OUR SAW MILLS, &c.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 420, 26 April 1879, Page 2

OUR SAW MILLS, &c.

KAKARAJIEA. No industry affords a better criterion of the prosperity of a new district, and of the enterprise of its inhabitants, than the timber trade* When it is brisit, it may be relied on that the farmer is turning his primitive domicile into a barn, and budding a new and commodious house ; tnat piddle offices are becoming too straightened for their increasing business ; that dingy old shops are giving way to new and cheerful structures ; that publicans are enlarging their hotels, and sinners their churches. A visit to onr own saw mills will convince the visitor that they are not only a result of prosperity, but also a cause. A few months ago, the site of the Ivakurainea Saw Mills was an untrodden waste. Now one is greeted with the shriek of a steam ■ whistle, sees some of the latest improvements in machinery, and is surprised to find a little township of dwelling-houses already sprung up, destined ere long, no doubt, to be a dangerous rival to Canvas Town itself. The site, of the mill is well chosen, being on the -sitie of a tft'eani, with rising ground on every side, overed with an apparently inexhaustible supply of timber. The timber is of several vaiielies, red and white pine being most abundant. The trees are of all sizes, and, generally, wonderfully straight. Some of them are dead, though sound as'bells;' olners are somewhat charred by recent fires, but there are also plenty of green trees that will please the man who has to drive the nails. The logs are at present brought to the mid swung under a pair of huge junker wheels, and drawn by twelve or fourteen bullocks. Several bands are "■ kept continually at work in this ‘ log-rolling ’ department. With respect to the mill itself, the shed is very commodious, covering, with ample room, the engine, the tonguoing and grooving machine, and the circular and perpendicular saws. The engine is a powerful one—lT-horse —and the visitor wonders how the iron monster was got into the place where he sees-it. Water is close at hand, and wood, with which the ground is literally covered,, is easily obtained for the furnace. The visitor will probably inspect the tongueing and grooving machine with greatest interest. It presents a very substantial appearance, and ean be suited to hoards of any width or thickness. The

board is passed between two rollers and tongued and grooved in about the same time that it would bo ripped off by the circular saw. . The work appears to be first-class; and we have no doubt that this machine will not be the least profitable part of tiie mill. The engine is capable of driving it at the same time with the perpendicular saw, or with the circulars. Of the circular saws no'hiug need be said, except that the company are provided with a good variety. The perpendicular saw, in its massive frame, strikes the uninitiated as requiring enormous force to check it suddenly in its descent and lift it again for another stroke, but one of the obliging proprietors will probably explain that under the platform there are a pair of large iron balance wheels, much heav'er at one side than the other, and that while the heavy side is going down the frame is rising, and vice versa , so that the whole works smoothly, and without jerks. This saw appears to cut a big log as fast as a.small one—at the rate, say, of a foot per minute. It is evident that no expense has been spared to make the mill complete and successful, and we arc confident that the pluck of Messrs Hudson, Guy, and Co. will not go unrewarded.

About twelve or fourteen bands are constantly employed on different works at the mill. No notice of the Kakaramea Saw Mill would be complete without a reference, to the presiding genius, Mr Guy. Everything seems to belong to this gentleman’s business, and yet he undertakes nothing that he does not do'-' in a thoroughly workmanlike manner, .• _ f .

KETEUABAE. Mr Rob-son’s mill at Ketar'naraa is better known to tlie public, having 1 been at work for a number of years. The engine at present in use is a small one, and turns out only 2000 feet per diem. A new engine, quite equal to that in the Kakaramea mill is, however, in position, and will soon be at work, when it will turn out at least double the present amount. The timber is still plentiful—in fact, if the Waste Lands Board will only eoaie to terms, is almost inexhaustible. The neighborhood being flat, Mr Hobson is enabled to bring immense logs out of the hush on a tramway drawn hy two horses. It is surprising to find the demand so great that, in spite of constant work, not more than a load or two is be seen at the mill. Mr Robson, determined not to bo behind in enterprise, contemplates introducing a tongueing and grooving machine. When all his improvements arc effected, the building trade about Hawora and isomumby will be released from the fetters in which it has been so long held. This is much needed ; for if those towns would hold their own with Carlyle, they will not only have to build new places rapidly, but will have to make considerable changes in the buildings that already exist. It is said that within the next six months, more than thirty buildings will be added to Carlyle, several of which are to be ornaments to the town.

CARLVLE. Wo will now draw nearer home, and last, but not least, comes Mr James Lett’s chaff-cutting, wood-cutting, and corncrushing machines. Some time ago Mr Lett bought the land adjoining his old residence in Taranaki Road, and removed the building occupied for a dwelling-house to the hack of the newly purchased section, which has been converted into engine-house, store, &c. It is a few weeks now since the work was commenced, and the busy hum of the machinery, and the shrill whistle give the town quite a manufacturing air. The boiler and engine used for driving the several- machines, were manntactnred by Messrs Fraser and Tyrme, of Auckland, and by the smoothness with which everything works, those gentlemen are stamped as no mean mechanics. It is pleasing to contract the simplicity of die engins, with the difficult tasks it performs. The chaff-cutter is in the upper story, and is a fine machine of the kind, being manufactured by a well-known Melbourne Firm. A small room underneath receives the chaff, and from a small opening at the bottom it is bagged. After bagging, the dumping operation is resorted to, a machine for which purpose is on the ground. One ton of chaff per day can easily be cnf. The wood-cutter* is a handy piece of and we should rccommed all those who have a supply of tough wood on hand, to pay Mr Lett a visit, and with the assistance of his patent, the knotty point will soon be solved. About 12 cords per day can be cut up into suitable lengths by this machine, and without any danger to the person putting it through’ as is the case with many cutters. We now come to the . corn-crusher, which, although not yet used for any quantity, has' been.- tried and found to answer the purpose well. The grain is only sufficiently crushed to make it soft,' with all the goodness remaining in it. Many crushm-s smash the grain to atoms, and all the substance is lost, which is no benefit for b-u-se or cattle feed. This is one of Bent-ad's piitVu'L- • We wore rather surprised to sec Mr Lett’s eldest son (Charles, only a lad) driving the engine, but were informed that everything was doing its work so smoothly and well, that a child might manage it, Mr Lett sent 3 tons of sample chaff to Wellington and Wanganui, and has received orders for 45 tons more. In conclusion, we wish Mr Lett every success in his undertaking, and trust that it will prove an equal benefit to himself avid tbe public-