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Mananui sawmill - out Mahinapua way.
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DescriptionMalcolm Yorston
If this is the same Wally Batchelor I knew he had lost a thumb when a chainsaw chain came off. He was living in a sawmill house at Arnold Siding in the 1960s, the roof leaked into the bedroom so he pitched a tent over the bed.
Robert Scott
I remember Wally Batchelor from back in the 60's-70's. He worked a s a machine operator at the Ministry Of works, back then. Cheerful guy, good to have beer with.Map[1] ContributorJames Campbell
If this is the same Wally Batchelor I knew he had lost a thumb when a chainsaw chain came off. He was living in a sawmill house at Arnold Siding in the 1960s, the roof leaked into the bedroom so he pitched a tent over the bed.
Robert Scott
I remember Wally Batchelor from back in the 60's-70's. He worked a s a machine operator at the Ministry Of works, back then. Cheerful guy, good to have beer with.Map[1] ContributorJames Campbell
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Location (city or town)MananuiLandmark (Place)Mananui millEventTimber export
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CommentsMalcolm Yorston
If this is the same Wally Batchelor I knew he had lost a thumb when a chainsaw chain came off. He was living in a sawmill house at Arnold Siding in the 1960s, the roof leaked into the bedroom so he pitched a tent over the bed.
Meagan Williams
Malcolm Yorston thank you
Robert Scott
I remember Wally Batchelor from back in the 60's-70's. He worked a s a machine operator at the Ministry Of works, back then. Cheerful guy, good to have beer with.
Kerry Molloy
Wally also drove trucks for Molloy Bros at Kotuku ,primarily carting logs!
Tom Egan
He also drove fertiliser spreaders for Molloys in the 60s
Warren Meredith - Hard man used go in trucks on school holidays with him drove trucks for Molloy bros kokutu there workshop kokutu mechanic keven Molloy & Mick Molloy.
Meagan Williams - Warren Meredith where was the workshop exactly?
Meagan Williams - My Grandad Fred was Wally's brother. Grandad married Catherine Adler. Her family was also from Kotuku. Does anyone know the Adlers?
Delwyn Hughes
Robert Batchelor is this any relation of yours
Meagan Williams
Delwyn Hughes grandfather
Noeline Pinn
Mr Walter Bachelor had a bus which carried passengers to Greymouth and return as far as Ruru, perhaps further for a time. Rode in it from Greymouth to Kotuku on a Friday night. Was always packed. Jimmy Bachelor caught the train to High School from Ruru to .Greymouth. I caught it from Kotuku. That was in 1947/48.
Meagan Williams
Noeline Pinn Wow! Thank you. I didn't know about the bus. Did you know the rest of the family? Or the Adler's from Ruru?
Noeline Pinn
Meagan Williams I remember Freddie, Jimmy’s brother. I think he worked for a time at the Bell Hill Mill. Not so familiar with the Adlers as they lived in Ruru. There must be others who can help you there.
Meagan Williams
Noeline Pinn thank you Fred is my Grandad.
Tom Hartill
I knew Wally well. He gave me a lift home in a lime sower one night from the Wallsend pub. We both had quite a few drinks & Wally got us jammed on the Brunner bridge. Couldnt open the doors to get out so Wally revved it up & backed a few bridge beams off giving us room to move. Was a note in the Mondays paper about it. I also went on a trip south with him to the Forks hotel. We were there a couple of days till our money ran out. We came back to Franz where Wally7 had a brother who lent us some. Also knew Johnny Batchelor in Ngahere. He used to bike race with us.
Meagan Williams
Thank you That is hilarious!! From all these stories Uncle Wally certainly sounds like he had a colorful life. I have seen some photos of old bike races on this page. Do you know if Uncle John is in any?
Trevor Molloy
Tom Hartill yep that's the one and only wally , I could write a book on his escapades .
Meagan Williams
Tom Hartill Tom Egan Warren Meredith Kerry Molloy Robert Scott this is the only photo I have at home. My parents do have another of me as a kid with him.
May be an image of 1 person and beard
Peter Cruse - I first new Wally l was only 5 or six yrs old wally was driving an OLB Bedford for Molloy bros building the bush rd behind the Dobson football field for Faulkners l used to go for a ride with him to the gravel pit the Ngahere end of the Kamaka straight. He was a great bloke.
Colin Pattinson - Yeap everyone new Wally a good guy loved a beer think he finished up at MOW.
