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The Nelson Photo News

 

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Nelson Timber for use in Japan

When the late Mr Lew Baigent instigated the planting of pine forests in the Nelson district in the 1920's, he had many detractors – as so many great pioneers do have. But his great faith in the future of pinus radiata in all industrial spheres has been amply justified. Thousands upon thousands of acres of Nelson land is now covered in pine trees, and they are making a big contribution to the economy of Nelson, and to New Zealand.

A few years ago, several shiploads of pine logs were sent over to Japan, but the trade lapsed until earlier this year when H. Baigent and Sons negotiated a four–year contract with a consortium of Japanese firms who are also operating out of Mount Maunganui. This contract is going to mean $2,000,000 to New Zealand in overseas exchange. One shipment of logs left Nelson earlier this year, and another, on the Columbia Maru, left last month. Further shipments are to be made before the end of this year. To give you, our readers, a more intimate knowledge of what is involved in getting these logs out of Nelson, we joined the gangs of bushmen and dock workers over several days to record these pictures.

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A fine stand of pine on one of the company's plantations in the Moutere district is surveyed by forest manager, Mr Brian Gillooly.

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This vast stockpile of logs, some 40 million Haakendahl feet of them, awaiting shipment. This pic was taken from the Columbia Maru last month. The ship sailed fully loaded. Another load will leave Nelson later this month on an American ship, the Clifford J. Rodgers.

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All day long, out of the plantations and along the dusty roads, lumber the giant log trucks with their huge cargoes

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A cathedral–like atmosphere in the forest is at times accentuated by the high dome of the tree tops. Within the space of a few minutes these tall trees were cut into logs for Japan.

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One of the stately pines becomes prey to the bushman's chain saw.

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In a Mahana forest, Alan Knox trims a tree he has just felled.

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The right tools for the job includes a sharp axe, and Bill Frederick hones his axe to a razor–sharp edge.

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Huge bulldozers are the work horses of the forest, dragging the huge logs our of apparently inaccessible areas.

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At a loading point in the forest, logs are swung from the never–diminishing pile on to the fleet of trucks.

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In the forest worked by the Hunt brothers, a draught horse is still invaluable for carting the chains (and providing Charlie Hunt with an easy ride uphill).

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A bushman must be able to maintain his own gear. Kevin Hunt has just re–assembled his chain saw.

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When one piece of forest is cut out, it is cleared and replanted (see ring and Brian Gillooly, who's examining one of the seedlings).

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Some trucks are equipped with Hiav loaders, such as the one operated here by Alan Grant. These loaders mean a great saving in time and equipment.

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One of the greatest aids to logging is this Timberjack – a sort of independently wheeled tractor with a power hoist at the rear. This machine can haul logs out of the most difficult terrain. It is the only one of its kind operating in the Nelson district.

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Journey's end for the trucks is at Port Nelson, where powerful logging tractors quickly unload the trucks and shift the logs to the ship–side.

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The last act in the story is the loading of the logs into the log boats. This is a difficult and dangerous, job for the waterside workers. The logs have to be stacked neatly and their weight evenly distributed.