Timber For Gisborne

Competition from precut timber imported from outside districts has caused radical changes in the timber situation in Poverty Bay, The merger of several major Gisborne mills with Holt's Timber Company, who have large timber resources in northern Hawkes Bay, is probably a result of this threat. Two years ago, millers were at the mercy of the logowners from whom they depended on for supplies, but today the situation has been completely reversed.

Approximately 41/2 million super feet of timber was milled in the Poverty Bay-East Coast district during the past year of which 3 1/2 million was indigenous. This timber, the majority of which was rimu, was drawn from the large areas of native bush beyond Motu and in Waioeka Gorge. The remaining million super feet, which was mainly pinus, came from small, privately-owned, exotic lots.

The logging pictures on these pages were recorded when "Photo News" visited the Box Company's logging camp in the rugged, bush-clad hills beyond Motu.

"There she goes" was the bushman's cry, and with a tortured shriek, another forest giant toppled to.earth

Giant 90ft rimu dwarfs bushman working with chain-saw

Cutting the scarf which determines the direction of the tree's fall

The men relaxing during their well-earned tea-break. From left: Dick Twistleton (logging; contractor), Luke Gerrard (sub-contractor), Mqi Stevens (dozer driver), and Tom Syron (blushman).

The bulldozer pulling logs through a river while en route to the loading skids.

At the skids, Whare Taunoa saws the logs into lengths for transporting to the mill

The logs being winched onto the truck under the watchful eyes of Fred Phelps, Luke Gerrard and Dick Twistleton.

The two logging trucks, carrying up to 50 tons of logs between them, moving down the rough winding track from the skids on their long journey back to the city.