Knkatahi Hat'.

Tt is worthy of mention that some ."it! years ago tinder from the hush in the viciniiv of Suomy Creek was brought by I rninline to Hokitika, the old tram lines being tineovered when the laying of the present line of steel rails war being laid.

The Company use steam power for tho haulage of the logs from the lmsh to the new mill, a L’-I-ton articulated loeoltiol ive made hv A. I’.iirelay ol Scotland. and tile lamest ill (i-e on the West Coast, heiim utilised. This is proving a very capable engine lor the work ami it is able to ciisilv haul tlm leads necessary for the working of the mill.

The new mill, which has hcen workin;; lor tlm last twelve months is now in full werkiiiL! order, and now that railway eouimtion has been made y able t I di-po-e of its output ill a rapid am! .'Vstemal i. manner. The mill K or. el. (I (111 tlm latest approved style li■■jug built oil piles so that once the lot;; are hauled up to the breaking down bench. gravitation carries on the product until it reaches the skills am! thenre to the railway tracks. It is a model mill and every possible improvement. to enable work to be carried Oil with a minimum of labor lias hcen installed. TTm boiler, which i> ct Id horse power. Ill'll-" I lie -lulls a- thev • mile from ihe saw. and nothin;', hut this waste timber i' used for iirinyr. The etiejno is oi ;C) horse power, and the output will amount to about b’d’l.ddd L-el per month. Since the ("'li.melleemeiit "I ot'eralinns ill HI'J.'I. the St'imv Creel; mill lias l.ci'll steadily cutting. the t i 111 her hav;,l“ hcen brought ill by tram ami lorry. Tlds mill v. ill -iiortly lm ili'inant led and ■hre.uohi into the town mill 'ite and reereeted there.

The undertaking has I ecu one »' sith-lantial cost, the ereciiou of the long line of steel triiiiiwav involving a very large oiltlav. which il i~ 1 ‘ he hoped will repay the (’..mp'iiy now. which has very till" area ol hu-h le operate on. Mr D. Stuart is the eapjd'ilc manager in charge of the C"inpaltv's operations, and a large 'lull ale ( e|“:i“e(l. The mill should provide steady work lor a large number "I workers for maiiv years to come.