0.—4

8

lα. A. Long's Sawmill, Mangatete. —This mill, lately erected, is situated in the Mangatete district, Mangonui County, and about twenty miles north-west of the Township of Mangonui. The supplies for the mill are purchased from the settlers on the Otukai Block and others. The classes of timber cut are kauri, kahikatea, totara, rimu, &c. The output is at present all consumed locally for building requirements. Cutting-capacity, 1,000,000 superficial feet; output, 750,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 14. 2. Pukepoto Sawmill (McMasters). —The Pukepoto Sawmill is situated on the Kaitaia - Herekino Road, Mangonui County. It is equipped with planing machinery, and has been running for the past eight years. The supply of timber, which comprises a large variety —kauri, kahikatea, rimu, puriri, miro, towai, &c.—is obtained from the neighbouring Crown, Native, and European lands. The output is distributed by road over the surrounding districts, being used chiefly for building and bridging purposes. Cutting-capacity, 1,500,000 superficial feet ; output, 300,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 6. 3. Owhata Mill, Herekino (Mitchelson Timber Company). —The mill, recently erected, is substantially constructed, and well equipped with up-to-date appliances, and has now been in operation for six months. Eargihiki Mill is now dismantled. The supply is obtained from Government areas, Native land, and private holdings. The quantity in sight should koep the mill working for about five years. The difficulty in getting the timber away from this port is the bar harbour and shallow water. Export to Australia and southern Now Zealand ports. Cutting-capacity, 5,000,000 superficial feet; output, 4,000,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 16. 4. Whaiigape Mill, Whangape (Mitchelson Timber Company). —The mill has been in operation for two years, and was constructed by the contractors to the company for converting the logs into sawn boards. The supply is obtained from Government, Native, and European lands, and will probably keep the mill working for four or five years. The difficalty of exporting from the port is the objection of shipowners to the bar harbour and narrow entrance, and the company have had to purchase vessels to convey the sawn timber from Whangape to the various ports. Export, Australia and southern Now Zealand ports. Cutting-capacity, 5,000,000 superficial feet; output, 4,000,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 16. 5. Rangiora Mill, Hokianga. —This mill is situated on the foreshore of the Hokianga River, between Rawene and Kohukohu Townships. The mill is a medium-sized one, with modern equipment. The classes of timber milled are kauri, rimu, kahikatea, totara, the supplies being drawn from Crown, Native, and European lands within the Hokianga Estuary. The logs are floated to the mill in rafts, from various distances. The output is chiefly exported to Australia and southern New Zealand ports, the local demand being small. Cutting-capacity, 5,000,000 superficial feet; output, 4,000,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 16. 6. Kohukohu Mill, Hokianga (Kauri Company). —This mill, situated at Kohukohu Township, Hokianga River, has been in active operation for about twenty-five years. The mill cuts chiefly kauri, of which it has a very limited supply, being nearly cut out. They operate on timber purchased from the Crown, and small quantities bought from the settlers, having no timber reserves of their own in the district. The mill is a substantial one, standing near the river-bank, and is about eighteen miles from the Hokianga Heads. With exception of small quantities disposed of locally for building purposes, practically the whole output is exported to Australia and southern New Zealand ports. Cuttingcapacity, 6,000,000 superficial feet; output, 5,000,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 40. 7. Dives and Ramsay, Rawene Mill. —This mill is situated at Rawene Township, on the eastern bank of the Hokianga River, about eighteen miles from the Heads. The mill, which is well equipped, is a moderately-sized one. The varieties of timber cvt —-rimu, kahikatea, kauri, and totara—are supplied from Native and European lands in the Hokianga watershed. After local requirements have been satisfied, the surplus is shipped, mostly to southern ports. Cutting-capacity, 2,000,000 superficial feet; output, 1,250,000 superficial feet; mill hands. 12. 8. New Zealand Timber Company, Hokianga. —This mill is situated at Koutu Point, on the eastern bank of the Hokianga River, and about five miles from the Heads. Erected about six years ago, it is a first-class milling plant. The supplies for the mill were mostly derived from Crown lands. Owing to an insufficiency of supplies, the mill is temporarily stopped, but will probably resume shortly. The major portion of the output, which consists principally of kauri, with a little totara, is exported to Australia. Cutting-capacity, 9,000,000 superficial feet; output, 3,200,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 30. 9. Waimamaku Sawmill, Hokianga (Kauri Timber Company). —This mill, which has only been in operation for about two years, is situated in the Waimamaku Valley, inlaud'about eight miles from Hokianga Heads. It is well equipped and substantially constructed, and derives its supplies from Crown areas and privately-owned land in the vicinity. A steam hauler is used in the bush, whence the logs are conveyed by steam tramway to the mill. The total annual output —consisting principally of kauri—is conveyed during the summer months by traction engine, and bullock and horse teams to Dunn's, thence by an iron tramway operated by a stationary engine on top of the hill; it is delivered at Omapere, where the company have erected a substantial wharf. From Omapere the timber is shipped to Australia and southern ports. Cutting-capacity, 3,000,000 superficial feet; output, 2,500.000 superficial feet; number of hands employed, 60. 10. Opua Mill, Bay of Islands. —This mill, which is of moderate size and well equipped, is situated at Opua, Bay of Islands. It has been in operation about six years, although of late it has not been cutting continuously, owing to a scarcity of logs. The classes of timber milled are kauri and a little kahikatea, supplies of which are obtained from European and Native lands. After local orders have been supplied the remainder is shipped to Australia and southern ports. Cutting - capacity, 4,ooo.ooo'supfrrfioial feet; output, 1,500,000 superficial feet; mill hands, 18. 11. Mr. W. B. Stephen's Mill, Mangonui Bluff. —This mill is a small portable plant chiefly used in cutting railway-sleepers, while supplying the neighbouring settlers with house-timbers. The supplies —principally of totara—are bought from the neighbouring settlers. Cutting-capacity, 600,000 superficial feet; output, 300,000 superficial feet; hands employed, 6.