THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 30th OCTOBER 1885.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume I, Issue 123, 30 October 1885, Page 2

THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (UPHOLD THE RIGHT.) FRIDAY 30th OCTOBER 1885.

In another column we publish a letter from a correspondent enquiring whether the timber to be used in tlie construction of the Aorere bridge is procurable in the valley. On referring to the specifications for this work we find that the flooring must be of black birch (fagus fusca) and all other timber, black birch, totara or yellow pine. The difficulty with intending contractors seems to be to find out. whether the birch grown in the Aorere valley and commonly called brown birch is the same as the ‘fagus fusca’ specified in the conditions of the work.

Dr Hector, Director of the Geological Survey, in his “Handbook of New Zealand,” published in 1883, under the list of the principal forest trees of New Zealand, has the following:— “Fagus fusca, Black-birch of Auckland and Otago (trom colour of bark), Bed-birch of Wellington and Nelson (from colour of timber). - This is a noble tree GO—9o feet high; the trunk s—B feet in diameter. The timber is excessively tough and hard to cut. It is highly valued in Nelson and Wellington as being both strong and durable for all purposes. It i i found from Kaitaia in the North Island to Otago in the South Island, but is often locally absent from extensive districts, and grows at all heights up to 3,000 feet altitude.” From this description we should ceriainly say that Fagus fusca comprises all birches of the so-called black or brown

species, and this opinion is borne out by the fact that the Silverstream bridge alluded to by our correspondent was built of the timber commonly known here as brown birch although black birch was named in the specifications; To be certain of the matter however we would -ugse v that the Road Board should enquire I'm: i the Public Works Department whether ;.-v not the black and brown birch are idonfh cal, but our opinion is that any contractor would be quite justified in using 0:V locally known brown timber as the ‘Tagus ffi. ca’required for the bridge. K t:.<‘ Board however only carry out our suggestion. it will definitely settle this disputed question and it will be satisfactory to themselves and of great convenience to contractors.

Some little time ago we announced Cmf. the Survey Department had authorised Mr C. Lewis (District Surveyor) to collect specimens of our mineral products for the London Exhibition next year, and it was

well for the place that it was so, for we are satisfied that if the matter had rested in the hands of the local bodies or committee originally appointed, from the very indifferent manner on the subject evinced by them, a very poor collection would have been gathered. For the last few weeks when convenient to do so, Mr Lewis has had his staff employed in collecting samples of those products which he considered would he- most acceptable to the Department, as exhibits indicative of our mineral wealth, and up to the present time his list is as follows:

Marble in blocks, white, black and wht, and variegated, from Ferntown and Parapara, about 450 lbs; Silver ore from the Richmond Hill (technically known as Riclimondite), about 60 lbs; Coal from tlie Ferntown mine and Mr lb Peacock’s Prospecting License about 200ibs; Galena from Bedstead Gully, 201bs; Steatite (soapstone) from Parapara and Richmond Hill, about lOOlbs; Hematite ore from Mr Waslibourne’s lease at Parapara, 70 lbs; Glass-making Sand from Parapara and Collingwood, 1201bs; Plumbago from Pakawau, 701bs; Schorl, (commonly known as Horn-blend) from Richmond Hill, 201bs; and Iron Pyrites from Cole’s Gully, 201bs. Altogether Mr Lewis will have over half a ton in weight of various specimens, and great credit is due to him for the careful manner in which he has carried

out the instructions of the Department. We do not suppose there i 1 another district in New Zealand, which in such a small area of country can show a collection anything approaching this either in quality or quantity, and yet there is scarcely a more isolated place in New Zealand than Collingwood. Repeated attempts have been made to induce different Governments to connect us by road with more populous, centres but up to the present without success, but wo hope that the samples of minerals which Mr Lewis lias collected may do some good towards convincing the present Government that our district is really worthy of having a few thousands spent in assisting to develop such hidden wealth.