Doreen Thomson
Mananui sawmills was where Dave Searle worked
Kevin Oregan
Batchelor family Wally and others. Wally was at Jack Bros sawmill at Oweka after kotoku closed. Jim was a long time employee of Arnold and Sons Whataroa
Cheryl Townsend
I bet Wally had some interesting stories
Lynnette Beirne
My Uncle Bob Atkinson worked as a saw doctor at Mananui Sawmill and I can remember when the mill houses were up the lane just before the mill itself
My grandparents and Bobby also had the farm either side of the road from Mananui up to the Golf Links
David Youngmin
Dad worked at the mill we lived in the lane a few rough bush houses.We lived next to Watsons,I remember the lovey going past the house,Davey was the engine driver.About 1949 or there abouts.Russell GIbb
Wally Batchelor would come water skiing with Ted Gibb and all the locals at Franze Joseph Glacier in the 60s
If this is the same Wally Batchelor I knew he had lost a thumb when a chainsaw chain came off. He was living in a sawmill house at Arnold Siding in the 1960s, the roof leaked into the bedroom so he pitched a tent over the bed.
Meagan Williams
Malcolm Yorston thank you
Robert Scott
I remember Wally Batchelor from back in the 60's-70's. He worked a s a machine operator at the Ministry Of works, back then. Cheerful guy, good to have beer with.
Kerry Molloy
Wally also drove trucks for Molloy Bros at Kotuku ,primarily carting logs!
Tom Egan
He also drove fertiliser spreaders for Molloys in the 60s
Warren Meredith - Hard man used go in trucks on school holidays with him drove trucks for Molloy bros kokutu there workshop kokutu mechanic keven Molloy & Mick Molloy.
Meagan Williams - Warren Meredith where was the workshop exactly?
Meagan Williams - My Grandad Fred was Wally's brother. Grandad married Catherine Adler. Her family was also from Kotuku. Does anyone know the Adlers?
Delwyn Hughes
Robert Batchelor is this any relation of yours
Meagan Williams
Delwyn Hughes grandfather
Noeline Pinn
Mr Walter Bachelor had a bus which carried passengers to Greymouth and return as far as Ruru, perhaps further for a time. Rode in it from Greymouth to Kotuku on a Friday night. Was always packed. Jimmy Bachelor caught the train to High School from Ruru to .Greymouth. I caught it from Kotuku. That was in 1947/48.
Meagan Williams
Noeline Pinn Wow! Thank you. I didn't know about the bus. Did you know the rest of the family? Or the Adler's from Ruru?
Noeline Pinn
Meagan Williams I remember Freddie, Jimmy’s brother. I think he worked for a time at the Bell Hill Mill. Not so familiar with the Adlers as they lived in Ruru. There must be others who can help you there.
Meagan Williams
Noeline Pinn thank you Fred is my Grandad.
Tom Hartill
I knew Wally well. He gave me a lift home in a lime sower one night from the Wallsend pub. We both had quite a few drinks & Wally got us jammed on the Brunner bridge. Couldnt open the doors to get out so Wally revved it up & backed a few bridge beams off giving us room to move. Was a note in the Mondays paper about it. I also went on a trip south with him to the Forks hotel. We were there a couple of days till our money ran out. We came back to Franz where Wally7 had a brother who lent us some. Also knew Johnny Batchelor in Ngahere. He used to bike race with us.
Meagan Williams
Thank you That is hilarious!! From all these stories Uncle Wally certainly sounds like he had a colorful life. I have seen some photos of old bike races on this page. Do you know if Uncle John is in any?
Trevor Molloy
Tom Hartill yep that's the one and only wally , I could write a book on his escapades .
Meagan Williams
Tom Hartill Tom Egan Warren Meredith Kerry Molloy Robert Scott this is the only photo I have at home. My parents do have another of me as a kid with him.
May be an image of 1 person and beard
Peter Cruse - I first new Wally l was only 5 or six yrs old wally was driving an OLB Bedford for Molloy bros building the bush rd behind the Dobson football field for Faulkners l used to go for a ride with him to the gravel pit the Ngahere end of the Kamaka straight. He was a great bloke.
Colin Pattinson - Yeap everyone new Wally a good guy loved a beer think he finished up at MOW.
Doreen Thomson
Mananui sawmills was where Dave Searle worked
Kevin Oregan
Batchelor family Wally and others. Wally was at Jack Bros sawmill at Oweka after kotoku closed. Jim was a long time employee of Arnold and Sons Whataroa
Cheryl Townsend
I bet Wally had some interesting stories
Lynnette Beirne
My Uncle Bob Atkinson worked as a saw doctor at Mananui Sawmill and I can remember when the mill houses were up the lane just before the mill itself
My grandparents and Bobby also had the farm either side of the road from Mananui up to the Golf Links
David Youngmin
Dad worked at the mill we lived in the lane a few rough bush houses.We lived next to Watsons,I remember the lovey going past the house,Davey was the engine driver.About 1949 or there abouts.Russell GIbb
Wally Batchelor would come water skiing with Ted Gibb and all the locals at Franze Joseph Glacier in the 60s
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West Coast New Zealand History (15th Mar 2023). Mananui sawmill - out Mahinapua way.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 8th Apr 2026 23:46, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/29953