SIDE LIGHTS ON SAWMILLING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 179, 24 April 1908, Page 4

SIDE LIGHTS ON SAWMILLING.

NEW ZEALAND'S .TIMBER-INDUSTRY. CONDITIONS IN ;THE . NORTII-j ISLANJ).. - , • (By a Sawmiller.) ' -V.ftriib, timber iridustrj-;lias -libcn' a; , ; ablo Eourco .of wealth to the North, lrland. Auckland Province lias been. -.tho foiemost ■- in ■-■'■tho industry, and, its natural facilities ■ for-working timbor are superior to those of any other provmoe'in tho. 'Dominion, its, ■■'- ■ many natural, inlets, bays, ..harbours,, and j '•- rivers, - combined .with the. buoyancy of its | •; timbor, allow this .■province'cheap water carriago m ■ floating, .rafting, and' shipping. - - Tho method of working logs ill this district --- is much the samo• as-that adopted in,Bri7 ■ i - tish Columbia. :;In'tho,northern part, of the ' ■ province,-'whero the :kaun grows, ,tho logs ' aro jacked, , hauled, -and- heaped up into - croeks and'; gullies, where - dams are built. /;/In'; : 'fl0od-tinio;:';the ' hUndrods- of log 3 carried headlong ,m tho - ■ ' torrents into deeper rivers and bays, wliero ; ' they 1 aro collected together in .booms, raffed ;to ,the;..sawmills;,,aud ; loaded; on .scows,- or towod :by steamers,- many into - Auckland, harbour. „ ' , ' ■/, - Auckland ii'as a largo, fleet of,; scows' ; and ischporiers;:-working,;.iii' its: '.timber .-industry,' along the coasts from-Gisborno to,tho,iNoftli. ■ ' Capo, and on • the West Coast to tlio Kai- ■ para- 'These scows nro, .built especially,, to '■■• ''carry-'-timber'and lops, and.manj of, .them. v ' - carry' the' full' load- on deck. . Their special : .features are tho light, draught'-.bf .water'.they '■ '" require to sail, lipon, combined,- with, their - -great' carrying capacity, v,. Some of thebo i' v half-bred 'schooners will • carry a load of over ■ two -hundred; tonsi'(On ; about, four.; feet, of water; as .the-sailors: put it when ompty, they will sail on a heavy dow Auckland s • coast line • and mild:climato is particularly. "suitable for' their working.They-,• can, .dodgo ' along' the :coast with their, top-heavy- loads, and-shelter in its many inlets and'bays when caught in rough . weather, - and they enablo to bo worked ,with a oheapi water - freight'. x - -'i'-V;:;|X ■" " 'Manyvof tho sawmills in- tho Northorn • • Province aro situated beside , deep water ■ frontages, .where .ships, and largo ; steamers, • ' can .'berth f and, load . large cargoes, of- timber . -.;for..,.export , to; many parts of , dip ..Globe. • '•.Kauri 'timber ;lia's a, demand in... nlariy-foreign -ports, and -largo ■: quantities . of. kauri and : pino aro:- shipped both to Australian and • Now Zealand ports. • As • a timber of com- ', mercial value, has -.very,, few rivals, - owing to uts texturA,- durability, and freo- . dom from faults antl defects, .-while its .ex- : ;'■;';■ tremo eriables 1 . long length's and widths' to; bo ( cut frojn the. lo£s. ; .t. Conditions !n the South/ In tho southorni part/of Auckland's. provinco; - and -in Wellington, - Taiianaki, and Hawko's ; Bay provinces-kauri does not grow, and'-,.the'-' milling-.-.timbers;in- theso- districta .: ; --j'ivaroS.'totara, : 'hmatai,''orimu.'Vand'.' white■y-pinef ■ , The working of timber in tho: southern proWinces,/isJyery? different.; ."The timber; is -not so buoyant; there aro few facilities for.; float-, ing ■ it; and consequently different - methods : .'have ■to *bo 'adopted: V._Tho:' sawmills in - the ■ "'southern parts.-of are more distributed- j-throughout 'proyinbes,.;and ■ haye been and-aro. tho.'foundation pt many - ;rising;townshipsi :'|Tho' modern .township df; ; Dannevirko,-in Hawko's Bay, . which a, few ;;;X;yearsVagb;,w'as. a deiise .bush, ,has;been,'':qqn?: : .-siderably helped ..to'.-iits'prosperous- position '-iiMilrapidgrowthßy.