Ngahere is a small township situated at the confluence of the Grey river and Nelson creek, and is on the Grey-Reefton line of railway, fifteen miles north-west of Greymouth, and thirty-one miles south-west of Reefton. It is in the Nelson Creek riding of the county of Grey, in the electorate of Grey, and in the provincial district of Nelson. A small amount of farming is carried on in the neighbourhood, and there are also several sawmills. There are three hotels in the township, a butchery, a smithy, and a store, at which the business of the post office and telephone bureau is conducted. The public school is in charge of one teacher, and the railway station, which stands at an altitude of 112 feet above the level of the sea, is in charge of a stationmaster, who is assisted by a cadet. Monthly services are held in the Anghcan and Presbyterian churches. At the census of 1901, Ngahere had a population of 123 persons. The coal bins of the Blackball Coal Company adjoin the railway line. The townships of Blackball and Nelson Creek are served by the Ngahere railway station, and are connected by coaches which communicate with every train. Good shooting can be obtained in the neighbourhood.

The Ngahere Railway Station is a wooden building, and contains a vestibule, a ladies' waitingroom, stationmaster's rooms, and a railway parcel office. There is also a large goods shed. Coal and timber in considerable quantities are sent away from this station; the coal is conveyed from the Blackball mine by an aerial tramway, to the staiths in the station yard. The Blackball section of the New Zealand railways is now (1905) in course of construction, and will join the Grey-Reefton line at Ngahere. The stationmaster is assisted by a cadet.

Mr. Richard Kearney was appointed stationmaster at Ngahere in the year 1903. He is further referred to on page 845 of the Wellington volume of this Cyclopedia.

Ngahere Sawmilling Company (T. W. Tymons and C. Uddstrom, Greymouth, and Frederick Nyberg, Brunnerton_, Ngahere. The Ngahere sawmill is one of the best fitted up mills on the West Coast, and is within a few hundred yards of the Ngahere railway station, with which it is connected by a private siding. Power is obtained from a sixfeet by fourteen feet boiler, by Johnston and Son, Invercargill. The engine is a twenty horse-power Marshall compound, with condenser and air pump, and there are two breast benches. Twenty-two persons are employed. The white pine cut is shipped to Australia, and the red pine is used for local consumption. The company has the command of a fine tract of bush country, and has another sawmill at Nelson Creek. The offices of the company are on the premises of Mr. C. Uddstrom, Greymouth.

Mr. Frederick Nyberg , of the Ngahere Sawmilling Company, is manager of the outside work of the Ngahere sawmill. He was born and educated at Roneo. Sweden, where he was employed in the timber and lumber trade. In the year 1890, Mr. Nyberg came to New Zealand; he was engaged for five years in the timber trade, and afterwards followed mining for about ten years; but subsequently became a member of the Ngahere Sawmilling Company. Mr. Nyberg served for a year in the office, and then took his present position. He resides in Brunnerton, where he holds property, and has been for six years a member of the Borough Council. As a Freemason, he is a Past Master of Lodge Advance, Brunnerton, a member of Lodge Mawhera, Greymouth; and, as a Druid, he has gone through all the chairs of the Brunner Lodge. Mr. Nyberg is married, and has three children.

Ngahere Sawmill Of Nyberg And Company (John Nyberg, Emil Nyberg and Arthur Southorn), Ngahere. The Ngahere sawmill is not far from the Ngahere railway station. It has the usual complement of saw benches, and the breaking-down bench is fitted with twin saws. Power is derived from a sixteen horse-power Marshall portable engine, and the hauling is done by an engine of about ten horse-power. Fourteen men are employed, and the weekly output is 40,000 feet. Nyberg and Company have the control of some good bush. Mr. J. T. Skoglund is the Company's Greymouth agent.

Red Jack's Sawmilling Company (Thomas Jones, Pryce Hamer, and Joseph Donaldson), Ngahere. This company started work in the beginning of the year 1904, at a short distance from Ngahere. The milling plant is very complete, and well arranged. The boiler is eighteen feet by five feet six inches, and supplies steam to a sixteen horse-power engine. There are twin saws to the breaking-down bench, and there are two breast benches. Two hauling engines of twelve horse-power each are used in the bush. Eighteen persons are employed, and the monthly output is about 150,000 feet, chiefly red and white pine. The bush held by the company is of good quality, and there are years of cutting ahead for the mill, which is connected with the railway by a private siding.

Mr. Joseph Donaldson , of the Red Jack's Sawmilling Company, is also the manager of the company's mill. He was born in the year 1875, at Brunnerton, where he was educated, and brought up to coalmining. Mr. Donaldson afterwards began sawmill work with Messrs Butler Brothers, and, later, in conjunction with Mr. Pryce Hamer, started a small mill at Heeley's Gully. In the beginning of 1904 he became a partner of the Red Jack's Sawmilling Company. As a Freemason, Mr. Donaldson is a member of Lodge Robert Burns, at Reefton, New Zealand Constitution.

Mr. Pryce Hamer , of the Red Jack's Sawmilling Company, was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, England, in the year 1868. He was brought up on his father's farm, and came to New Zealand in 1890. Mr. Hamer spent some years in station life in the North Island, and then started as a farmer and sheep dealer near Cambridge. In 1900, he removed to the West Coast, and, in conjunction with Mr. Donaldson, started a small mill at Heeley's Gully. The Red Jack's sawmill was established in 1904. Mr. Hamer also holds a farm in the Ngahere district. As a Freemason, he is a member of Lodge Alpha, No 81, New Zealand Constitution, Cambridge.

Ring, photo.
Mr. P. Hamer.

Ring, photo.
Blackball Aerial Tram, Grey River.