SOUNDNESS OF KAURI LOGS. BIG TIMBER DISPUTE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 49, 27 February 1908, Page 2

SOUNDNESS OF KAURI LOGS. BIG TIMBER DISPUTE.

Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., is at present in Whangarei enquiring into the facts in connection with tho big timber dispute between M'Carroll and Chadwick, sawmillers and timber merchants of Pahi, and the Crown Lands Department. • The enquiry is the result of a petition to Parliament last session, when a committee of the House wps set up to enquire into the matter and take evidenco. Tho committeo subsequently recommended that some judicial authority should go into tho whole question, and oe&°™/"o e &°™ /" the facte - The claim is for ±.oUUU lor rotten timber, alleged to havo been sold as sound at 3s per 100 ft. Considerable interest is being taken in tho case, and most of the Northern sawmillers are in attendance to give evidence. It ig stated that the logs ara affected by dry rot, though whon the timber was purchased there was no indication oi anything being tho matter. Timber experts of 40 years' experience state that thoy have never known the kauri to bo rotten inside, without some external evidenco that such was the case. The logs will be investigated by the commission. Mr. W. J. Napier represents tho claimants, and the Crown solicitor tho Government. Tho case is expected to last until Saturday.

A big, burly, fierce-looking man, and a meek, inoffensive-looking little ohap, were sawing Ihnlxjr with a cross-cut saw. A strapping 1 Irishman, passing that way, stopped to wnt'ch them. Back and forth, back and forth, they pulled tho saw Finally tho Irishman could stand it no longer. "With a hoop and a yoll he ru»h«d at the big niau and brought him to (ho ground, burying his knees deep in tho sawyer's chest. "There," ho raid, letting him havo one parting blow on the noae, "now oer'be yo'll let tho little felly hey it V-