-its'*timber;.,indiistr■ ■•" Thpusjinds, of pounds': |wor,th of: timber havo annually been sent away from this district! >;=Tiinbers.crops;aro: not .permanent'j',' and''the; ■ -lurge 'Srea on.bu?|i which-once,surrounded ■ ' • Dannovirke. 'has' -now.. ,almost - been Jautuhil-. ■ -ated,- -ns- 'havo -most • of- tho, forests;in-the Wairarapa and Taranaki It is a regrettable - fcature..that tho bulk of ;these;:fine;forests, ■ havo been destroyed >by -.firo. ; Fires . ha\o been tho - deadly; onomy: of • the - sawmilling -industry, and considerably moro has . been destroyed -by firo' thai. sawn ; - at .• tlio timber ljnlls ■ The-sawmillers im tho southern part- of the .":'- ( out blocks of bush . byV laying ,tMe , ; ;b'ush;.and ' •'".-hauling the . logs ...to • various- landings, where • ' they are loaded on to ■ trucks jand drawn ,to ; the mills by small locomotive engines or'-, '• ' horses (on rough country, tho latter havo to '■ bo used). Theso tram\vays have to ha strongly; put down to oarry the loads, and if; tho country 'is rough and .broken .consulorablo time has to ho -spent •iiih 'surveying ; tram ' -Toutes, the cost of haulage bfiilig" a very - important factor.- -iThevbest workablo .grades • have -to. be found; together* witlr.best '•facilities for; working the wliolo of tho bush.• .Fifty to 60 miles of tramways are often put m by .individual sawmillers' working out bushes, . •;J."ano also huridrcds'.of miles' of 'Jo^irig.;trabks; tlio bullock teams, or haulers; having to reach ; ■/.■fall; the -millmg :trees; bli 'tlie laying ' •/.off these,tramways' many difficulties are;mot . with.;, -Many, bridges'of different kinds often 'have to bo built to span the gullies, ravines, - and,creeks j-scaffolding, pile-driven, and suspension bridges,, aiid,'steel cables, aro laid ';;, .aown, ;.a'nd-the,-loads, of : logs[ across;' 'often;hiindrcds' of:feet aboyc-the bottom of • the ;ravine. "Steep hilly, country has to bo ■ //climbed, .deep cuttings, arid >idings oxpavated,: • ■ ■ centre-rail ■ trams ■,for .breaks-, laid, .on., steep ■ dqwn grades, and stoam hauling winches sot : j .'to-.pull the ; loads on. tho up grades, , wliero '$'' - are , ! J»o. steep ,for horses to haul-. • /;; i S6mp;o,f'.;these:;grades .aro as'steep ,as, the, : .rooft-of a •dwollinghouse;' s"- «- t v - What Hiliy'country Means. ; - - -;.. Bad grades and/rough country, always mean . -i; toy the- millo'r.-•a- considerably,-jgreater-/.ojitlgy 1 and ; wear- and - tear, and a ; greater-.cost j of -, -lumber at - A great-number '/ millers 'of late years havo been "working :' country- ; iri: which most :/ofthese difficulties have had to bo -contended .with. When- a layman looks at'the 'forests growing''along-, tlio railway lines;' with trunks on tlio; hills: ■ and. down. m deep gullies for many miles back from the line, unless ho has been ; brought up .in.' contact; mth timber-getting, ! .•.;. !no./conception;,;of. -tho imany . ; difficulties that have,.to 'l)o',oyercome. to : cn- / / abje 'those-.tree's;-'to' be brought to: the railway. .;/. line'; as;'sawrf;/timber.'/..Tho •tram : lines,'-.-and ; bridges;' which .liave; to;bo secnroly. laid ' down . . te carry * heavy loads of lumber, all become ;;'valueless/ immediately the, 'trees -aro. takon dff tlio ground.-' There is 0n1y..-a short"lifo; ■ for all'this work which ..consumes; ;'so,'mtich labour and capital, and, thousands of pounds'- -' worth' of ■ tramways 'and bridges are' fo-day , lying in the''bushes valueless.-. .The;cost''of ; working rough country is riot ended with tlio ■ ' increased expenditure in tram-lines,- as the • upkeep is.also considerably affected.- Loaded: „/ trucks often get out of Land coming down .' and; -going--up -"grades.