Mr David Booth - and an abandoned steam winch

The Booth family were farmers and sawmillers in Leith Valley.  In the 1920s David Booth began to work one of the few remaining areas of old forest in the Dunedin area - over the Leith Valley saddle and in the top of the adjacent Waitati valley.  He was using a level of technology a step above the use of bullocks and log chutes for transport to his sawmill and the mill itself would be powered by electricity.

The logs were loaded by the steam winch either onto waggons or separate bogies or trucks at each end.  If bogies were used, they were connected by chains.  The completed trains of logs went downhill to the sawmill by gravity and were controlled by men sitting on the ends of winding the brakes on or off as needed.  Seventeen men were employed in the operation.

Booth's logging tramway, Waitati Valley. The space between the wooden rails is filled with gravel and there are "steps" visible.  This was for the horses or bullocks which pulled the log waggons or bogies back up to be loaded.
W H Davidson photo, courtesy of the Hocken Library.

Remains of one of the two bridges on the tramway.  One crosses a stream and there is no trace of it now, presumably removed by flooding over the years.  This one crosses a small gully and is largely intact.

WAIKOUAITI COUNTY.

MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING.  (excerpt)

The monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council was held yesterday. There were present —Crs J. Preston (in the chair), J. Gilmore, A. Heckler, J. Laley, P. Briscoe, and J. McLachlan. 

CORRESPONDENCE. D. Booth, Leith Valley, wrote requesting permission to make two entrances to his property on which he intended to erect his sawmill. He also asked permission to lay a lin pipe across the road to supply water for the engine. — Left for the inspector and member for the riding to go into the matter.  -Otago Daily Times, 1/10/1927.

ELECTRIC POWER

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING 

The Otago Electric Power Board held its monthly meeting yesterday. Present: Messrs H. M. Driver (chairman), P. Briscoe, F. Carson, D. Boyd, W. B. Galloway, and J. Guest. 

Contractor’s Work. — The board’s line contractor had practically completed the line to the Waitati sawmill, and will be running 6,000 volt line at Tumai in about a week’s time.  -Evening Star, 22/2/1928.

BOOTH’S WAITATI SAWMILL now supplying Timber. 

Send Inquiries direct or to HOWES & CO., Cumberland street, Dunedin.   -Otago Daily Times, 30/5/1928.


With the logs coming in and the mill sending out sawn wood, money was being made.  But David Booth had spent a lot of money and the return was not enough to meet his commitments.  He found his credit had run out.  And people who did not want the operation cutting trees began to make their opinions known.

The breaking-down area with rolling sawbench.  W H Davidson photo, courtesy of the Hocken Library.

NATIVE BUSH AND SCENIC RESERVES. 

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —Perhaps only a limited number of our Dunedin residents realise the wonderful beauty of the native bush in the Waitati Valley, within a few miles of the city. Hundreds of motor cars pass down the valley between Sullivan’s dam and Waitati without their occupants really seeing the fine native flora which can only be thoroughly appreciated by those who leave the beaten track and tramp into the heart of the virgin bush; Here may be seen a wealth of ferns of all kinds, from the stately tree ferns to the most delicate diminutive filmy fern, while hundreds of the forest trees are covered with orchids, hanging garlands of chain ferns, and “perchers” of many other species. 

In the gullies the wealth of fernland is wonderful, while in other parts are groves of rimu, miro, cedar, and pokaka rising to great height — scores of them six to nine feet, and some up to 15 feet in circumference. 

No more fascinating native bush can be found probably within 50 miles of our town, and here almost at our very door we have what must be regarded as one of the most beautiful scenic areas in Otago. Sad to say, all this natural beauty is doomed. Already the sawmill is at work, and a trolley line is being pushed into the heart of this splendid bush to bring out its loads of logs to the mill. Soon the beauty of it all will be a thing of the past — lost to the present and future generations. Can nothing be done to save all this which should be the heritage of our children and their descendants? 

I would suggest that the various local societies and clubs take the matter up, and organise a scheme to induce the corporation, or the Government, to secure the area as a scenic reserve for the city for all time. Such a scheme should commend itself to our city fathers, Horticultural Society, Amenities Society, Trampers’ Club, and to all lovers of Nature. Native bird protection societies should also be glad to co-operate. On a recent visit quite a number of native pigeons could be seen on rimu and miro pines, while bellbirds, tomtits, fan-tails, wax-eyes, etc., were fairly numerous, and several Australian rosella parrots were noticed with interest, a flock of this species having frequented the bush for some years. 

