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THE PREMIERS TRIP TO
KARRI DALE.
(Continued.)
In a short timp, however, everyone
reassembled at the scene of the new
lighthouse where after a short cere
mony had been gone through in the
presentation of an exceedingly hand
some trowel by Mr. Widhart, one of
the contractors, and who 1 understand
had contemplated retiring from active
business life on the well-earned fruits
of his labours when ho with so many
others fell a victim to the bank
collapses in the other colonies and has
now had to start life practically afresh.
1 could not help being struck by tbe
great solidity of the structure of the
lighthouse which is being constructed
of oolitic ironstone, a fine quarry of
that material having been opened up
in the vicinity. After the prelimi
naries had been arranged and a docu
ment bearing the signatures of a
number of those present with news
papers and the current coins of the
realm had been deposited in a jar and
8ncurely imbedded in a cavity under
the stone made for that purpose, the
Hon Sir John Forrest declared the
stone well and truly laid. A full
report < f the ceremony lias already
appeared in the columns of the Press
and, therefore, I will not further
dilate upon this portion of the cere
mony except to s-iy that as the Pre
mier spoke of the lighthouse as bene
fitting not only the residents of this
colony hut humanity at large, I glanced
westward and saw the smoke of a
distant steamer passing the dreaded
cape miles out to sea. unwittingly a
distant representative of the maritime
world aud the commerce of its great
nations who will derive untold benefit
from the work that was that day be
ing inaugurated by the Hon. Sir
John Forrest.
After the ceremony had been con
cluded and a photograph of the group
taken by Mr. P. Davies, au adjourn
ment was made for luncheon that
certainly was served on a scale quite
unexpected at a spot so remote from
conveniences considered necessary for
the preparation of an elaborate
cuisene. Time did not permit a
lingering meal more especially as
there was a universal desire to explore
other parts of this interesting portion
of the South-west. En passant, how
ever, 1 may say that tbe room where
the luncheon was held overlooked the
spot "ere a short time since soine men
were washed off the rocks while fish
ing and iu spite of their endeavours
to swim to Ehore met with a watery
grave, being unable to fight against
the treacherous currents of this part.
Before leaving the Leeuwin a visit was
made to the water wheel which is
driven from a natural, and 1 am in
formed inexhaustible permanent
spring of fresh water, and will when
fitted force a supply of water to the
lighthouse iu sufficient quantity to
more than meet the requirements of
the keepers. The wheel when driven
at its highest pressure makes over 'JO
revolutions per minute and is very
ingeniously contrived. The quarry
where the stone is raised and other
points of interest were visited, and
from thence the carriages were
rejoined and the return journey com
menced. On the way home a short
stay was made at Mr. Ellis' residence
where afternoon tea had been most
kindly prepared. In the distance
from this spot a view can be obtained
of thecleanng around Colonel Molloy's
first residence in these districts, also
the first settlement of Mr. Bussell
and Mr Geo. Layman who afterwards
mef ar. early death at the age of 29
from a native's spear and whose
remains now repose in tbe churchyard
at St. Mary's, Vasse. No further
incidents were met with during the
day aud Karridale was arrived at about
6*30 p.m. where a pleasant evening
was spent after the fatigues of the
day.
KAUUIDALE TIMBER MILL.