-."; Brakes;-.miss; • bolts : or cables break; truck heads pull;out; chains ~ 'break/in the -middlo,,of • teams of horses, and, ■ the remainder are (unable to hold tho load, and-are .dragged along the down grades to> ■ idisaster.;;Teams/of,valuable-horses are com-' •■pletely' anniliilated,* trucks irid logs heapedup in -tho ;■ gullies; below; 'arid : hundreds of ■•■ pounds' go.no in.a few- momonts.;, ,-... ;r ' ' ' Thp sawmiller and his nien'orb usually the : engineers, survoyors, bridgo and tram con-; .. structors.' - There is no' public works fund : behind them; and. any miscalculation, of-cost 1 of construction qr. working comes direct from the pocket of tho miller. I '' i Fire, water,;and wind all play, costly pranks i-on Sawmillbrg/ : Fire:is a grejit destructor of sawmiil/properiy.;; .In dry soaspn's/trams and ' .bridges are often burned up fbr niilps,' valuablo• timber destroyed,:ana;mill3,' : stocks of timber. and' dwellingliouscs swopt -tb -tho ground./ In tho Sviiiter trams liavo' to- be packed/arid' ballasted to/keep'/the lines in condition for tho .horsos to work; : logging ( tracks and get full of-sliish-and inud; slips of - land occur on cuttings along the tram tracks; and floods carry-away bridges. When th<) season for equinoxial gales prevails, trees are uprooted and heaped up along . the trams rurds and tracks on top of bullock teams, horse teams, or hauling engines. In fact, tho life Of tho -sawmiller pectation and some anxiety duririg all tho seasons of the year, for theso things are happening every day. , • ,

Bringing in the Logs.. ; ' , Hauling logs from the stump to the tramI ®avs •ia jxow jnostLx_ done, hy,

•winehbs.' Bullocks arc, however, often used, and on good;'countrV arg less costly than tlio hauling engine."'? -lliofidpiauling,- winches aro very strong,-hcavy/'iMd powerful machines. They wind the logs, watched to steel cables of about, 20-ton breakiflg 1 Strain, into landings ■from -a '.distance-of-; a'quarter of a mile out . into tho bush. ..On] ajjjpvr' track they bring in the whole barrol of a tree at one pull, but on -heavy grades. is cut into logs. Theso hauling-wincKes *vrill; bring a log out fromVanyiplace, that 'can-bo reached witli tlio rdpo,,;even if it is up a precipice. Logs como out : over s]iills ; :an'd'- r gullics when onco tho hauler-getsyhoM- I 'of'them, -'and small' saplings are twisted'apd'.b'rokcn; like .whip-sticks, when :they jonio iiv.'tho way.'of the logs. /It,is theso machines that"enable the' sawmiller to work , oui tjierongh'f country .''that' was impossible a ■ few years-ago:•"Hauling engines are expen- ' sivo 'macfliues-M-to i buy;:'arid , their, upkeep is a i heavy item; .'the -'wea"!-: on ropes, . sheaves, arid blocks -being '.considerable. They havo itlio advantage ;of' 'lioiiig'iready : to work from 18 o'clock until 5 o'clock,'and showery weather idocsiriot-prcvont itlje \vork 1 going on. :. .'•■ ' Bullock teams-are not'so reliable. ' The :buliloclis'get vory cunning,, and often tako. many hours to find.-.They know how:to stop quietly ! hidd|n in scnib when':they hear .any .dogs'-or; men Jabo'iit';. arid •' ofte)i j escape 'work: on -that account, in , ; wot' : and /showery'-weather; they .hare* to ; lie -turned' out, as otherwise tho iyoke;chafes;theii-•nicks'!;and;prevents them i working for davs;-. ".'lii! winter time they: often havef'to lib/fed; an'd-'their,.appetite is of. fair' jmagnitudo:''\;WJjbii ; 'tliby. .are; fbd. they : want, | a;fuil'^eal,--as; iftlieyro'nly got r half, a meal •they'>liah^"^^it"f6FtliH : '6ther'.half instead, ofhunting for it, so that.it is a mistako to half ; feed I'buUockf.. Jlorso ,and; ;bullo'ck feed, is ;■ a 1 so'verje tax/ori Vni^lors, duririg winter month's. Bcforo the caiiio into ,'use, bullocks wero''uriivdrsally t :used ) and logs had :to be broiight into, lengths to, suit tho orders on • liarid: li'.Tho • buslr-bullDck-driver was an gettipg- ; oiit logs:, largo'and small ■had iqv'cphip'.-j;©; the r ini.llj; awl -tho' . dnvdr -wds ,'oxpec-tbci .to' get. them ; in, often with/to^ms ; of ■.bullocks-,more hides and' bones than: flesh. The phrases that seem to be re'- • qiiireil ; ''t<s' are' not, found in ■ Webster's, or : Sttnday, schools.. The Men.,.,'.. 