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                                Forestry/The Teak Timber Trade 
                                                        1826 - 1941



Teak timber was used in the construction industry and shipbuilding, many who held a license to extract the teak were also shipbuilders.
1826
1827
1827
-
1833
-
1837
The 1st A-B War ceded the Tenasserim Provinces - Amherst was chosen as the headquarters of Civil Govt. but in 1829 Moulmein was preferred.
Forests of the Salween and Ataran rivers are surveyed by Dr. Wallich and Capt. J. Crawfurd and were worked solely by the Government.
Private contractors were invited to work the forests, the first licensee (then known as a Forester) was Mr Bentley, later his shipbuilding partner was 
John Darwood.
The first saw mills were established, others followed, mostly at Mupun, streets here were named after the Foresters/shipbuilders, Buchanan, Capt.                   Crisp, Lister, Miller and Mould.
Dr. Helfer is appointed Superintendent of Forests (in 1840 he was assassinated in the Andaman Islands.) Commissioner's A.D. Maingy (1825-34)  and later E.A. Blundell (1833-43) were concerned for the preservation of the forests so Rules were enforced.
1841
Capt. Tremenheere appointed as Superintendent of Forests.  Later came Capt. Gutherie and Capt. Lutter.                 
A few of the other Foresters:- Cockerell & Co., Sheik Abdullah, Messrs. Fox, Maurel, Capt. Clarke, John Darwood and F. Alexander M. Richardson                 (also a shipbuilder at Natmaw.)  W. Strange Steel & Co. (later Steel Bros.) worked at Mupun.  
Limouzin & Co. started by G.E. Limouzin (shipbuilder and timber merchants.) 
Robert Hannay & Co. whose timber yard was at Mupun and managed by D.J. Macfarquhar (who also managed the saw mill of  A.S.A. Hoosain & Co.)  
1850
1852
1854
1856
1866
-
-
1869
Darwood & Co. Shipbuilders of Moulmein.
An Interview with some of the key players in the industry  - extracts from a report on the Teak Forests of Tenasserim.  
The first qualified Conservator of forest appointed.
Todd Findlay & Co. (partners James C. Todd James Findlay and Thomas Dunlop Findlay) saw mill, graving yard and foundry at Mupun.  
The Bombay Burmah Trading Corp. (B.B.T.C.) also known as Bombine by the employees - Forest lessees & timber merchants, founded by William Wallace.  Saw mills at Natmaw on Bilugyun Island later at Moulmein and also Dunnedaw and Dallah in Rangoon. 
Managers (1927) J.R. Turner, F.H. Wroughton, H.B. Prior and A.A. Bruce.
Thomas Clare's saw mill at Mupun was purchased by A.S.A. Hoosain & Co.
1870 c
1879
1879
-
1897
Henderson Bros.  (I.R. and D.M. Henderson.)  Buchanan & Co. worked at Mupun until around 1877 when they went into liquidation.
Foucar & Co.  Started by F.L. Foucar,  (previously an assistant in Todd Findlay & Co.)
Todd Findlay & Co. (liquidated ) was reformed as T.D. Findlay Bodeker & Co. with T.D. Findlay, Robert Findlay and R.W. Bodeker as partners.                         (Bodeker  had been the manager of the old firm.)  The firm later became T.D. Findlay & Co.
Messrs. Steel obtain their first forest lease.

1872 - Officers of the Govt. Forest Dept. Rangoon                                                1872 - Officers of the Govt. Forest Dept.  Mianun (Myanoung)
Surname
Seaton
Buchanan
Adamson
Nepean
Hough
Bligh
Grady
Andrews
Kowen
Yoke
Initials
W.J. Capt.
A.M
J.
C.F.
G.
C.
F.W.
W.J.
W.R.
L.A.
Title                           
Conservator of Forests
P.A. to the above
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Draughtsman
Surveyor
Surveyor
Surname
Douglas
Daly
Hume
Wood
Moung Way
Moung Thachoo
Moung Mya Dom
Graham
Moung Kalay
Initials
W. Capt. Madras S.C.
N.
J.K.
W.
-
-
-
James
-
Title                           
Deputy Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Overseer
Forest Ranger
Forest Ranger
Forest Ranger
Head Clerk
Burmese writer  

1886 - Darwood, Macgregor & Co.
Partners:- W. Darwood, John Macgregor, L.H. Kulenkampff, C. Junghenn.

Application to lease the ex King's Saw Mills at Mandalay - This document also mentions the following people and contains some
 handwritten/signed letters:- Charles Bernard - W. Miller - E.S. Symes - W. Wernigg - H. Thirkell White - Mr Gateasub - Capt. Shone - W. Richard - .. Lowis
The theft of one of their elephants in 1883 almost creates an political incident....

