TIMBER COMMISSION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 107, 7 May 1909, Page 8

TIMBER COMMISSION.

o TAKING EVIDENCE IN AUCKLAND. £BT TELEGEAPH. — PBESS ASSOCIATION.} AUCKLAND, This Day. The Timber Commission commenced taking Auckland evidence this morning. R. Phelan, representing the Timber Workers' Union of 1800 members, said 63 mills in the Auckland district produced over 212 million superficial feet of timber yearly. There were 2655 men employed in mills, exclusive of bushmen. He estimated the amount of standing timber in this district in millions of superficial feet, as lollows : — Kauri, 375 millions ; rimu, 993 millions ; kahikatca, 642 millions ; totara, 100 millions ; matai, 810 millions; miscellaneous, 131 millions. Deducting the year's output, the estimated total was 4841 million superficial feet, equal to about nineteen years' supply. There was a slump m the industry, but kauri was not affected. He did not believe it possible to conserve the kauri forests. Land was more valuable than the timber on it. An export duty on kauri would kill the country mills. Royalties and freights should be uniiorm in New Zealand. In the past ten years the cost of milling timber increased by 25 to 35 per cent. He believed in a State sawmill and the regulation of the price of timber by a Parliamentary committee.

At Mann's shoe store, Vivian-street, reduced prices are being offered in footwear. ! The fortnightly "Korero" of tho Wellington Savage Club will be' held in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott-street, to-morrow, at 8 p.m. The committee of the Wellington Com- | mercial Trav-ellers' and Warehousemen's Association and Club Company invites I members to attend a send-off at 4,30 this j afternoon to Mr. E. C. E. Mills, who will leave next week on a visit to America andl Europe. The Sisters of Compassion acknowledge with thinks the donation of 10 tons of coal from tho Staples and Co. Browery. By kind permission of the captain, the band of H.M.S. Challenger will give a programme of music in the Hospital grounds on Saturday. Mr. Job E. Lmdberg, draper, Cuba-st., announces special reductions for his sale to-morrow. Mr. W. P. Healy will sell by auction to-morrow afternoon, at his rooms, 95, Cuba-street, blanket*, hearthrugs, etc. Reductions in millinery, etc.. are advertised as being made at Aylmer's, 9, Wil-lis-street. Mr. S. G. Ross, jeweller and engraver, Lambton-quay, advertises fresh bargains at his annual clearing hale. Special Saturday prices in boots and shoes are announced by the Corner Boot Shop, Riddiford-street. For furnishing goods, such as bedisteads, fenders, blaukets, carpet 3, linoleums, cur- j tains, and first-class furniture, noyrhere in tho city can you get such good value at the present time as at Winder's, corner Cuba and Manners streets. So as to popularise the new building the prices have all been reduced. — Advt. Messrs. Bertcnshanv and JSvensen announce particulars of their weekly sale to be held to-morrow (Saturday), at 2 p.m. The catalogues comprises a splendid piano, furniture, vssos, ornwnants, surveyor's ihsodolitat and eundttaa,