KAURI TIMBER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1657, 6 March 1884, Page 3

KAURI TIMBER

A recent issue of the Sydney Bulletin, referring to Mr. Kason's kauri pine depot at Sydney, had the following :— "In the North Island of New Zealand there are great forests of this Kauri pine each tree of which *s va'ued afc £300 so that' the wealth of the colony in this respect a'one miisfc bo fabulous* i New Zealand pioneers recognised the value of the Kauri pine, not only for building, but for decorative purposes, iieiide whole towns are found built of the material, and immense quantities are absorbed for every description of furniture," Although the value put upon each tree of our kauri foreses in the above extract may be somewhat exaggerated, there h no doubt that in lief kauri timber Aucklandhas an enormous source ofweaith, but one -tfhioh, if the present reckless destruction of kauri is-rttloweil to go on, will possibly scarcely outlive the liertt generation;. We 1 liaVe more thatl . once referred to tills subject; and lit-ged the desirability of some Government action being taken to, check the waste of kauri which goes on, and if possible to provide for the renewal of forest areas, whethei of kauri or of other trees. We shall not let the matter drop, but on this subject. .of so , great, importance to the prosperity and climate of the country, as we consider, we shall not shrink from the risk of leaving ourselves open to tlie charge of "da;iinabld iteration, " until we arouse tlie dttectual attention b : f tlie public to the question. We Would suggest that petition l-e got up, to be presented to the House next session, praying for some systematic supervision of forests iv this country, and that step 3be taken to. make some adequate provision for our colonial timber requirements in the futnre.