The old timber industry

In Hikurangi there was a timber industry run by a man named George Buchanan. He was one of the wealthiest men in Hikurangi. He started it in the 1860s. He employed old people and people as young as teenagers. A lot of men were killed in the timber industry by floods and big logs falling on them. The workshop where the men were working was a dangerous place for animals and humans. Mr Buchanan transported the logs by floating them down the dam to other mills then hauled the logs up the hill to the other mills. Vickery also had a large timber mill in Hikurangi on the same site the dairy company is now.

A bullock team at Christie's Bush, near Christie's Mill, Hikurangi, 1911.. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-0711-1/2-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23009386

Kahikatea logs on the skids at Christie's Bush, near Christie's Mill, Hikurangi. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-0716-1/2-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22763347