Where there's Trees, there's Wood

“Where there is Trees, there’s Wood”

 Brief Notes  on early New Zealand Forestry/Sawmilling

 Anne Stewart Ball  written 2012 

Kauri logs at the Booms Whangaroa From photograph presented by M. H. Roe, Onehunga Source: Kirk, T. F.L.S. The Forest Flora of New Zealand. Wellington: Government Printers, 1889.

  Into the 1900’s and we see in the Auckland Province of New Zealand gold, timber, agriculture, and coal, the mainstays of occupation. The NZ Statistics Department Annual Year Book 1907 recorded 59 Sawmills in the Auckland Province, employing 2867. These figures were not inclusive of those also employed in contract “bush”  felling gangs ( in  2012 NZ called logging and siviculture crews and “bush” called forest ) 

These “bush fellers” led a rugged life in areas with little or no roading. The terrain was steep, rugged and swampy in the valleys and where rain could bring swollen streams.  Injury in the “bush” of the Coromandel Ranges often necessitated, in some instances, up to 30 miles on horseback or stretcher borne, across rough tracks to Thames or Waihi , where there was a hospital. The “bush”, in parts, could be described as dense and the giant of all trees, sought for lumber and timber – kauri – in instances hundreds of years old.

Kauri Matakohe: Parker, Lamb and Company. Source AJHR 1907 Session I, C-04 facing page 12 courtesy AtoJS online National Library of NZ

“A giant Kauri falls” Northland .Source NZ Herald 1878

Fagan, a “bush” contractor in the vicinity of the Tairua River, was regarded for many years in the 1800’s, as the largest of these, employing between 65 and 100. It was also said that William Fagan built the largest Dam on the Coromandel Pensinsula. This dam on the upper Tairua River, became known as the Wires Dam because of the telegraph nearby, and used to float kauri logs down to the sea. Bennett in “Tairua”, 1986 records a Mary Fagan admitted to  Tairua School in 1898 ( page 207)

                            Example log dam unknown location, unknown photographer. Source : A.T.C. photographs J.M.S.

        

View of logs confined by Main Booms, Wharekawa Estuary. Source AJHR 1905 Session I, C-06 facing page 11 courtesy AtoJS                                                                         online National Library of NZ

Page 2 Advertisements Column 1 Observer, Volume XX, Issue 1108, 24 March 1900, Page 2 .Source: Courtesy Papers Past, National Library NZ

The “bush” contractors were contracted to sawmills and in some instances, sub contracted to others to supply logs and timber, both for export supply overseas and for added value products made in the New Zealand sawmills.   The “bush” contractors also bid for Public Works Department Contracts for supply of thousands of railway sleepers and for Councils’ electric tramway Contracts (sleepers and poles.)  In the early 1900s the Waihi - Paeroa, Kaihu Valley and Whangarei Railways along with completion of the Main Trunk Railway were being undertaken. Electric Tramways were being built at Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Wanganui and Takapuna. A search of newspapers on Papers Past 1900 – 1910 shows a number of advertisements for sleepers.  –

Page 8 Advertisements Column 8 Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 120, 31 May 1905, Page 8. Source: Courtesy Papers Past, National Library NZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

Names prominent amongst “bush” contractors in the 1900s were Darrow, Coombs & Kilgour in the ranges and eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula – Wharekawa and Tairua, Murray Brothers of the Kaueranga, Gibbons & Harris of and Brown Bros Northland, Saw doctors also were utilised in the “bush” for saw sharpening in this era was pre chainsaw days and the native woods hard on saw blades and axes. Even into the early 1900s there were still pit sawyers because of the remote inaccessible areas in some instances. This despite sawmills having adopted steam machinery to process the wood/ timber. “Bush “fellers (sometimes called wood fellers) moved up down the Province -  much the same as done in 2012.

Once felled a number of methods were used to transport the logs. The terrain was steep and tortuous in many parts. Rolling or ‘corduroy” roads were made or in some areas tramways (in some instances, both rails and sleepers were wooden and for the more fortunate, iron rails.) A common method was bullock teams – these seemed to be suited to both the terrain and the heavy load.

Kauri Logs on a Rolling Road from a photograph by Foy Brothers. Source: Kirk, T. F.L.S.  The Forest Flora of New        Zealand. Wellington: Government Printers, 1889. Bush Tramway Unknown Photographer. Source Auckland Star Centennial Supplement 1870 - 1970                                                                                   Bullock Team believed to be Kohukohu, Northland transporting Kauri logs. Source Auckland Star Centennial Supplement 1870 - 1970   Price’s First locomotive – Drawn by A.S.B  The first locomotive to be manufactured by Price Bros     at   Thames in 1883 was      acquired by Smyth Bros     from the Waiorongomai or Piako Tramways and utilised   in  the “bush” at Kennedy Bay until 1908. Originally it   had been ordered by James Stewart Civil Engineer in   charge of design of Waiorongomai Tramway then and   intended for transporting quartz..

Peculiar also to the Auckland Province, was an offshoot of the Kauri timber industry – kauri gum (or more correctly kauri resin) and several thousand were said to be employed in this industry.  While North Auckland was considered the main area, the Coromandel Peninsula was considered the location where the highest quality gum was found.  