 1888 - Government Forest Dept.- Rangoon
Surname
Popert
Bingham
Oliver
Nisbet
Thelluson
Ward
Hoghton
Aplin
Hobart-Hampden
Jackson
Corbett
Ingram
Mg Kale
Allan
Moung We
Mg Shwe O
D'Rozario
Mg Yaing
Mg Thakado
Mg Pkin
Initials
E. P.
C. T. Capt.
J.W.
J.
F.W.
H.B.
H.H.
T.H.
C.H.
H.
G.Q.
C.
-
C.W.
-
-
L.
-
-
-
Title                           
Conservator                    
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator          
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Sub-Asst.Conservator
Sub-Asst.Conservator
Sub-Asst.Conservator
Forest Ranger
Forest Ranger
Forest Ranger
Forest Ranger
Forest Ranger
Forest Ranger
Area         
Pegu  Circle  
-
Tharrawaddy
-
Toungoo
Bassein
Rangoon
Prome
Shwegyin  
Thayetmyo
Poundge
Myananung
Zigon
Kinpadi
Thonze
-
Taikgyi
Toungoo
Kinpadi
Zaungtu 

Exports -Teak extracted from Aratan
1829-1841       
1841-1847      
1847-1853
1853-1858

Teak extracted from Tenasserim
Cockerell & Co.
Shaik Abdullah
Capt. Clarke
Mr Darwood
Mr Fox
Mr Richardson
Karen Villagers
Weingo
Mr Munrell
Gyne Lyne Boey
Pandon Salween
Native Grants
N0. of 
trees:-
77,704
44,269
11,682
 4,292

No. of trees, 
1841
2,156
398
194
135
322
301
1,641
412
66
675
824
1,945

 1888 - Government Forest Dept.- Mandalay
Surname
Hill
Palmer
Slade
Copeland
Murray
Muriel
Calthorpe
Buchanan
Johnson
Initials
H.C.
W.
H.
J. 
J.C.
C.E.
H.
E.M.
B.B.
Title
Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Asst. Conservator
Sub-Asst. Conservator
Superintendent
Area
-
Bhamo
Alon, Chindwin
Pyinmana
Ye-U
Minbu
-
Mogok
-

Teak exports in the yrs:-
1889 - 90
1890 - 91
1891 - 92
1892 - 93
1893 - 94
Tons
80,871
64,227
62,320
160,850
84,722

1916 - Forest Divisions
Pegu Forests Divn:-
Thayetmyo
Prome
Zigon, Tharrawaddy
Insein
Maubin, Henzada
Myaungmya, Bassein
Arakan, Akyab
Rangoon Depot & Agency
Pegu
Tenasserim Forests Divn:-
West Salween, Moulmein
South Tenasserim, Moulmein
Thaungyin, Moulmein
Ataran, Moulmein
Kado & Agency, Moulmein
North & South Toungoo
Shwegyin
Nyaunglebin
Northern Forests Divn:-
Bhamo
Myitkyina
Katha
Mansi, Katha
Mu, Shwebo
Mandalay Depot
Kindat, U. Chindwin
Monywa, L. Chindwin
Southern Forests Divn:-
Ruby Mines, Mogok
Maymyo
Meiktila
Ningyan later known as Pyinmana
Taunggyi, S.S.S.
Yaw, Pakokku
Minbu
Forest School, Pyinmana,
Forest Research Divn. Maymyo

  1920 - Notice, calling for candidates for the Provincial Forest Service listing prospects/preliminary tests from F.A. Leete, Chief Conservator of Forests.

  1926 - Forestry, a brief description - extracts from a speech given by Sir Harcourt-Butler to Senior Students at Rangoon University.

 1941 - Government Forest Dept. Rangoon
Surname
Unwin
Pudden
Morehead
Smith
Scott
Villar
Gallant
Greenep
U Yu Shein
Long
Taw Kyi Saing
Initials
R.
H.H.C.
F.T.
H.C.
C.W.
A.R.
M.N.
D.P.
-
A.
-
Title
Chief Conservator, (officiating)
Personal assistant to the above
Conservator
Conservator
Conservator
Conservator
Forest Economist
Divisional Forest Officer
Extra Assistant Conservator
Extra Assistant Conservator
Extra Assistant Conservator
Area
-
-
Utilization Circle (officiating)
Sittang Circle
Hlaing Circle
Maritime Circle
-
Depot & Agency Division
-
-
Utilization Circle

 1941 - Government Forest Dept.- Mandalay
Surname
L Htin Wah
Braithwaite
Maxwell
Johannes
Hartnoll
Vaughan
Sayers
Walden
Atkinson
Initials
-
J.D.
H.A.
B.O.
E.S.
R.W.
R.J.
H.L.
Denis Jackson
Title
Divisional Forest Officer
Divisional Forest Officer
Asst. Conservator & game warden
Extra Asst. Conservator
Conservator
Conservator
Deputy Conservator
Extra Asst. Conservator
Conservator
Area
Depot Divn. Mandalay West
Maymyo Division, Maymyo
Maymyo Division Maymyo
Maymyo Division Maymyo
Chindwin Circle, Maymyo
Working Plans Circle, Maymyo
Working Plans Circle, Maymyo
Working Plans Circle, Maymyo
Northern Circle, Maymyo

Additional Forest employees, Government and Commercial, for various years, can be found in the Directories Section. 

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​Page updated 1st December 2022