4:1 ' ■ Tho men 'oriiploycd in the ' sawmillirig ; and -timber 1 industry,..usually follow: some "particular. brancb~'coririecteq with- it, and they consequently hccome expert at their own particular lino' of work. Tho choppers' and e'rosscutters'. skill at their: work hps ,'bcfm in. ievidence- at: the: Axemen's carnival and the : shoNvKHniii'ds'throu'ghon| Now Zealand. Tliesn mei.i"fell.itlib.,tTe'e!s and, cut .tbe logs .required fortho miUs. - They, can'fell p. tree illas many • different 'directions, as' a ;yaclit- ca'h sail oil a wind,,which enables'.them to fell one trio ••cleat ,of ••others,,, anfl., in* tho \best;, positions tp ibe the li'aul.ing-tracks; •The .liaulijig men-are equally'as expert as,;the . cho'pperjs;' ! ;,Th'eso' , 'men'.get the' log from the stu'inp' to. the' landing, at tlio tramwiiy,', the 'hauling wincli' is.: set'.-down,:,. The .work is' arranged 1 by, a codo of signalling along a line from the wincli driver to the log back in the bush. •< The'.Jlogyfs. roljed, .pulled,, or. stopped almost-instantaneou'sly', and.equally as well' handled as, if tho:'winch, driver was working with it in sight. " • ' • : .Tlio" men' whbrt'ako the logs along tho tram from ; tlio . hauler' to tho, sawmill' aro ;called, •trolley-men. --'- iTJieße-: men - Havo- to.'Lo''good hor'sG. drivers,' as ;,tho,. loads, on 'thetrucks often' ■t'ako - staunch''.-active'' draught' hofsg'B them K- .Tho trolley man has to be a good! jacker, ; brakesman,, and ablb ' to sprag -a truck wheel running. Mivtliing ; under.a rnilo a minute .when ocbasiori requires. If- his "Idad'T oftogs-get> off 't-ho road-' or > break,. through,.tho'-tram.going out ,t'o'tho, mill, lie : lias i-to.i.ket^tliom",-baqk, on': to tho i rails, 1 ' with tlio -. a'sSi'iitarice i of- : his; horso team,, without losing the load of. logs. His prcsencbpf'riiind and 'judgriient'is'.often called; into account - going; down, or lip steep grades, a3 one .false movo - on;liis parr; .at. a;critical 'n)gjncns"maT'. easilji«mean' disaster,':sind-the loss*, of a.valuatjlb team-of horses/' 1 Tlio null hands, who- saw, load, ptack,\and sort' aiti v'iill'-ispecialists at thqir .different .work : , ; and require to bo ,of -aj-'ston-; ; dard much above ordinary -labour, and skilled in the art of saw sharpening, filing,hammering, fittirigj' jacking, talleying, stripping, and sort- 1 ing timber. The: sawyers and machinists are the highest , palii v men <r 'rri''the w-orking . part bfothe iridustrjv arid 'are usually, strong;.actiyeL.picked, men, ..who command;-.vbry../'high', wages; i ranging from £19- : month down-. wai-ds, ; according to ability.' i " ' , , •' Tho sawmiller usually," hasa \busy" tim'o ■' supci-yisiaig -tho difEorenjt.'Works l ;irii,;th6, industry;' and'ion'du'bting'his.general litisinossJ-'', He of ten'knows 1 a'good rdeal. about; finance, and ' •jjorh'aps , ','tt'"little« mbro'vthan/most business' people' about' p'rbmissbrjfSoteß ;an'd ; . interviews with his baiikor.'.''' He. is accused of. cornbin- : irig arid .monopolising' 'tlie';tnriber; trade (which istwit'hout.foundaiibn)>;{nidpf oxtracting high prices'from the. pubhc (\yhichj unfortunately for him, is'imfeiiej(^^sß!iniore 'a-benefactor; :to the, public '.'to himself; arid ho ridob more oJtbjiijbri-ji\s-bush trolley, on 1 a.mbtor.'.carj;.; : : ;■'' -;' ! ; • -. ■, - in the Days " •.. • , ''Sawinills' where" \listribu-;-ted' throughput each pravincoj and we're, much closbr 't'0 Mi! 'tbHvns_, i ,',ciftos, arid ,'■ settlements.'. Bushes- \vero,closejf',tb .'arid aiill sites selected 'in /picked, positions. .-Shorter 1 railages' to^marlcets, q.nd. lower royalties wore. pald.~ "In no royalties ivero paid; and settlers even' ptfered indu6pments to.mil-.