SUITABILITY OF NORTH ISLAND TIMBERS FOR SHIPBUILDING.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6670, 4 October 1883, Page 3

SUITABILITY OF NORTH ISLAND TIMBERS FOR SHIPBUILDING.

I [BY TELEGRAPH. I ' _ Auckland, Wednesday. An important meeting of shipbuilders and shipowners was held to-day -Mr Waymoufch presiding — in relation to an unfavorable report concerning the timbers of (he North Island of New Zealand, which appears in the annual report of tho Olaco Marine Underwriters' Association for 18S2-83. There were present Messrs C. Bailey, A. Henderson, R. M'Kay, Sims (of Sims and Brown), Bigelow, and Klcsnl. Mr Henderson submitted thefollowing resolution : — •' We have read with regret a copy of Captain Russell's report on the timber of the North Island of New Zealand as applied to shipbuilding purposes. Captain Kussell thinks that tho qualities of pohutakawa and kauri have been overestimated at Lloyds. The report cites two instances to show the unsuitahility of our timber, viz., the schooners Essie Niccol and tho Tauranga. In reference to the last-named vessel, tho report is at fault, inasmuch as the Tauranga is 20 years old, not ten, as stated. "With the first case we are not sufficiently acquainted to speak, but we are prepared to prove that the general condition of vessels built in the North Island affords abundant proof of the suitability for shipbuilding purposes of the timbers in question. Wo append a list of vessels built of pohutakawa frame and kauri planking that are in a good state of preservation ab the present time :— Moa, brig, 34 years of age ; Columbia, schooner, 11 years of age ; Cora, schooner, 18 years ; Queen, schooner, 18 Tears; Water Lilly, cutter, 18 years; Gazelle, cutter, 18 years ; Saucy Lass, schooner, 20 years ; Swallow, schooner, 25 years ; Mary, schooner, 30 years ; Triad, cutter, 30 years. The frame of (he ketch Tiritiri, 30 years of age, is yet perfectly sound." Mr McKay said ho saw the brig M»a in dock about eighteen months ago, when she was " as sound as a bell." Mr Sims said some blue gum built in the brig Moa was found to have decayed, while the kauri and pohutakawa were quite sound. Mr JS"iccol said the cutter Polka, built by himself in 1845, is at present trading in Onchonga. He also furnished a list of old Auckland-built vessels still in existence, as follows : — Triad, cutter, launched 185S ; Pilot, cutter, 1856 ; Mary, cutter, 1851 ; Henry, cutter, 1861 ; Atlantic, schooner, 1860; Rose, cutter, 1860 ; Jolly Miller, cutter, 185S ; Mary Ann, cutter, 1858 ; Jessie Kelly, schooner, 1865. It was also pointed out by Mr C. Bailey, and others, that the schooner Colonist, built 18 years ago, is now perfectly sound, aud that the cutter Morning Light, 20 years old, was opened out by Messrs Sims aud Brown two years ago, and proved quite sound, while the cutter Rose was also opened out two years ago and found to be sound. With reference to the Jessie Niccol (referred to by Captain Russell), Mr Niccol, who built that vessel, stated the only reason he could give for the timber being decayed (if such was really the case) was that the vessel had sustained unusual knocking about, causing leakage which had not been attended to in time. Mr Bigelow reported that about ten years ago he had bored the brig Moa according to directions from Owen and Graham. He put an augur into every place which was likely to be faulty, and with the exception of one timber all were found to be perfectly sound. Mr Waymonth suggested that an effort should be made to get an authentic statement with reference to the opening of the Moa at Onehunga, when the blue gum was found decayed, while the Auckland timber was in a good state of preservation. The examples already given were sufficient, and only required to be verified. It was agreed that Mr Waymouth should draw up a report including the facts stated above, with other authoritative facts to bo submitted to another meeting to be held on Friday, the report to bo signed by shipbuilders and sent to Lloyds' register of shipping.