No one can blame the present owner of the land for turning the bush into profit. Nevertheless, a purchase might be effected on reasonable terms, and if anything can be done in that direction it should be undertaken without delay before demolition has advanced. e
I write this in the hope that someone or some society with a knowledge of the subject will take the matter up, so that some practical suggestions may be made as to the procedure necessary to bring about what I have indicated.

— I am, etc., Herbert Price. Grendon street, September 25.   -Otago Daily Times, 26/9/1929.

W H Davidson photo, courtesy of the Hocken Library.

The winch now, still laergely intact and slowly being overgrown by the gorse and regenerating natives.

VIRGIN BUSH

ON WAITATI VALLEY SLOPE 

DANGER OF DESTRUCTION APPEAL TO THE CITIZENS 

The following letter, by Messrs G. Simpson, jun., and J. Scott Thomson, has been forwarded to the mayor, to various bodies interested; and to the Press:— 

Dunedin, September 25, 1929. During past years, by timber cutting, clearing, and burning, the Setters have sought to bring the forest-covered lulls into a condition suitable for pasturing dairy herds, and this has reduced the greater part of the once beautiful bush near Dunedin into hills covered with burnt stumps, skeleton trees, and dead trunks of treeferns, through which cattle meander, often amongst a tangle of rushes, lawyers, and manuka. The soil is cut into muddy tracks and holes, rains tear away the broken ground, landslips block our roads, and the unleashed creeks demolish bridges and expensive water-supply construction. Some of this forest has been saved in part in the Leith watershed, but the larger trees have been cut out. The stern necessities of our water supply have demanded that the bush from Morrison’s Creek to the Leith-Waitati saddle should be kept, but part only is in virgin bush, and it is unlikely, owing to the possibility of pollution, that this will ever be allowed to be opened by tracks and become a popular visiting ground. The rimu and totara trees have for the most part been cut out, and there is now left to us only the outer fringe of cedar. 

We know by late past experience the havoc that a few days' rain may cause, and in all probability, when the report comes from the engineers in respect to the damage caused by the Leith floods, we shall find that they advocate the reserving of at least the present bush areas and the second growth vegetation that has covered up the destruction of past years, so that by thus retarding the water flow we shall be saved still worse destruction. The only piece of native virgin bush now remaining is the piece clothing the watershed of Ferguson’s Creek, on the Waitati watershed, and this is doomed unless immediate steps are taken to redeem it. A saw-mill has been constructed, a tramway is now well into the heart of glorious bush, and teams of men are busy felling the timber and cutting tracks for hauling. The hauling engine is in position, and once that begins to drag out the logs, nothing can save the smaller trees. When that deadly work is completed, the bush from Double Hill and Swampy Hill down the whole length of the creek will be a tumbled heap of trees and ferns. The last stage will then commence. Fire will be put through all this remaining growth and rejected timber, and we shall have lost the last piece of virgin bush near Dunedin. Should we not do something to prevent this destruction? The cutting made for the tramway would make a wonderful track for holiday-makers and visitors to Dunedin, and we are safe in saying that there would be no more beautiful spot in New Zealand. 

Most of us can remember Nichol’s Creek in the old days, and what an attraction it was; that was lost to the citizens and to our visiting friends through indifference or parsimony on the part of those whose duty it should have been to conserve it. Were this new Scheme of destruction completed, Ferguson’s Creek, the largest stream flowing into the Waitati, would rip out bridges and roads as other creeks have done, and make the Waitati Valley and the township itself a flood bed that would cost thousands of pounds during every continued rain. Ferguson’s Creek watershed is mostly quite steep, and wherever the bush has been destroyed by axe or fire, great slips have thrown thousands of tons of soil and stones into the stream, and the greater the destruction the greater the erosion. 