-lors :to-butiitho: trees off • tho land.', ..Sawmill risko.by firq werp not'so; great; the Arbitration", • Employoi^' , j' , Biabiljtii','!and: Com'pe:i,satioi} : , Act-- did' not>reign ! supremo ; , and ,'was i; 'lnoi - ,-? plentiful. ! ; was. ari byer-productioiv : : of'"timber, ahd"ri\'any' sav/mills' wore hard up,' and" periodically' had their-turnlof' banki-iiptcy '.\ r ~ ;.Thoi -.men.j; employed •■ worked •: iorigoi-?'lio'ilrs7 I< w''bric'o"d' harder,' and' for '"'less , mouey46omemmes;.sß. 4 _i}i:\tho. £, and, ofteii no moroy) Tradespflpplo,'. foundries,' and machinery' agents ..wore oftori . .unpaid; . cattle, ■horse's, and feed could; bp bought ' for half the existing prices to-day; v/liilo nob half tho number ,required to work a mill, -tlioifacilitips /bping so. mnch easier. No : saw'miircr ■ then "attempted to. pay ', insurance, and,-if-,his. mjll-; burned, dov/n; his, creditors, suffered. The cheap timber of a. few years ago' 'Was ;sold below ,tBS cost : of_'pro'du6tiqri, and disasteri folWed-;in its train;. ; j., The Position. . • tprday. aro producing timbnr conditions. • bushes thai .wAro.an- easyi range to tho railway linos j^ro""gfthe. ; ',,^ug(i r .'-iijßy country is .-.being; worked,;arid"ihjmiiriy places.'dead Stimber :trees. that;prodUco 'off-cuts;-slabs, and .waste..train-, lines are-laid' back:-tor*miles, :and.-consider-able numb'er.s of.'draught .horses, arb reeded. lionji; carting"by' road often occurs j restric-tions-are put on,;tho>|'limited carrie'd:by"tho;'iivigdiiS,;'arid a',tax of 3d;.to' 6d. "per :,h < uji,clred',.fsst. I 'ext.racted by. rtlie -various County Councils; royalties ;are / considerably liighorv.j,-paddock,rents,;horse feed, and wages aro'high'er ; 'and','draught horses cost nearly 50 per cent, inorp to .purchase. . Moreover, tho risk of'fires -has' iricreasedj as sawmills and stocks ' are' ofteii.'sufrounded ,by dead : bushes. Th'n loilg "lengths' of v trams and bridges are more...)iablp, l tp 1)0 .burned; and at tho same time "there is' a''greater mileage to keep, in repair..,;- Heavy .Of fire insurance have also'to'bo' paid. ' Depreciations of sawmill plants and eattlo stocks are also, considerable items to millers, and particularly when mills are erected in'bushe's of small area and often shifted:Tho; best mills'and stocks require 10, per cent, to-15'.per.cent.' written off per annum, .whilo the .income tax department allow' a modest 2i per cont. off tho iengiho and lioilei' 'only.' When'-' firestako place tho, premium-of insurance, although high at £7 per £100, under. tho average . adjustment clause, caii-.devclop to' £10 per'£loo. " ;' Bmploy§rs':. v Liability and .Arcideiit Compensation ' Acts "'"and Timber Workers' awards-throw..more risk upon the employer, part of' whicli'hoi.s t onabled to insure against at tho following rates:— Bushmen—Wages) ■ 5-per-cent. ; Millnieri-^Wagds;. 3} per cont. Tl)e'":Arbitratibn-"awards liavo jnnrcased wages; tho' minimum being fixed at what was the maximum. This has had the effect of tho host" men" ' paid'considerably over the a}v^.rd,': ! accordilif^. ! .to , . their inorits. If tho cost of : labour ' increases a , greater cost of pifoductionrfollows, and many intricate, deception's that dci not,"appear on the surface also have to bo takori into account. ' ' Future Supplies. - •Tho fntuio supply of timber for Wellington,!llawko's Bay,'Taranaki, arid Auckland will bo largoly depondont on tho bushes along lie..Main Trunk and tlio JE^imarino

