1908 Gilbert Burnett

1908 18 GILBERT BURNETT.

The Australian administrator of Papua and New Guinea Murray, first attempted to survey the timber potential of parts of Papua in 1908. By arrangement with the Queensland Government, a Queensland Forest Inspector Mr Gilbert Burnett went to Papua to report on its timber resources. He stayed there for seven months and visited various places along the coast from the Purari Delta to Samarai and in the vicinity of Buna Bay to the north-east. Mr Burnet19 reported he had some difficulty in penetrating into the country, but he produced a report of an optimistic nature, and he listed 120 species of trees by their Papuan names, obtained wood samples and classified them according to use, but not botanically.

20The death is announced of Mr. Gilbert Burnett a highly respected resident of Wellington Point. The late Mr. Burnett was one of the early seekers on the Gympie field when it broke out. In going over the ranges at Conondale they let the dray down by way of a rope made fast to trees. Later, Mr. Burnett settled at Burpengary, and after a few years he took charge of his father-in law's sugar plantation and mill at Woondall, near Wynnum. From there he took control of the late Captain Hope's sugar mill at Ormiston, and later he bought the mill and a large tract of land at Wellington Point, where he erected the mill and grew sugar cane. Subsequently he converted the mill into a sawmill and carried on timber milling for many years.

18 Reference PNGAF Mag # 9B-5 of 21/4/21 p7. 19 1908 Gilbert Burnett Timber Trees of the Territory of Papua Reports and catalogue. Public Library of Victoria 31 Aug 1911

20 Transcribed from “the Queenslander Saturday 23rd May 1925.

But misfortune came, the whole mill and contents being burnt down. Mr. Burnett held a position in the Queensland Forestry Department and made many friends' during his travels in all parts of Queensland and New Guinea.

21

Page 51 of the Annual Report Gulf Division 1/7/1908, the Resident Magistrate Kerema, reports on lands and timbers including the illegal cutting of cedar and Gilbert Burnett’s visit.

Very little land is situated near the Coast. What there is now is fully occupied by the natives with their gardens. Beyond that and behind that extends a sago belt the whole length of the coastline.

During the year, a trip was made up the Vailala River with Mr Burnett, who had come over from Queensland for this government specifically to look into the timbers. It is much to be regretted that in the past many thousands of feet of valuable cedar had been cut and allowed to float out to sea. The result is that the Vailala River has now no cedar of any extent within a considerable distance of its mouth. I fancy the main difficulty will be in transporting the logs from where they are cut to the river and a light line of rails laid on sleepers made of the saplings with which the scrubs are full, might be of value. From what one hears from the natives, it would appear that the heavier timber will be found on the Purari River. There is a considerable quantity of cedar up this river, and as it has never been touched, is likely to be more easily got at. I have cut cedar trees close to Kerema, growing almost in the company of mangroves and with total streams quite close to them.

21 Page 1 nia.obj-15829293502 National Library of Australia