Gumdiggers camp, Nihotupu – Unknown photographer. Source: The New Zealand  Insurance Company Limited. Bold Century. Auckland: The New Zealand Insurance  Company Limited, 1959.

This writer’s great grandfather’s brother was involved in this Industry in the firm of Stewart & Garlick, merchants, exporters and sharebrokers. This firm was also the negotiating brokers for the Melbourne based Kauri Timber Company established in 1888 and one that was to have a major influence in the timber industry. 

Reference Source: Papers Past, National Library NZ -  Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 Auckland Star, 14 July 1888, P 3

Reference Source: Papers Past, National Library NZ -  Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 Auckland Star, 14 July 1888, P 3

The giant Melbourne- based, New Zealand Kauri Timber Company Ltd, by the turn of the century, was firmly ensconsed. Despite the setback of two embezzlement frauds in 1901, the Company was making good profits and one of the main employers in rural areas of the province. Their head office and mill (formerly the Auckland Timber Company) in  Customs / Fanshawe Streets, Auckland - a hub of milling activity for this companys  enterprises said to be employing 300 at their Auckland Mill  in 1902. Their mills at Kohukohu in the Hokianga, Aratapu and Te Kopuru on the Kaipara Harbour , Mangonui (formerly that of Robert Morrow Houston - another family member related to this writer), Tairua and  Mercury Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula and Barrier Island provided employment for those in rural areas.

Kohukohu Sawmill, Northland about 1903

 

                             Kohukohu Sawmill, Northland about 1903

                 

 

Mangonui Harbour and Kauri Timber Company Mill Photo in   The Cyclopaedia of New Zealand, Vo l 2, Auckland Province. Christchurch: Cyclopaedia Company Limited, 1902. Couresy N.Z.E.T.C. NZ Electronic Text Centre

The Kauri Timber Company Catalogue of about 1906 shows the range and quality of mouldings, furniture, fretwork and items including broom handles on offer at their head office and sawmills in Auckland. Such would have required saws and machinery in good sharp working order. A search of Papers Past shows advertisements during 1900 – 1915 for experienced saw doctors (first class) and several advertisements offering 10 shillings a day wages.

 Pursuant to the Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment 1900, those operating steam machinery were required to hold a Stationary Engine Drivers Certificate. ( this requirement came about originally as an outcome of a fatal boiler accident in the Kuranui Mine, Thames in 1874 and applied to those also working in sawmills.

 The Certificates could be gained either by examination or by service and categories First Class and Second Class. A search of the AJHR’s ( Associated Journals House of Representatives) on the AToJs website, show under the Annual Inspection of Machinery Report – a. Accidents and  sawmills/ planing mills  where injury occurred b.  names of those who passed their Stationary Engine Drivers Certificate - First Class, Second Class. It is not known by these lists if an Engineer coming from Canada has sat this certificate. Nor have these lists determined whether the person sitting the certificate, works in a sawmill or a mine. More in depth research, than for this article would be needed.

Kauri Logs on the Skids. From a photograph by Burton Bros. Source: Kirk, T. ,F.L.S. The Forest Flora of New Zealand. Wellington: Government Printers, 1889.

                 Kauri Logs on the Skids. From a photograph by Burton Bros. Source: Kirk, T. ,F.L.S. The Forest Flora of New Zealand. Wellington: Government Printers, 1889.

As well as the giant Kauri Timber Company mill, there were also other large sawmills in Auckland  - David Goldie Timber Merchant , Leyland O’Brien No 1 mill  and no 2 mill , Parker Lamb & Company , Mitchelson Timber Company Ltd ,  Maclow Bros Ltd, Waitemata Sawmill Company  and  Bagnall Bros and Co  - headed by  Harold Carleton Bagnall ( married to a cousin of this writer ) managing operations and  the Auckland Box Factory. Cutting exclusively kahikatea, via their private forest, Bagnall Bros also ran a sawmill at Turua in addition to the Auckland box factory. In addition to the “butter boxes” Bagnall Bros were known for making, they also manufactured Langstroth beehives.

Katikati, Waihi and Paeroa Mills employed small numbers of hand compared to others in the Auckland Province. At the beginning of the 1900s timber supply from these three mills were used for building and mining purposes. Waihi at the turn of the century was a fast growing town, with what was to become one of the largest producing goldmines in the Southern Hemisphere. While sawmills were small, “bush” contractors and their gangs ( now in 2012 called crews) were more numerous in numbers.

