Early forestry studied

in 1901. But that’s just so much at odds with what I’ve found in our forestry history ... I’ve talked to a lot of people and they have no idea about it.’’

He had also been through the Marlborough Express archives at the Marlborough Museum and other newspapers of the early 1900s, he said.

‘‘I went through day-by-day for a few decades and learnt an enormous amount about the history of the place. They were very much into resource extraction and development, they were either sawmilling, or mining gold, or creating farmland ... but there is no mention of forestry and it’s still a great mystery to me,’’ Hemphill said.

‘‘So I figured the only way to dig anything out is to dangle some money, to get people looking for me.’’

Hemphill was most interested in newspaper reports, photographs, and documents such as logging company records and log scale records.

His poster calling for evidence said contenders should supply evidence by email before May 25.

‘‘We, in the forest industry, recognise that sedimentation from our operations and other land uses is an important issue.

‘‘We want to be sure that operational improvements and regulation are founded upon sound science, hence the search for supporting historical evidence,’’ the poster said.

Any other information about early 20th century Pelorus forestry history would also be welcomed, Hemphill said.

A Niwa spokesperson said Niwa was currently in discussion with the forestry industry, further explaining its science to them. ‘‘Because of that, we feel it’s not appropriate to make any comments at this time.’’