The Leith-Waitati road after leaving the saddle first crosses Williams Creek, much of which is taken in as part of our water supply. The next stream towards Waitati is Burns Creek, and here a former flood tore away the bridge and cost the county many hundreds of pounds to repair the road and renew the bridge. The last flood undermined the bank and caused a large slip that is now under temporary repair, and hardly safe for traffic to cross. This spot is an object lesson to all who care to visit it. The whole of the soil on both sides of the creek bed is broken, and has slipped away from the underlying harder material, and one can see thousands of tons of soil and clay making ready to join the creek waters and be hurled into the valley by the next flood.

The third creek, Ferguson’s, is the largest, and if this also is denuded there will surely be trouble all the way down the Waitati Stream. It is then no loss, but very much a gain to stop further cutting of the forest, even if the redemption is taken on a strictly monetary basis, and we shall have as an asset 1,000 acres of forest, practically all that remains unbroken of the original main forest of this district, to be a joy to many generations. Later generations would put a road through to Double Hill, and possibly from there over to join the old Waikouaiti bridle track to Flagstaff, and so back home by Wakari. That is too far distant for this generation to worry over, but the possibilities are there, and by taking over 1,000 acres of untouched forest we should save the Waitati Valley from enormous losses in roads and bridges, save the private holdings of its settlers, and have one of the finest show places in New Zealand right at our own doors, and we should still retain the timber and the bird life as a security for our purchase. Trampers know the spot well, and would regret its departure; botanists and entomologists would lose an irreplaceable research ground; and we are certain that the general holidaymaking public, who as yet do not know of its beauties, would, once they had walked up the tramway to the bush, never cease to demand it as their own. 

Can you, sir, see any means by which we could save this last remaining section of unbroken bush, so that in the doing we may as citizens do some service for those who follow us. We are certain that if definite action is taken you would have splendid support, but the matter is urgent, and we would be glad to discuss suggestions with you at any time.

Arrangements might be made for a committee representative of all interested societies to visit the forest and report to their members.  -Evening Star, 27/9/1929.

The winch at work.  W H Davidson photo, courtesy of the Hocken Library.

NATIVE BUSH.

A PLEA FOR PRESERVATION. 

A plea for the preservation of the native bush about Dunedin and Waitati is made by Messrs G. Simpson and J. Scott Thomson in a letter dealing with the way in which large tracts of forest land have been despoiled of the best trees in the past by settlers who have sought to bring the land into a condition suitable for pasturing dairy herds, and, in later years, by timber millers and others. The writers also speak of the erosion which has resulted from the lack of vegetation on the hills. Recent experience has shown, the letter states, the havoc that a few days’ rain may cause, and the necessity of preserving what is left of the bush, from this point of view, is emphasised. 

The only piece of native virgin bush now remaining is the piece clothing the watershed of Ferguson’s Creek, on the Waitati watershed, and this is doomed unless immediate steps are taken to redeem it. A sawmill has been constructed, a tramway is now well into the heart of the bush, and teams of men are busy felling the timber and cutting tracks for hauling. The hauling engine is in position, and once that begins to drag out logs, nothing can save the smaller trees. When that deadly work is completed the bush from Double Hill and Swampy Hill down the whole length of the creek will be a tumbled heap of trees and ferns, and the last stage will commence, fire will be put through all the remaining small growth and rejected timber. This tram track, it is pointed out, would make a wonderful track for holiday makers and visitors to Dunedin.

Going on to speak of the flood danger the letter states that, if this piece of bush is destroyed, Ferguson’s Creek, the largest tributary of the Waitati Stream, would cause great trouble in wet weather, and the township itself would probably become a flood bed.

In conclusion, the writers point out that by preserving 1000 acres of untouched forest the Waitati Valley would be saved from enormous losses in roads and bridges, the private holdings of the settlers would be safe, and it would be one of the finest show places in the environs of Dunedin. The timber and the bird life would be retained as a security for the purchase. Trampers know the spot well, and would regret its departure. Botanists and entomologists would lose an irreplaceable hunting ground, and it is certain that the general holiday-making public would, once it had walked up the tramway to the bush, never cease to demand it as its own.”  -Otago Daily Times, 28/9/1929.

