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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Wood Trade

page 421

Wood Trade.

Including—Coopers, Sash and Door Manufacturers, Box Manufacturers, Sawmillers, Timber Merchants, and Woodware Manufacturers.

Bagnall Bros. and Co., Limited (H. C. Bagnall, manager), Timber Merchants and Box Manufacturers; Box Factory, Wellesley Street West, Auckland; Sawing and Planing Mills and Box Factory, Turua, near Thames. In 1868 the Hauraki Saw Mill Company acquired an interest in the Turua forest, between the Waihou and Piako rivers, where it erected a sawmill. This was leaseu to the Messrs Bagnall Bros. in 1877, and they have since purchased the property. The business extending, the firm was formed into a Limited Liability Company in 1896, and a year later the factory for the manufacture of butter boxes and cases was opened in Auckland. The business is one of the largest of its kind in the Colony; and the company employs over 200 men, and £500 per week is paid in wages. The late Hon. George L. Bagnall, the founder of the firm, came to New Zealand with his family in 1864, from Canada, and eventually settled at Turua. After his death his five sons formed the business into a company, with the eldest, Mr. Lemuel J. Bagnall, as managing director. This gentleman is the Chairman of the Auckland Board of Education, and is fully referred to in that connection.

Goldie, David, Timber Merchant, Albert Street and Breakwater Road, Auckland. Telephones 58 and 96. P.O. Box 218. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Goldie was born in Hobart, Tasmania, and served an apprenticeship to carpentry with the well-known firm of Messrs Cheverton and Andrews. In 1863 he came to Auckland, New Zealand, and for a time worked at his trade in the city; but during the Waikato war he, in conjunction with some companions, took a contract for the erection of buildings for the use of the troops when they returned to Auckland at the close of the war. Mr. Goldie continued contracting for a time, but later on he took the management of the timber yard of Messrs G. Holdship and Co. After a few years he started in the timber trade on his own account, and from a small beginning the business has increased to such an extent that he has at the present time two mills fully employed; indeed, one mill works night and day, with two shifts of men, and the night shift carries on its operations by the electric light. Mr. Goldie is now busy erecting a third mill, more powerful than either of the other two. A large quantity of the timber cut at Mr. Goldie's mills is sent to the other Colonies, and to England. Mr. Arthur Goldie, the eldest son of the proprietor, manages the mills. The buildings in Albert Street, with a floorage space of 10,800 square feet, consist of a one-storey galvanized building and large galvanized iron sheds, and the machinery consists of planing machines and circular saw benches, etc. At this depot the planing and manufacturing are carried on, and the motive power is obtained from a steam engine of twelve horse-power. At the Oceanio mill there are a timber yard, and extensive galvanized iron sheds, with a total floorage space of 35,000 square feet. These premises adjoin the railway terminus goods depot, and are connected by short railway sidings, by which the logs can be run direct on the trucks to the breaking down saws without the extra labour of reloading. Labour-saving conveniences and appliances are much in evidence at the mills, which have their own wharf at the yard frontage on the shore of the Waitemata harbour. On this wharf galvanized iron sheds are provided for the safe storage of dry timber for export, and for preserving it from the wet weather. The machinery employed on the premises consists of breaking down saws, deal frame saws, wood lathes, fret saws, and all other necessary appliances of the newest type, and a powerful twenty-five horse-power engine and boiler drive the immense shafting. In addition to its special local and export trade, the firm imports timber from other countries, and ironmongery and nails from Great Britain and Belgium.

Kauri Timber Company, Limited, Auckland. This company was formed in 1888, with a capital of £1,250,000, paid up to £750,000, and its operations are of a very comprehensive nature. Besides the headquarters of the company in Melbourne and a branch in Sydney, there are sixteen branches in New Zealand, where milling operations are in active progress. The magnificent forests owned by the company form a most valuable asset, and assure steady supplies for its mills for many years. Between 300 and 400 men are engaged in the Auckland mill and factory, and throughout the whole of the company's operations in mills, stores, and forests, some five or six thousand people are employed. In its extensive export trade the company employs a large fleet of vessels, and is represented in the markets of Great Britain, Cape Colony, Australia, and the South Sea Islands. It is evident that in connection with the timber industry and those dependent upon it, the Kauri Timber Company is a most important factor, and that the welfare of the whole population in the districts over which its operations extend is intimately associated with that of the company.

