N.Z. TIMBERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 10 February 1927, Page 4

N.Z. TIMBERS.

A VALUABLE COLLECTION. (By W.H.W.) Fuchsia Excorticata (koliutnhutu or koiiiui) affords one of the strongest and nio>t durable timbers, but its trunk i~ often curved and gnarled, and no very lengthy log can be obtained. The sample of this wood is a very pleasing golden brown, with dark wavy markings, and takes a very good polish. Jt is, however, very much warped, and the joiner would not care to rely on its ability to stay wlicre placed. It is very hard to liuni,' even when thoroughly dry. and bushmen call it "buckct-of-watcr wood."

flic specimen of ironwood (southern rata) does not appear to be a good example of a timber which is stated to be obtained from a tree 60ft high, with a trunk up to Oft in diameter: it is twisted, warped and shaken, but has a rather remarkable, very small figure, and takes an excellent polish. "Few more magnificent sights can be offered than it mountain slope covered with rata in full bloom from its base to nearly 1(100 feet above sea level, when the brilliant scarlet fl:>wcrs are lighted up by the mnrniii'r sun." I'seudopanax Ferox (toothed lancewood) is described as a handsome tree. ."30 feet high, luit rarely exceeding 15 inches in diameter; our specimen of this timber condemns it ns 'llmost useless as a commercial w>.vl. While it is certainlv hard and tough enough, and tr'res a good polish, and it very milch warped and has no exceptional cltaricteristies which would make it of any value compared with many other '.i»nbers of bettor size and colouring. Entelca Arboresccns (Whnti corkwood) is sometimes only one-half the weight of a piece of cork of equal bulk. It is really onlv a large shrub. It \i one of the lightest of woods known, anil was used by the Maoris for floats of fishing nets. Our sample is light huff in colour, slightly warped, but free from shakes.

The Hnropito (pepper tree) is also a shrub rather than a tree, and is not procurable in a"v quantitv or size: it is a reddish-yellow limber, and our snuipl". while not baillv warped, is c>nsidernblv shaken. It would onlv bo useful for inlaying.

. Hard and Durable. .Myopurtini Lfotum (ugaio) is a small tree up to 30 feet high, and one foot in diameter. The timber is dense, heavy, hard, and durable, but is not procurable in any size. The Maoris washed their faces and exposed portions of their bodies with an infusion of the lenves for protection neainst the bites of mosquitoes and sandflies. A specimen branded towa answers very nearly to the description given of berlschmiedia ta (tawa). It grew extensi/cly in Pelorous nn<l Queen Charlotte Sounds, and was formerly much used in Christchurch for butter kegs and dairy ware. The wood is white, straight in grain, and is easily split; the trees prow up to 80 feet high and four feet through. Our sample shows much similarity to Tasmanian stringy hark, is hard, and has not warped much.

Ribbonwood (Houi) is a tree often 09 feet !iigh. and up to three feet in diameter. Our specimen is light in colour and rather prcttilv marked. It has "not warped o r twisted nt nil, in fact, it apnea rs to be a perfect cabinet timber, being lij'ht in weight, not too hard, and cnpnble of taking a flood polish. Si pbora Totr.nntora fhowlmi) is a valunble plant in its habit of growth. On the mountains it forms a prostrate shrub, but in favourable sittmtions it i« an erpct tree, tip to 50 feet high, and three feet in diameter. Most frequentlv it is a hcavilv branched shrub, less than 20 feet high. The wood is light brownish in colour, like laburnum. Tt is very durable, strong, heavy, and dense. Our sample shows -it to be a splendid timber, keepi"" its fhnpe and not twisting in the slichtest. 1 remember when working on the prrt'd clrcdires in Otaen in 1900. seeing rafts of this timber down tlie Molvnenx. Kunnortcd by emntv oil drums to prevent them from sinking.