A DOOMED FOREST.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —That organised deforestation is to take place on the watershed of the Leith, which has so recently caused the enormous damage of which every Dunedinite is aware, strikes me as almost incredible. Is there any citizen in Dunedin who is apathetic enough to allow such destructive work to proceed while it is in any way possible to prevent it? Your reporter has certainly sized up the situation when he says: "It is a grave misfortune for this country that past generations have been so lacking in vision and practical forethought in this direction, that they have shorn the hills of all their glory. To-day thousands of frowning acres testify to the fact that the loss of their timbers has left them an infertile, unsightly expanse." What of the present generation? What course will it take? The newly-erected mill on the Waitati saddle is the test. A great deal was written in your correspondence columns after the flooding of the Leith, to the effect that deforestation was the cause of the disaster. That was an indication of the interest taken by at least a section of the community in the Dunedin outside the city boundaries. Those who do not realise the importance of the present development to the present generation, but more particularly to its descendants, cannot fail to do so after a visit to the wonderful bush on the south side of the Waitati Saddle — the bush which makes the beauty of the Ferguson's Creek watershed, and the bush which in a comparatively short time will consist only of rotting logs and stumps if something is not done now to prevent its destruction.

— I am, etc., E. T. B. October 4.   -Otago Daily Times, 5/10/1929.

RATEPAYERS’INTERESTS

ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE MEETS (excerpt)

CIVIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSED Various matters of Civic interest were discussed at last night’s meeting of the executive of the City Ratepayers’ Association. Dr Newlands presided over an attendance of eight members.

FERGUSON’S CREEK BUSH. The preservation of the bush at Ferguson's Creek was the subject of brief reference, Dr Newlands Mating that the association was quite in sympathy with the proposal, and commended it to the support of the citizens.  -Evening Star, 16/10/1929.

INSTITUTE OF HORTICULTURE.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. 

The monthly meeting of the Otago District Council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture was held yesterday, Mr D. Tannock presiding. 

The chairman reported that a meeting of those interested in the preservation of the bush at Ferguson's Creek had been held in Dunedin, and all who attended were very enthusiastic. It was decided by that meeting to send a letter to Mr Booth (owner of the land), stating that nothing would be done at present in the way of purchasing the bush in the vicinity of Ferguson's Creek. It was also decided to request Mr Booth not to do any firing in the area, in the hope that at a future date arrangements might be made to purchase the property. It would be seen, added the chairman, that the council was moving in the matter of retaining the reserve as a public resort.   -Otago Daily Times, 22/11/1929.

According to W H Davidson in "The Story of Leith Valley," Booth was offered by a Dunedin syndicate "a large sum (said to have been L20,000) for his business as a going concern.  However, Booth tried to bargain with them and asked double their price, with the result that the offer was withdrawn.

The mill closed at the end of 1930.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND.
OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DISTRICT (Dunedin Registry). 

In the Matter of “The Chattels Transfer Act,” 1924, and in the Matter of a certain Instrument by Way of Security, dated 21st day of May, 1929, and registered as No. 372, from DAVID BOOTH to A. S. PATERSON AND CO. LTD. 

WEDNESDAY, the 6th day of APRIL, 1932, At 12 o’clock noon. 

At the Rooms of the Auctioneers, Messrs ALEX. HARRIS LTD. 

Under the conduct of the Registrar of the Supreme Court at Dunedin, under power of sale contained in a certain Instrument by Way of Security dated the 21st day of May, 1929, and registered as No. 372. 

Messrs Alex. Harris Ltd. are instructed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court at Dunedin, on behalf of the Mortgagee, to sell, 

1 type M.K. 24in three-phase area Slipring Motor, Form B, 400 volts, 60 h.p., 965 r.p.m., 50 cycles, 1 Pulley, 1 Set Slide Rail, which were formerly installed in a saw-mill owned by the Mortgagor. 

The application and estimate of value on behalf of the Mortgagee may be seen without fee at the Registrar's Office, Supreme Court Buildings, Stuart street, during office hours, and at the sale. 

Further particulars may be obtained from Mesrs RAMSAY AND HAGGITT, Solicitors, 7 Liverpool street; or Messrs ALEX. HARRIS LTD., Auctioneers, Princes street south.  -Evening Star, 27/2/1932.

The log winch was not part of the offerings of the 1932 sale.  Perhaps it was too much effort by that stage to remove to somewhere it could make a profit.

Logs arriving at the bottom of the tramway at the mill. W H Davidson photo, courtesy of the Hocken Library.