Forest. This forest is being opened up by the Main Trunk Line, and is situated / between Karioi and Taumarunui, and comprises many thousands of acres of good milling bush, the totara on the northern end being of magnificent growth. The southern part of the forest is practically a rimu, matai, and pino bush, with fringes of birch and cedar (kai ka waka). There have been many opinions ■ expressed as to tho valuo of this bush, the, quantity of-milling tiniber to tho acre, and tho facilities for working. . -Tho southern part of the bush,, although .'a magnificent forest, i 6 not equal to what tho bushes were in Ilawke's Bay, Wairarapa, or 'Taranaki, cither in quantity or'quality. iThe probablo life .of tho bush as a sawmilling centre is difficult to approximate, it bejng impossible to estimate the'amount of timber that will be destroyed •by fire, which has already started. With the present demand for timber and a.likely increase, and seeing that the four provinces in tho Island will be drawing their supply from this centre, it is reasonable to assumo that as soon as the railway i 3 oponed a great number of mills will be put in, arid that the-output will bo of very considerable magnitude. The bush is .thus not likely to last many years with such a drain upon it.' •-,/-'■ Soms Railway Anomalies. : , i .' i The 'supply of railway trucks to carry away the output will bo another important factor, tp : the' sawmillers and the public. • A shortage of railway trucks- means doublo handlingof the timber, arid consequently a greater cost' to 'consumers. Long-distanco ; 'railway freights will also' have to be considered. Tho ,railway goods tariff presents some features that seem unreasonable. /,' Nearly all special' concessions 1 oil timber given by the Railway Department run out when 100 miles of railage has been reached. 7 For instance, take rimu" timber for export (page 74, Railway Goods Tariff Book), and •the rate, is as follows,:— 1 70 mile's ;to 80 miles, 2s. Id. per 10,0 feet. 80 miles to', 00 miles,' 26.'3d;'per 100 feet. 90 miles to 100 miles, :2s: 4d. per' 100' foot. 100 miles to 101 miles, 2s. lid. peri 100 feet! i-Railage is being chargcd'on a'basis of 10 miles for. Id. per ]00ft., but when the 100mile limit is .readied the.charge jumpsyupi7d. for one', mile; ; . , White •. pino; timber rates 1 are ;the cheapest rates in thc' ; ;tariff book up to 80-miles, but this rate even up to. this distance is not as cheap -as appears,. for this timber is,of considerably less weight. than other .tirribors, and is often. dry seasoned for. shipment. When the limit of 80 miles is reached, if this'timber is carried a further 60 'miles, it costs lOd. per JOO feet' extra,' while the ordinary rata (Glass K) for tho carriage of matai and' rimu .would only bo 7d. per' 100 feet. Y Tho rate, for, the carriage of., white pino, tho lightest.timbor, thus becomes at'the '80-milo limit the highest .railway .tijnber freight. Again,' a consignment of: 1200. feot can :• bp' railed 75 miles at J2s! lid..-per 100 feot,!..totalling ,£1,155., but railed ono mile:' further, I.b.y', 76 miles, it costs £2 10s. 2d.—an mcreaso of £1 4s. 2d. for one mile!..- ~' , -, ! • • There arc ~somo other curious anomalios under the' K; rate. Timber can be sent under .it a .distance or 148 miles,at a .ratq.ot 3s. Bd. per 100 feet, but tbe • next, .GO'.'htiles,'. making 208 miles in, all, brings tho cost ,to 4s. 3d., or,'7d. , extra-for. tho 60 miles., '.'Add another 60, making 268 in all/and the cost becomes tis. 3d., and;tho cliarge,for tho additional 60 Tnilos Is.,per,loo feet,:as.against,the : 7d. In:: tho 'previous ■ easel Tho . cost ' of. railage ..nearly.doubles.itself por mile, and tho further tho timber goes. tho greater. is. ;tho cost: per mile.-,: v/■'*■;•;, 0, ;■ .-.i'i'.v V,-;.-';■• ' ' '.For. tlio benefit of the public who wish to .ljuild iri>stone 'and brick, a'comparisbn 'of tho jiilago of tho materials,may. be of value:— -'; " - : 'i/'//':' -A,':, :,< j : : ■ Timber ;convoybd' 100 ; miles,-by.. rail is charged 3s. 2d.'per lOO.'feet; or equal to 14s. 3d. per ton. •, '.; '• ■ ■ : •• .. 'Granite,:' marble, slato,' cement, 'cement blocks 'cost for tho samo distanco 13s. per ton. . ;. , V ''Bricks; sand; 'stone,; and. boulders cost 1 ' 7s'. ■ lid. por ton. ..' ••■ ■/ . : " ■,*.;/! •