AUS-NSW-NORCO-L Archives

From: "Davis, Leith (FORESTRY)" <>
Subject: Timber industry North Coast
Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 13:22:58 +0930

Following are lists of names of people who appeared before a Forests Inquiry
in 1907-1908 - they were contained in a book I have on loan on the history
of the Forestry Commission in NSW. In the book each person has a paragraph
summarising their evidence, it has some interesting information on their
work, location etc. If anyone has an interest in any of these people,
please email me, and I will send a transcript of their paragraph.

Following the lists is a paragraph on Bellingen that I thought might be of
interest.

Evidence given to a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Forestry, 1907 and 1908

1.Mr J A S Murray, Sawmill Proprietor, Myrtle Creek south of Casino
2.Mr T W Hewetson, Sawmill Proprietor, Sandilands west of Casino
3.Mr A C Simpson, Timber Merchant and Sawmill Proprietor, Casino
4.Mr W Yabsley, Landowner and Sawmill Proprietor, Coraki
5.Mr W P Pope, District Forester, Casino
6.Mr W E Oxenford, Sawmiller, South Lismore
7.Mr R R Mallet, Sawmill Proprietor, Mullumbimby
8.Mr J Hunting, Sawmiller, Flagstone Creek near White Swamp
9.Mr J Breckenridge, Sawmill Proprietor and Timber Merchant, Failford
10.Mr T Miles, Sawmill Proprietor, Forster
11.Mr J Hibbard, Sawmill Manager, Hamilton near Port Macquarie
12.Mr G F Nott, Sawmiller, Armidale
13.Mr W A Baker, Wyatts Creek, Wollomombi
14.Mr R Kirkwood, Sawmiller, Armidale
15.Mr H J Clark, Sawmiller, Tenterfield
16.Mr E Grover, Sawmiller and Timber Merchant, Glen Innes
17.Mr E F Ferguson, Sawmill Manager, Grafton
18.Mr J Reid, Sawmiller and Timber Merchant, South Grafton
19.Mr H. W. Hillier, Sawmill Manager, Dorrigo
20.Mr R Pearson, Sawmiller and Timber Merchant, Guyra
21.Mr F Barnes, Fencing Contractor, Inverell
22.Mr J Turner, Sawmill Manager, West Narrabri
23.Mr A L Schwager, Sawmiller, Wee Waa
24.Mr G J Saunders, Sawmiller, Kerringle near Mullaley
25.Mr C Mooy, Sawmiller, Coonamble
26.Mr A Sam Sawmill Manager, Forbes
27.Mr R Mison, Sawmiller, Bomaderry
28.Mr W Riley, Sawmiller, Ulladulla
29.Mr D McInnes, Police Constable, Cooma
30.Mr J Hides Junior, Sawmiller, Pilot Hill near Batlow
31.Mr C B Optiz, Sawmiller, Mathoura

Submissions on cedar cutting:

1Mr D Guinea, Farmer, Tyalgum
2Mr E C J Marks, Sugar grower, Farmer and Dairyman, Terranora near
Murwillumbah
3Mr W G Law, Timber getter and Dairyman, Mullumbimby
4Mr T B O'Neill, Timber getter, Mullumbimby
5Mr G R Henson, District Superintendent, Department of Railways
6Mr D Currie, Settler, North Lismore
7Mr A W Brown, Hotelkeeper and Farmer, Newton Boyd
8Mr E F Ferguson, Sawmill Manager, Grafton
9Mr J Cartmill, Farmer and Timber getter, Nymboida
10Mr W J Sinclair, Grazier, Bostobrick
11Mr E Watson, Farmer, White Swamp
12Mr W A Baker, Sawmiller, Wyatts Creek, Wollomombi
13Mr S A Harper, Building Contractor, Armidale
14Mr E H F Swain, Assistant Forester, Coffs Harbour
15Mr E B Moody, Timber getter and Farmer, Upper Bellingen
16Mr W H Nalder, Staff Surveyor, Kempsey
17Mr E Rudder, Farmer and Grazier, Oaklands, Kempsey
18Mr C O Ducat, Timber-carter, Bellbrook
19Mr F T Wilkinson, Singleton


P 108
"The Bellinger River contained extensive volumes of Cedar and the first
cedargetters started there about 1842. It grew to immense size particularly
on the alluvial flats of the lower river on what is now cleared farm land.
Large quantities were obtained and rafted to the entrance and shipped in the
surf. Mr E H F Swain, then a district forester and late Commissioner of
Forests, in a Bulletin issued in 1912 wrote "it is recorded of one growing
between Fernmount and Raleigh that 39,000 superficial feet of timber were
obtained by the saw and that another 5,000 superficial feet twelve or so
years later were axe chopped out of the limbs by the succeeding settlers.
Of another on what is now Connell's farm, near Fernmount, it is recorded
that a family named Woods lived in the roofed over spurs for two years."

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• Timber industry North Coast by "Davis, Leith (FORESTRY)" <>