Early the next morning the Messrs
Davies kindly showed us over their
extensive timber mill at Karridale
which is replete with all the require
ments requisite to meet tho demands
of a large and thriving industry em
ploying a considerable number of
hands. A few particulars of the early
efforts of this enterprising firm which
I have gradually led up to the estab
lishmeat of an industry among the
largest in this colony will no doubt be
of general interest. Mr. Davies com
menced business at the Collie Ranges,
near Bunbury, about 20 years ago and
continued business t here against many
obstacles for nearly eight years. He
was eventually, however, compelled to
abandon his business in Bunbury in
favour of Karridale for several reasons,
in the first place no proper shipping
accommodation could be obtained
there for at that time there was only
one wharf and that could only be used
for vessels of light draught, aud again
the roads and bridges were kept in a
most deplorable state frequently cut
ting the mill off from communication
with the port for weeks at a stretch
Of course no ODe then had had the
boldness to ask for tbe railway which
baa since been built, but had this been
constructed and proper wharf accom
modation been provided there is not
the slightest doubt that Mr. Davies
would still have been carrying on
business at the same place. When
the Messrs Davies first opened up
business at Karridale it was their in
tention to carry on both mills but the
difficulties thrown in their way iu
Buubury eventually proved unbear
able and they decided to concentrate J
their efforts at Karridale. Some idea 1
of the bad shipping arrangements at
Bunbury can be gained from the fact
that at Karridale as much timber can
be shipped in three days as formerly
occupied them three weeks in the for
mer place. With their facilities at
Ilamelin they have chipped 10,500
sleepers iu one day.
Operations were commenced at
ib Karridale about 16 years ago and the
firm have had to contend against
many difficulties in transforming what
was on their arrival an impenetrable
j thicket ino tbe present pleasant
settlement. A mill was opened at
Coodardup situated midway between
the Hamelin and Augusta and in
those days vessels used to be loaded
at the Augusta in the winter and the
Hamelin in the summer as only an
outer anchorage then existed at the
Hamelin but now a pier about 2,000
feet in length has been erected there,
a channel has been made and heavy
ships moorings laid down so that
vessels can be loaded both summer
and winter. Year by year the busi
ness has been built up and increased in
proportions until now the number of
employees has increase 1 from 30 or
40 when the mill was first established
until there are now living on the es
tate between 500 and 6OO men, women
and children. A few years ago the
business was converted into the Karri
dale Timber Company Limited with a
capital of £G0,000. The Company is
purely a private one and was formed
for the purpose of incorporating Mr.
M. C. Davies' six sons in the business.
The Company at the present time
owns 2G utiles of railway in connection
with the mill on which two loco
motives are kept constantly at work
bringing the timber to their mill at
Karridale, their largest mill at
Boranup having been burned down a
few years back but it is now being
rapidly rebuilt. The Karridale Mill
is cutting at the present time night
and day in order to carry out several
large contracts both in Australia and
e'sewhere. The output is about
30,000 superficial feet per day but as
soon as the new mill at Borauup is
completed the output will be doubled
In common with most commercial
undertakings the Company suffered
somewhat during the late financial
crisis, but for the last two years they
have greatly benefitted by the revival
n trade.
After the timber has been brought
n by train to the mill it is broken
down by a vertical saw and then passed
,o the circular saws—three in number
—and lastly to the crosB-cut saw,
ivhence it is passed out of the mill
nto the trucks down to the Hamelin
tarbour for shipment. The main prin
:iple of the work, both as concerns
ogs and sawn timber, is to move the
vooJ by its own weight, having all
odes on a downward grade. The
nills are all equipped with the latest
rood and iron working machinery in
luding a planing and mou'ding
nacbine. Attnched to the mill are
:omplete blacksmiths', wheelwrights'
ind engine shops completely fitted
vith lathes, steam hammer, cutting,
Irilling and punching machinery, and
ill the minor machinery on the mill is
Ltted to be driven by steam power,
space will not permit me to particu
arise the many and various machines
rhich are seen in active operation on
very side, but suffice it to say that
he lighters, rolling stock, timber
ragons and most of the other heavy
equirements of the business are con
ducted oil the spot. The power in
he Karridale Mill is supplied by a 60
iorsc-power engine built by Messrs.
forward, Dawn & Coy., of Adelaide,
south Australia.
lit connection with the business
here is a large butchering and pig
(reeding establishment and a large
egetable and fruit garden which sup
dies the men with a considerable
imount of produce and iu addition to
his the Company are large purchasers
if fat stock and produce from the
urroutiding settlers.