Macklow Bros. (William Charles Macklow, Walter Joseph Macklow, and Thomas Macklow), Auckland. Sawmills, Mechanics' Bay. Telephone 598. Bankers, Union Bank of Australia. The Messrs Macklow Bros. arrived in New Zealand as boys in 1864 by the ship “Eagle Speed,” from London. They are natives of England, and on arriving in the Colony they commenced farming at Mahurangi, and successfully carried on for a number of years in that line Having a large quantity of high-class timber on their land, and not finding a profitable market for it, they started a sawmill in 1888. Since that date the business of the firm has steadily increased, until it has reached its present large proportions. The firm's specially is kauri timber of the very finest quality, a soft mud wood, which is in great demand amongst all the joiners and cabinetmakers of Auckland. It has extensive machinery for the rapid manufacture of gum, fruit, and other boxes at a small cost, and is in an unrivalled position in regard to work of that description. Messrs Macklow have extensive kauri and kahikatea bushes which they work, and they bring the logs to the mill at Auckland by their own scows. The premises are two stories in height, and are built of wood and iron, with a floorage space exceeding 100,000 square feet. They are situated conveniently to the city, and have approaches from the harbour. The machinery employed comprises circular saws, deal frames, planing machines, moulding machines, re-cutting saws, band saws, fret saws, and numerous other wood-working machines, which are all driven by a 160 horse-power steam engine. The employees average fully forty in number, besides men employed in the bushes and on the scows. The firm does a large local trade, and also throughout New Zealand, but the principal business is an export one, and in this respect it may be considered one of the most extensive in the Auckland province. The firm is a direct importer of machinery, and of many other articles required in its business. Messrs Macklow Bros. still have their farm at Mahurangi. It is under the management of the junior member of the firm, Mr. Thomas Macklow, and, despite the fluctuation and depression of the produce market from time to time, they have, as farmers, held their own and proved themselves the right men in the right place.

Mander And Bradley, Queen Street, Auckland. Bush and Mills, Port Albert and Puhipuhi. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Mr. Mander's. Water View, Avondale. The firm of Mander and Bradley came into existence about sixteen years ago, when it opened up at Pukikaroro a large bush, which was afterwards sold to the Kauri Timber Company. The partners then retired from business, but in consequence of some misunderstanding with the company as to some other bush areas, they were compelled to enter business again, and built a mill at Port Albert. This mill is still running. The firm also worked out a bush at Waitakerei, known as Worsley's bush, where it erected a mill, and constructed a tramway over the page 422 ranges. By means of this tramway the timber was lowered about 900 feet in a mile, and the firm overcame great difficulties by its means. The Worsley bush mill has since been removed to the Great Puhipuhi forest, where the firm is now carrying on operations.

Mr. Mander, the Senior Partner, was born at Onehunga, in 1849, and his parents left for Wairoa South in 1856. At the age of ten years, he went out to work, and after working as an employee for twelve years, he secured a piece of bush land and commenced farming. In 1876 he married, and in 1881, he sold out his farm, as dairy farming in his case did not prove sufficiently remunerative to support a young family without assistance. He then purchased a mill and a small bush at Awitu, which was worked out in a little over a year, with fair success. In 1882 he went to Wellsford, in Albertland, where he carried on the kauri baulk trade, until the bush was exhausted, when he settled at Pukekararo, and took in Mr. Bradley as a partner. The partners there opened up a large bush and carried on the business until 1888, when it was sold to the Kauri Timber Company. In 1889 Messrs Mander and Bradley built a mill at Port Albert, which is still running, and in 1895, the firm erected another mill at Nihotapu, Waitakerei Ranges. The firm constructed a tram over the ranges, lowering the timber about 900 feet in a mile, and thus successfully overcame the difficulties that had previously kept the timber out of the market. Mr. Mander has not taken any active part in political or municipal affairs, although he is an enthusiastic member of the National Association, as his time has been fully occupied in fighting the battle of life; the only hobby he indulges in is the pursuit of art, and although he is not an artist by education, he has to some extent developed his artistic endowments.

Hanna, photo.Mr. F. Mander.

Hanna, photo.
Mr. F. Mander.

Mr. Samuel Bradley is well-known throughout the Colony amongst sportsmen as the owner of “Impulse,” “Swordfish II.,” and other well-known racers. “Impulse” won the New Zealand Cup in 1895, as well as the Auckland Easter Handicap in 1891 and 1893. In 1893 “Impulse” carried 8 stone 12 pounds, and won the race in the fast time of 2 minutes 37 seconds. Mr. Bradley's “Swordfish II.” also won the Egmont (Taranaki) and Wanganui Cups in 1898. Mr. Bradley was born at One-hunga, in 1852, and is the youngest son of one of the pioneers of that place—Mr. Joseph Bradley, who arrived in New Zealand about 1849. At an early age Mr. Bradley was engaged in running a ferry service between Mangere and Onehunga, and his brothers Joseph and William subsequently inaugurated a coastal line of cutters—“Willie Winkie,” “Andante,” and “Dawn”—trading from Onehunga to West Coast ports. Mr. Bradley afterwards separated from his brothers, and commenced business as a general carrier, timber and coal merchant; at the same time he owned the schooner “Agnes Donald,” which was employed in the interprovincial and South Seas trade. About the year 1882 he joined Mr. Mander, and the firm now owns some of the most valuable tracts of forest in the district of Auckland.