KAURI RAFTS BEING TOWED UP THE HARBOUR is a comparatively rare sight in these days. Auckland Star 5 December 1931 p 10 courtesy Papers Past, National Library NZ

The following is a table showing some of the mills of the Auckland Province in the early 1900s

           Some of the Sawmills Auckland Province 1907 ( source AJHR 1907 Session I, C-04   )

Sawmill	Location	Number of Hands
NZ Kauri Timber Company Auckland	Auckland	300
Kohukohu ( KTC)	Hokianga	40
Aratapu    ( KTC)	Kaipara
Te Kopuru  ( KTC)	Kaipara	120
Mangonui   ( KTC)	Mangonui	25
Onehunga Sawmills ( KTC)	Onehunga	35
Mercury Bay  ( KTC)	Whitianga	60
Tairua   ( KTC )	Tairua	60
Lane & Sons Whangaroa	Totara North, Whangaroa	14
David Goldie Timber Merchant	Auckland	70
Parker, Lamb & Company	Auckland	70
Leyland O’Brien No 1 mill	Auckland	54
Leyland O’Brien No 2 mill	Auckland	50
Waitemata Sawmill Company	Auckland	60
Mitchelson Timber Company Ltd	Auckland	16
Maclow Bros Ltd	Auckland	39
Bagnall Bros & Co Box factory	Auckland	200
Bagnall Bros & Co Sawmill	Turua	70
Waimamaku	Hokianga	60
Whangape ( Mitchelsons )	Whangape	16
Kaihu ( Trounsons)	Kaihu	20
Kaipara Sawmill	Dargaville	48
White Pine Company	On the Wairoa	50
Robert Gibbons	Kopu Thames	25
Mountain Rimu Company	Mamaku Rotorua	65
Taupo Totara Timber Company	Taupo	300
Puketapu Timber Company	West Taupo	125
Paeroa Sawmill	Paeroa	15
Tamaki Sawmill – B L Knight ( formerly J A Brown)	Waihi	4
Tamaki Sawmill – B L Knight	Katikati	10

The companies and sawmills carried out an extensive export trade, involving large fleets of vessels. Logs once they reached the large rivers or sea were tied together in log rafts as seen above or onto waiting barges, brigantines and for local transport scows. All and certainly the largest ( Kauri Timber Company ) were represented in the markets of Great Britain, Cape Colony, Australia, and the South Sea Islands. Like wise timber from other countries in the early 1900’s found its way to New Zealand – redwood from California and Oregon Pine from Canada. More research is needed immigration of timber workers from Canada to New Zealand.

Thus finishes, a very brief view of the forest /sawmilling industry in the Auckland Province of New Zealand, in the early 1900s.

Footnote : 

This was written in 2012. However it is not outdated, for it is a very briefly written history of  the early  timber industry of the Auckland Province New Zealand - the era before the coming of radiata pine forests - forest farming.

The  writer who researched and outlined this brief history, like many of us New Zealanders worked in this industry. The writer herself spent a number of years working in the industry, involved with industry training and education and loved it - loved  the  rural communities and the way of life - even today in 2021 where there's still trees,  there is still wood.

Acknowledgements: 

 Many sources provide a wealth of material on the topic. This writer thanks National Library of New Zealand, NZETC, National Library of Australia and Waihi Museum for the growing amount of historical and genealogical material supplied on the internet. For The  Coromandel  Heritage Trust - a purpose built archives in a restored Carnegie Library at Thames,

 Reference Sources referred to:

Government:

•  New Zealand Statistics Department : The New Zealand Official Year Books 1900 -1915  
• National Library of New Zealand : Appendix to Journals House of Representatives ( AJHR’s)

•   THE TIMBER INDUSTRY OF NEW ZEALAND (EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS ON, TOGETHER WITH TABLES, VIEWS, AND MAPS 1905 Session I C-06
• DEPARTMENT OF LANDS:THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IN NEW ZEALAND IN 1907. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, C -4       
•    -INSPECTION OF MACHINERY: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR 1907-8. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1908 Session I, H-15a                                    - INSPECTION OF MACHINERY: ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR 1909-10. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives,1910 Session I, H-      15a                       

   Books:

·          Bennett, Francis. Tairua. Morrinsville: Arrow Press Ltd, 1986.

·            BIBLIOGRAPHY  \l 5129  Kirk, T. F.L.S. The Forest Flora of New Zealand. Wellington: Government Printers, 1889.

·            The Cyclopaedia of New Zealand, Vol 2, Auckland Province. Christchurch: Cyclopaedia Company Limited, 1902.

·          The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited. Bold Century. Auckland: The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited, 1959.

·          Williamson, Beverley M. Whangamata - 100 Years of Change. Paeroa, New Zealand: Goldfields Print Ltd, 1988.

Newspapers:

•           Papers Past, National Library NZ   

                    - Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 Auckland Star, 14 July 1888, P 3

                    - THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY Auckland Star, 14 July 1888, P 4

                    - THE KAURI GUM TRADE INTERESTING INFORMATION. Te Aroha News, 27 February 1889, P 4

                   - THE CUSTOMS STREET MILLS OF THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY. Auckland Star, 1 December 1898, P 23

   - The Argus 15 April 1901 P 5 KAURI TIMBER COMPANY,ALLEGED EXTENSIVE FRAUDS.A LOCAL MANAGER ARRESTED

•      Trove Australia Newspapers On Line National Library of Australia    

Websites:

•           The Kauri Timber Company Ltd (Auckland Office) :[Catalogue. ca 1906]. 
•           Trainweb : NZ G                     
•             Hall  Genealogy Website : Old Occupation Name   

 

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