THE PRICE OF KAURI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2115, 25 June 1907, Page 3

THE PRICE OF KAURI.

Auckland being the centre of the .cuuri timbor milling industry of the jolony, a telegraphed report giving statements and figures quoted by Christchurch merchants as to the price of kauri timber in tho Southern :ity lias considerable local interest I says the New Zealand Herald). With i i view to securing some particulars if the price of kauri as charged lo 1 ally, and what it ought to be with cost of freight and other charges, ad- j led when landed at Christchurch, at ■veil as in Australia, a Herald reporter waited on one of the most prom:nent sawmillers and obtained from

dm a detailed statement of tho posi tion.

Anyone in'New Zealand, ho stated, •ould purchase kauri, timber in ordinary lengths and widths net f.o.b Auclcaiul, at the following prices:—First lass, 17s 6d "or 100 super.; second -lass (medium)/ 14s 6d per 100 super. : bird class, 9s per 100 super. “Taking for example,” ho said, 'an individual resident in Christ duirch, his charges for the timber 'anded in Christchurch would include: Freight to Lyttelton 3s, wharfage 3d. and railing to Christchurch Is 3d. naking a total of 4s 6d per 100. This, aided to the prices above, gives the following as actual cost of timber in Christchurch to anyono desiring to purchase: First class, 22s per 100 mper.; second class (medium), 19s aer 100 super.; and third class, 13s 6d >er 100 super.” The same prices are charged to Melbourne buyers, f.o.b. Auckland, and his purchase is subject ■o charges totalling os od, being averige freight 4s 6d, and landing charges Id. Tho prices in Melbourne are:

First class, 22s lid per 100 super.; second class, 19s lid per 100 super.; ind third class, 14s 5d per 100 super. To bring this’ timber back to Christliurcli, as has been'reported is done, 'hero would be the following charges 'o be added: Freight 4s, wharfage 3d, :ml railage Is 3d ; total os 6d. . “On those figures,” continued the niller, “a buyer would require to net lie following prices before making an' profit-on the transaction for himself: First class, 28s od per 100 super.; econd class 26s 5d per 100 super. : ■nd third class 19s lid per 100 super. “In the case both of shipments to ffiristchurch and the South or s’

nents to Melbourne and other ports 'f Australia, arrangements can be nado for obtaining timber from counry mills in cargoes of stock lines at V 1 per 100 less cost, and- at a some”hat reduced freight, but the pro--u-tion remains much tlio same.” In conclusion the miller stated that

' v was obvious from the figures tliai t he statement that first class kauri •rnber could he purchased,in Melbourne and landed in Christchurch •hooper than it could be obtained in New Zealand was entirely erroneous.