Community Contributed
Saw Mills
Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T16:53:21+00:00
With the demand for the timber for housing, public buildings, bridges etc., saw mills quickly sprang up, and so provided work for many people. 
In the spring of 1888, the Gorrie brothers, William and James, established a saw-mill at Ohau. This was situated close by and east of the railway station and which they operated until 1901, when it was purchased by Messrs. Whiley and Rolston – the latter being the writer’s father, and the former his grandfather, the company also included his two sons Walter and Alfred.
During the two years that followed 1891-92, they milled the country from the railway line up the north bank of the Ohau river to about three quarters of a mile beyond where the Muhunoa East bridge now spans the river. This stretch of forest was thickly clad with magnificent Totara trees, together with Rimu and others, and the stumps left were in evidence for many years after.
In 1893, the mill at the railway station closed down and the owners ceased to be a company, and the mill was shifted and operated by Messrs. R. Whiley & Sons, on a site on the south corner of the Ohau East and Main Roads.
Late in 1897, the mill was again shifted, this time up the Muhunoa East Road to near the foot-hills about 20 chains behind where the school now stands on property then owned by Mr. R. Carpenter, and later by Mr. Colquhoun. Here they milled the timber from the foot-hills, mostly Rimu, which was within reach. This did not turn out to be a very profitable venture as it was too far away from the railway which was some 4 miles distant from the mill and the timber was transported by bullock wagon.
The writer had the opportunity of viewing one of the account books and it was interesting to note that the best heart Rimu for dressing was put on the truck at Ohau for 5/9 per 100 sup. ft. A truck load of 2,500 sup. ft. would be worth about £7.3.9. The same timber costs today, 1968, approximately £8.15.0 per 100 sup. ft. or £218.15.0 per truck load. Wages paid those days ranged from 6/- to 8/- per day. Wages now for mill hands [are] about £4.10.0 per day of 8½ hours.
The logs were hauled from the bush to the mill or else to the tram lime where they were loaded on to timber trollies which were then hauled to the mill by either bullocks or horses. For the laying of the tram lines bush had to be cleared, cuttings made and bridges put across streams, sleepers cut from the bush, laid, and then mostly timber rails cut 4 X 3 and nailed with 8 inch spikes. Often the trollies would jump the rails and to get them back the bullocks or horses would be unhitched and then hitched to the reverse end and pulled back and the wheels would then run back in the same groove and so back on to the line again. Sometimes the mill jacks would have to be used to assist.
Accidents would sometimes happen in the bush and in logging operations and sometimes lives would be lost. They were days of danger, hard work and real toil – and little remuneration.
There were 2 other mills operating in the 1890s. Mr. W. Laurence had a mill on the corner of the Ohau West Road and Main Road, and early in this century Mr. Adsett operated a white-pine sawmill along the Ohau West Road and cut out the timber on what is now the Soldiers Settlement.
Several lovely patches of bush remain on the east side of the railway along the Muhunoa East Road.
From the railway up to what was then known as Olsen’s Corner, where the road takes its first turn to the right, a stretch of about 12 chains was a natural clearing void of bush. This was grown up with fern, lawyers, cabbage trees etc. (this was a great place for pheasants and quail). It is now lovely farm lands and producing well.
Between this natural clearing and the river there was a lovely strip of bush, some of which still remains.
May it be preserved for all time.
Along the north side of this piece of bush the Whiley and Rolston sawmill tram lime was constructed and parts of it were still in evidence until about 1910. This lovely piece of bush stretched over into what was then Mr. J. Davies property. Another stand of a few acres left is further east in the Gorrie property near the bridge.
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