The Mitchelson Timber Company, Ltd., Auckland. This company was formed in December, 1898, when it took over the business of Messrs E. Mitchelson and Co., sawmillers and timber merchants, of Aoroa. The head office of the company is in Little Queen Street, Auckland.

Mr. Thomas Hulme Barstow, Secretary of the Mitchelson Timber Company Limited, was born at the Great Barrier in 1856, and is the son of the late resident magistrate, of Auckland, Mr. R. C. Bar-stow. He was educated at the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell, joined the civil service as apprentice in the Auckland railway workshops in 1876, and for two years was a draftsman in the district office. In May, 1885, he was promoted to district manager of the Picton section of New Zealand railways, which appointment he resigned in 1889 to take charge of the Kaihn Valley railway which was then owned by a private company. When the line was taken over by the Government in 1890, he was retained as district manager. His management was most efficient and successful, and Mr. Barstow earned a well-deserved popularity. He married in 1885 a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Shepherd, of Auckland, by whom he has two sons and three daughters.

Murdoch, C. P. And Sons (C. P. Murdoch, Charles Murdoch, Leslie Murdoch, David Murdoch, and William Murdoch), Woodware Manufacturers, Customs Street West, Auckland. This firm, which was founded by Mr. C. P. Murdoch in 1894, manufactures all classes of wheel wright's material, turnery of all descriptions, and supplies hardwoods suitable for the work of wheelwrights and coach builders. Large quantities of iron, blue, and spotted gums, and other hardwoods, and about 30,000 spoke blocks in the rough, are stored in the factory to undergo the process of seasoning. The premises are plain and unpretentious externally, but inside they are supplied with the finest and most perfect machinery procurable from America. The manufacture of spokes and hubs is a specialty with the firm. About one minute is occupied in the formation of a spoke, from the time it is taken in hand in the rough piece of unshaped wood, until it is turned out in its perfect state, ready for the coachbuilder, although it has to go through five different processes in five separate machines. After the wood is cut to the required length, it is carried to an automatically worked machine, which in a few seconds, through the deftness of the operator, shapes it into a completed spoke. This machine will shape absolutely square, round, oval, and flat; in fact, into any shape required, at the will of the workman, and any size of spoke, from the smallest to the largest, can be manufactured with equal facility. It is then tennoned, heated, and sandpapered, when it is ready for the market. The arm has a copying lathe, for making all classes of handles, swingle-bars, and gunstocks, and other irregular work. All classes of the firm's goods are in demand all over New Zealand, and are recognised as being of the highest class of workmanship. Twelve men are employed in connection with the firm's workshops.

Mr. Charles P. Murdoch, J.P., Head of the firm, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1850, and brought up to the sawmilling trade, which he followed until he left for Dunedin, by the ship “Peter Denny,” in 1870. On his arrival in New Zealand Mr. Murdoch entered the employment of Messrs Gibbs and Clayton, sash and door manufacturers, and remained with them for eight years, during which he rose to the position of manager in their employment. Subsequently he entered the service of Messrs Guthrie and Larnach, and went to Auckland as manager of their business there. On the reconstruction of that business, Mr. Murdoch continued as manager for the new firm, which was known as the Karekau Sawmilling Co. Some time afterwards he retired from this position and started sheepfarming, which he carried on until 1895, when, m conjunction with his four sons, he started the present flourishing business. Mr. Murdoch has been connected with several road boards and school committees, and was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1886. As a Freemason he is connected with Lodge Manukau. He married Miss Wallace, of Dunedin, in 1876, and has a family of five sons and four daughters.

Parker, Lamb. and Co. (William Johnson Parker and James Alexander Lamb), Timber Merchants and Mill Owners, Customs Street West, Auckland. Telephone 826. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This firm succeeded the late Messrs Combes, Hazard and Co., early in 1898, but the senior partner, Mr. Parker, has been identified with the mercantile growth of Auckland since boyhood, and Mr. Lamb was formerly in the timber business at the railway wharf for four years. The mill possesses the latest and most improved machinery, and is capable of turning out 70,000 feet per week. The firm employs twenty-five men at the mill, besides bush hands working at Waikawa, Coromandel, and Ngunguru, and its business connections extend to England and Australia.