Until Responsible Government came i
nto force in this colony and the old
form of Government was replaced by
one wedded to progressive principles
no assistance was given in any shape
to this thriving business and roads,
bridges and other necessaries had to
be constructed by the firm, but now,
however, this has been altered and not
onlv has assistance been given in the
construction of the roads but the tele
graph service has been extended to
Karridale, a post and telegraph office
built and in other ways the wants and
requirements of this district have been
recognised and acceded to.
Since the Company started timber
las been supplied to many important
indertakings both ia Australasia,
England, Egypt, China, India,Ceylon,
Mauritius, Cape Colony, Natal, the
LTansvaal and othe~ places, and
iranches have been established all
,hrough Australia and South Africa
uid ageucies opened in the principal
jusiness centres of America, Europe
ind the East.
Timber has been supplied for a
arge number of different purposes
including railways, harbour works,
buildings, telegraph lines, mines and
street paving. Amongst those who
have used timber which once grew and
flourished in the Karridale estate are
the WeBt Australian Locomotive
Department who have used a large
quantity for truck building for which
purpose a large order is being pushed
forward at the present time, karri
timber having been found particularly
suitable for this work. Iu every
country where there are railways karri
timber is used largely for the con
struction of rolling stock, the timber
from the nature of its grain stands an
enormous crushing strain which
particularly adapts it for that class
of work and also for paving block
a very large quantity of these having
been supplied to the Melbourne City
Council. As an experiment a section
of the blocks was laid where the
traffic of the city was heaviest, viz ,
between the wharves and the maiu
streets and after having stood the
wear and tear of the traffic of the
| city for several years the City
| Surveyor had some of the blocks
raised and found that the wear
had in no case reduced the depth
of the block by more than fths of an
inch. The Board of Governors of the
Melbourne Public Museum aud Art
Gallery, after having trials made of
the various Australian woods over the
floors of the new Public Gallery and
Statuary Chambers, adapted karri and
at the present time a very handsome
flooring has been laid in their new
buildings with this wood. The trade
of this company with South Africa
i has increased b^ ieays and bounds of
late years so tliat they have now beer
compelled to charter a large cargc
steamer running regularly between
Hauielin Harbour and Natal, the
tonnage of the steamer is 2,500 tons
and she has conveyed the largest
shinuient of timber ever carried
away from West Australia being about
2,500 tons
One feature of the business is that
a strict rule has been laid down by
the Karridale Timber Company that
no intoxicating liquor shall be
allowed on the estate except during
Christmas Week. Messrs. Davies
consider that the very small number
of accidents which occur at the mill
are owing in a large measure to this
cause, although they nodoubt lose
largely themselves in this respect as if
they established an hotel at Karridale
they would doubtless make as much
profit out of the sale of alcoholic
liquor as they do at the present time,
out of their timber, hut of course, on
the other hand, tliev might not be
able to rely on the prompt and
efficient execution of their orders as
they do at tlio present time. The
Boranup Mill we its erec'im is
completed will he the larger mil! of
the two. The engine is 150 actual
horse power and is of the horizontal
type and of the kind usually used for
flour mills. The two mills are supplied
with fresh water from large reservoirs.
About 100 horses are employed on
the estate for the various branches of
the business and most of them were
locally bred.
Mr. M. C. Davies has also carried
out several large contracts in the
other colonies having built the second
section of the line between Adelaide
and Melbourne ; the Watts River
Aqueduc'—o: e of the main Bources
of the Melbourne Water Supply ; the
Broken Hill Reservoir—the second
largest reservoir in Australia; and
other works and is at present, in con
junction with Mr. Wishart, engaged
• n building the Cape Leeuwin light
house and the telegraph lino to that
place.
Altogether theTe can be no doubt
that the Karridale timber concession
is a striking example of what the
energy and ability of man can
achieve with the primeval forest of
West Australia in a few short years.
(To be Continued.)
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