Sawmilling And Agriculture are the principal industries at Gorge Road, and the local mill, which is known by the name of Oteramika Gorge, is one of the largest and best equipped sawmills in Southland. The settlement is in the Waihopai riding of the county of Southland, and is nineteen miles from Invercargill, on the railway line to Waimahaka. It is in the electoral district of Mataura. The population at the census of 1901 was recorded as thirty-four, for the township, but there were 115 persons at Oteramika Gorge, fortyfour at the Oteramika Bush, and forty-two at Oteramika. These places are in the immediate neighbourhood of Gorge Road. There is a timber yard belonging to the New Zealand Pine Company at the local railway station, and it is connected with the Oteramika Gorge. There is also another mill belonging to Mr. Niederer, in the district, as well as a flaxmill. The settlement of Kapuka is fourteen miles distant from Gorge Road by rail, but only four by road. Titiroa is three miles by rail, but twenty by road owing to the Mataura river having to be crossed and to there being no traffic bridge in the immediate neighbourhood, apart from the railway bridge. The local public school was established in 1888, and, in 1904, was attended by about forty children. The settlers carry on agriculture and dairy farming, and the land is being gradually won from the bush.

Kahikatea Sawmill (Nicholas Alexander Niederer, proprietor), Gorge Road. This sawmill, which was erected in 1904 to clear one thousand acres of bush, the property of Mr Niederer, contains a twelve horse-power Marshall engine, with a full sawing plant, and has a capacity of 4000 feet a day. A tramway of one mile and a-half in length, connects the mill with the George Road railway station.

Mr. Nicholas Alexander Niderer , Proprietor of the Kahikatea sawmill, was born on the 19th of March, 1852, in Switzerland, where he was educated and brought up on his father's land. Mr Niederer landed at Wellington, in 1874, by the ship “Cartvale,” but removed to Stewart, Island, where he managed a sawmill for two years. After travelling as a hawker in Southland for sixteen years, he commenced farming at Gorge Road in 1880, and has now 1,800 acres of land, held under occupation, with right to purchase. He has served for many years as a member of the Gorge Road school committee, of which he has been chairman. Mr Niederer was married, in 1882. to a daughter of the late Mr Hugh Fraser, of Ross-shire, Scotland, and has four sons and three daughters.

The Oteramika Gorge Sawmill (the New Zealand Pine Company, proprietors). Gorge Road. This sawmill, which was established in 1902, and is recognised to be the largest in Southland, is an iron structure, fitted on the most modern lines. It contains two twenty-five horse-power boilers, driving two stationary engines of forty horse-power. The most modern saws, planing and moulding machinery are in use at the mill, and 10,000 feet of timber can be turned out each day. The tramway already extends two miles into the bush, where a splendid block of timber, containing probably a twenty years' supply, is available.

Mr. Robert Watson Mcintosh who has been manager of the Oteramika sawmill since 1903, was born in 1863, in Roxburghshire, Scotland, where he was educated, and served a short time in a blacksmith's shop. At the end of 1876, he landed at the Bluff from the ship “Adamant,” was employed for some time at the woodware factory, and for six years subsequently worked at Tisbury. Mr Mcintosh holds a first class certificate as a locomotive engine-driver, a first-class certificate as a stationary engine-driver, and a second-class certificate as a driver of a traction engine. He was married, in 1890, to Miss Knight, of Edinburgh, and has one daughter and three sons.

Mr. David Thomas Hope , Engineer in charge of the Oteramika Gorge sawmills, was born in 1872, at Deloraine, Tasmania, where he was educated, and brought up to the boot trade. After working at his trade for nine years, he was then employed by the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company as a fireman, and was afterwards engaged for two years as engine-driver. Subsequently he had charge of the engine of the flour mills at Sheflield, Tasmania. Mr Hope came to the Bluff in May, 1901, and on the first day of the following month joined the Woodlands Meat Preserving Works as driver; about two years later he was appointed to his present position. Mr Hope served for eight years in the East Devor Rifles, Tasmania, and became a colour-sergeant. As an Oddfellow, he joined Royal Rose of Sheffield Lodge, Manchester Unity, passed all the chairs, was afterwards attached to the Past Grand service, and is still connected with the Lodge. He was married, on the 12th of February, 1902, to a daughter of the late Mr J. Waddell, of Woodlands, and has one daughter and one son.

M c C A L L U M, J A M E S, Farmer, “Springburn,” Gorge Road. Mr. McCallum was born in 1841, in Perthshire, Scotland, where he was educated. He came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Silistria,” in 1861. Mr McCallum worked in the Mataura district for some years, and about 1867 acquired possession of the area known as Springburn farm, which comprises 300 acres of partly open and partly bush land, where he raises horses, sheep, cattle and crops. Mr McCuallum, who has another farm of 477 acres in the district, has frequently taken prizes at exhibitions of stock, and is a member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society. He has been a member of the Gorge Road school committee, from its inception. Mr McCallum was married, in 1878, to a daughter of Mr Archibald Sellars, of Oteramika district, and has had four sons and six daughters; his eldest daughter is dead.