BALTIC PINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 10

BALTIC PINE.

SUPPLIES FOR N.Z. BUTTER-BOX MANUFACTURE. ENGLISH VISITOR'S PLAN. i _ (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. A pioneer in the development of : timber in more tlian one country, Mr. 1,0. Peto Bennett, head of the firm of. fcC. Peto Bennett, London, arrived by | the Rungitntw to-day. Mr. Bennett m. celebrated his 83rd birthday on the way | to New Zealand, but he remain* in active control of his business. His coming tvip is larpelv a business one, for his firm is interested in the shipment of fe , ° cka of Ba,tic pine to New Zealand tor use in butter boxea after impregP nation with wax by a patent process. Mr. Bennetts family has been in the timber trade for over 200 years, and Mr. Bennett has taken an active part |xin it for more than 00 years. He was. H'ft pioneer in the utilisation of Ausr,~'"tralian timbers, and also played a part in the development of timber in Borneo, ft for many years chairman and ■ managing-director of the North Borneo Trading Company. Limited. Amomr connoisseurs of precious Mr. Bennett is well known, for he is the owner of the famous Southern CrosA pearl. It contains a group of nine p. pearls, naturally grown together in so regular a manner as to form a perfect Latin cross. Seven pearls compose the V shj»ft, which ia 1 Jin long, while the two arms jare formed by one pearl on eaoli side of the shaft. It is described by experts as the most remarkable gem of its kind ever produced, by nature, and is valued at over £10.000. Discovered in I' the 19th century at Roeburn, West Ausiftralia;- it was regarded with superati- .? tious • awe by the finders, who buried it p-for some years. Mr. Bennett keeps the pearl at his offices in London.