C—4.

locally and for the supply of mills in Nelson City. There is very little timber to be obtained in this locality. Another year will probably see this mill closed down. 6. W. Grant's mill is situated fourteen miles from Collingwood, and is cutting rimu, matai, and kahikatea off freehold lands. Timber is carted by wagons to Collingwood, where it is shipped to Christchurch. About three years' time will see the supply of timber exhausted. 7. Scott's mill is erected about four miles from the Waitapu Wharf, and is cutting totara and rimu off freehold lands for local consumption. Scott's plant is small and portable, and is used for cutting out small patches of bush wherever obtainable. 8. T. Baigent's mill is erected about two miles to the south-east of Scott's mill, and is cutting rimu and kahikatea off freehold lands. Nearly the whole of this timber is sent to the Nelson City mills and market, a small quantity only being used for local purposes. 9. Reilly's mill is situated about eight miles from the Waitapu Wharf up the Takaka River. This mill is cutting on leasehold lands. The forest includes rimu and kahikatea, the greater part of which is exported to Christchurch. 10. Fauchley's mill is situated about five miles from Reilly's mill on the Takaka River, and is cutting rimu, matai, and kahikatea off freehold lands. This timber is carted by good dray-road to Waitapu Wharf and shipped to Christchurch. 11. Hyland and Kirk's mill is erected four miles south along the Takaka River from Fauchley's mill, and is cutting rimu, matai, and kahikatea off freehold lands. The timber is carted to Waitapu Wharf with wagons along a good dray-road, and shipped to Wellington and Christchurch by vessel owned by Hyland and Kirk. 12. Adjoining the above mill just described Messrs. Hyland and Kirk have another plant, which during the year has not been working, timber-cutting rights not being obtainable. 13. Across the range from Takaka, Thompson and Co. have erected their mill. Cutting has been going on for some three years off freehold and leasehold lands, the principal timber being rimu, matai, and kahikatea. At this mill a tramway is laid some two miles and a half up the hills, with very steep grades. A centre rail is being used (the only instance of the kind in northern Nelson), and by this means a large quantity of timber is used which would otherwise not be obtainable. The timber from the mill is rafted down the mud-flat at high water for a distance of some three miles, and taken on board scows for delivery at Nelson for general purposes. 14. Hewetson and McLean's mill is erected at Marahau, a distance of some ten miles north along the coast-line from Motueka. Rimu, matai, and birch are being cut off leasehold lands and sent to Nelson by scows for building purposes. 15. A. Best and Cos. mill is erected at Riwaka. Rimu, matai, kahikatea are cut off freehold and leasehold lands ; supply almost cut out. Timber is used at sash and door factory, Motueka, and at Nelson for building purposes. 16. Waghorn's mill is situated about nine miles from Motueka. He has secured the right to cut timber off freehold lands by a payment of royalty at 9d. per 100 superficial feet. Matai, rimu, and kahikatea are the only timbers cut, and this is carted to Motueka for sash and door factory and general purposes. A fairly large area of bush still remains to be cut. 17. Heath Bros.' mill has been cutting rimu and kahikatea for a number of years. Timber is carted by good dray-road to Motueka to supply sash and door factory and for building purposes. This bush is practically cut out. 18. Hewetson's mill is erected on freehold lands at the Moutere, and has been cutting for some considerable time to supply local orders. The timber milled includes rimu, totara, and kahikatea. Supply about exhausted. 19. H. Baigent's mill, situated in Nelson City : This is a fully equipped plant. Turning, planing, sash and door making, &c, are carried on. This mill has a large stock of all classes of timber on hand, which is used for building purposes, the timber being obtained from the country mills. 20 and 21. Robertson's and Millar's sawmill plants in Nelson, all somewhat similarly equipped to H. Ba'gent's mill just described. 22. H. Baigent's mill is situated at Pigeon Valley, eighteen miles from Nelson by rail and three miles by good dray-road. The timber-supply is obtained off freehold lands, and comprises rimu, matai, and birch, principally. This mill supplies Baigent's mill in Nelson City. There is fairly large area of timbered lands yet to be cut out. 23. H. Baigent has just finished the erection of another timber-mill adjoining the mill just described. The timber will be cut off freehoM lands. Supply very limited ; will run about a year and a half. 24. Bryant's mill is erected at Pretty Bridge, twenty-four miles from Nelson by rail and three nii'es by road. The timber is cut off freehold land, and comprises matai, birch, and rimu. Supply will last about another five years. Timber utilised for the supply of Nelson City mills and local purposes. 25. Holland and Thomas's mill adjoins Bryant's mill just described. Supply of timber obtained from freehold lands. The timber cut comprises rimu, matai, and birch, which are used for local buildings and factories. Fairly large area of timber available. 26. Holland and Thomas have erected a mill about two miles north of Pretty Bridge. Cutting was carried on here for a number of years, but owing to the lack of orders it has been closed down for some twelve months. There is a fairly large supply of timber yet obtainable. 27. T. Price's mill is erected along the railway-line, twenty-six miles from City qf Nelson. Cutting rimu and birch off freehold lands for 'local requirements and sash and door factories. The supply of timber is very limited. 28. W. D. Thompson's mill is situated at Aniseed Valley, thirteen milos from City of Nelson by rail and six miles by good dray-road. This mill is cutting rimu, matai, and kahikatea off freehold lands, and supplies Richmond and Nelson sash and door factories.

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