TUAPEKA MOUTH SAW MILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 66, 15 May 1869, Page 3

TUAPEKA MOUTH SAW MILL.

While visiting Tuapeka Mouth recently, we had the pleasure of inspecting the saw mill belonging to Mr. M' Coll, from which the local demand for timber is almost entirely supplied. The mill is situated on the east bank of the Molyneux, a little to the north of the junction between- that river and the Tuapeka Creek. The timber is floated down the river from the bush, a distance of about eight miles, and owing to the slack water close to the mill, is landed by means of a crano, without any great risk. The saws are two iv number and circular in form, the largest having a diameter of about four feet and a half. The motive power is supplied by a 10 h.p. (nominal) engine, which also can be used to work a turning lathe and chaff cutting maeliine. Prom two to three thousand feet of timber can be cut daily, but as the demand is at present rather slack, the mill is not taxed to the full extent of its powers. Among other fine specimens of timber wo observed some totara beams, for the new bridge over the Waitahuna Creek, near its junction with the Molyneux. Tho beams are the largest evev sawn at Tuapeka Mouth, and measure 85 feet in length. A large stock of timber for building aud mining purposes is on the premises'. While we inspected the machinery au accident occurred which, although springing from a trifling neglect, stopped tho work for that day. The timber is formed, into rafts at the bush, by means of iron " dogs," and a portion of one of these had by some mischance been left in a huge log of birch. The quickly revolving saw encountered the obstacle, and cut almost through it, but hot without sustaining damage enough to render the operations of cutting new teeth necessary. This account gives some idea of the iinense power exerted by the saws, as the strong iron bar ap*peared to be cut into with nearly as ,much ease as a piece of timber. The mill is a "local industry" in every sense of the word : the raw material, fuel, and labour, |bemg obtained from the district ; arid as it affords employment to a considerable number of men, deserves all the encouragement the public can it.