Tunakino and Opouri Valleys

Small mills operated in quite a number of places in the Tunakino and Opouri Valleys. W. Carr erected a mill and was there for quite a number of years. Robertson Brothers had a mill in the Tunakino and when the immediate area of bush was cut out, the mill was shifted to another site in the same locality and they cut timber there for some time. Robertsons also erected a mill further up the valley. The firm of Griffiths and Holland erected a mill only a short distance from Robertsons on the opposite side of the river.

After Craig's mill had gone Jack Kerr acquired a section in the Opouri and erected a small mill there. He cut timber for his own house and several of his neighbours, all new settlers in the valley. Prentice Brothers bought Kerr's mill and cut some timber on a neighbouring section, then shifted down the valley and worked out other areas of bush. This mill finished up at Rimu Bay in the Pelorus Sounds.

Webley Brothers then started up in the Opouri Valley and this was re-sited several times. When the bush was cut out in the head of the Tunapai Gully, the mill was taken over by Hill and Papps and erected up Alfred Creek, logs being obtained from adjacent areas of both Crown and privately owned land. Baigent and Sons set up a mill in the Opouri close to where the first mill had been. When the immediate bush area was cut out it was moved to a new location, and eventually as the bush finished was moved away to the Wairau Valley.