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Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 16

Said to be the largest tree ever handled by the Waipawa Box and Fruit Case Company, a huge pinus insignis tree was cut up at Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, recently. It was originally planted by Sir Henry Russell on the property now occupied by Mr Andrew Riddell and known as Mount Herbert. The tree was about 55 years of age, and was more than 14ft in girth. At the mill ' it was necessary to cut 6in off the side of the log to enable it to pass under the double breaking-down saw. On enquiry from Mr Riddell it was found that the tree felled'was a comparative pigmy to others on his property. One magnificent specimen of a pinus insignis measiired just on 20ft in girth, and was of immense height, while two cotton poplars measured 24ft and 20ft respectively in girth. Mr Riddell also has probably one of fhe .finest stands of oak trees in the Dominion. Fully 120 oaks of anything up to 3ft in diameter and fairly even in size, range each side of the drive. At the homestead two enormous specimens of redwood—one a Wellingtonia and the other a gigantic sequoia semperimvirous—were stated by a timber expert with Canadian experience to be the best of their kind he had seen in New Zealand. I U! ,