THE TIMBER BORER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 16 July 1910, Page 9

THE TIMBER BORER.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —"Passer By," writing under the heading of "So-called House Building," mentions iiaving recently seen timber "'absolutely perforated with boreT," being used ifor studs in a new house. The worm holes noted by "Passer By" are not the true and destructive timber borer, but are of a larger variety, which attack the sap of trees shortly after they are felled. By the time logs have been sawn up and the timber becomes dry these worms have ceased their operations. These worm holes in timber are known in the trade as "pin-holes," and their presence, in addition to other defects, causes timber to be known, as second-class. To quote from an article headed '"The Timber Borer," -written by myself and appearing in your issue of January 4th, 1908: —"The worm ' pinhole ' in kauri timber (sap) as it comes •from the mill, seems to be harmless, and in no way connected with the house insect."

While kauri timber Tvith many pinholes would hardly 'be satisfactory for ■weather boarding, nor good enough for verandah flooring or ground plates, yet for inside work, say studs and lining, it is not mudi detriment. I have seen such timber that has been in position as lining for 25 years, and to all appearances as good as the day it was put there. Sixteen years ago I lined several large rooms iv our own house with such timber with the ' same result. The writer is of opinion that some builders could, to advantage, exercise more care in selecting the best pieces out of their heaps for, say, verandah plates, and corner studs, or for *my position where the wet may get a chance to penetrate.

The timber 'borer rarely exceeds l-l/sth ■of an inch in diameter, 'but the pinhole almost invariably is larger. Instead of havinp, as "Passer By" suggests, and inspector to examine* all timbers used in building, the writer thinks it more necessary to have one to examine all "the old furniture that passes through the 'auction marts of our cities. Wormeaten furniture and boxes introduced into houses rapidly spread the infection and cause the premature ruin of many a house. Where there are only a few borers in a house they may be kept in cheek, more or less, by the exercise of a little care and trouble. In the months of November and December, when the borer beetles emerge from their bores, they may be seen sitting on the wallpaper of a room. They are, very inactive and inoffensive,, And are. sasilj_. caught,

thus reducing their- number. - They are very small brown : beetles, but easily seen on a-light paper.- Rooms should be examined every day.—l am, etc, BORER