WOOD FUEL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3094, 26 May 1917, Page 11

WOOD FUEL

BACK TO THE CHEERFUL LOG FIRE. If the shortage of coal lias done nothing else, it lias taught a great nia.ny peoplo that thoro is still a deal of comfort to got out of wood as fuol. Indeed, there is no firq so radiantly cheerful as tho log firo,'which, is still possible, as thero lias been lately a return I to tho open firo places of our ancestors lin tho popular woll-fireplacos of today. Sinco tho coal shortage set in thoro has boon tho liveliest demand for firewood of all and any kind, and not , for many years has there been so much wood brought ; into town from country places. And tho demand, ivbich appeal's to bo getting nioro acuto, is serving a doublo purpose, as logs that Lave lain on tho ground for years on our neighbouring hillsides aro feeling the bite of .the axo and tho tcotb. of tho saw, which means" that tho land is boing eleraed of encumbrances to supply .a oily need. Wood is coming i'rooly into tho city from Trontham, Upper Hutt, Waikanao, and othor places, nnd tho largo stocks aro being promptly distributed far and wide at prices that cannot Ik> considered unreasonable. Tho old idoa of distributing the wood in three-foot lengths has long sinco passed away. Tho popular idea now is to saw tho pine, macrocarpa, blucgum, matai, and birch logs into convenient foot lengths, that will servo a rango as well as an open firo, and. mix tho logs with old sawn-up building timber (ivhich makes the best of kindling). Among thoso who havo profited by tho demand for wood is Air. W. Wilsons whoso circular saw in his Wakefield Street yard (opposite tho Publio Library) can bo beard singing gaily from earliest morn till dark, ripping up tho logs fresh in from som.o distant busli or partially-cleared pasturo in ono second,_ whilst tho next it is dissecting tho joists of some forty-year-old structure. Mr. Wilson can cvon show logs of oak, not so long ago chopped down in tho grounds of the lalo Hon. Dr. Grace, in Hawkestono Street, which are now being sold for someone's cheer. Afr. Wilson does a big order trade, and also nas agents vending the wood, mostly in sacks for convenience in handling.