TIMBER PROBLEM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 15 June 1920, Page 4

TIMBER PROBLEM

USE OP PIXUS IXSIGXIS

The great extension of areas planted In .fruit trees in the Auckland, district during, recent years naturally creates interest in the question of the provision of timber for the manufacture of fruit cases, when the orchards come into full hearing (says the Star). As the pinus ins ignis is a hardy, quickgrowing tree in the Auckland district, it is now being in order to ensure the supply of fruit cases in the years that are- to come. Thirty to 40 years ago pinns insignis was considered comparatively useless as a timber, but those were the days when a 2001b ease for kauri gum could be bought for 3s, To-day gum cases made from pinus insignis cost 10s each. Evidently the high cost of other timbers has created a value on pine, which has now proved ouite suitable tor Inut and other cases. Many a, land owner has made'money of late years by seizing plantations of pinus insignis. which, being aged, had become useless for shelter'purposes, and also in many eases unsightly. Formerly such trees were cut down, and allowed to rot, or were burned out of the way, but now almost any big tree has a market value if fairly accessible.' in some instances small milts are set up to cut pinus insignis plantations into sizes suitable for fruit and other cases on the ground where the trees were grown. At the present time wurkmen are felling a plantation of tall pines at the southern end oi the racecourse at Ellerslio. , , It is quite probable that the.timber is also being used for'other purposes than that of providing fruit eases. As a matter or fact V. section was recently rencetl with palings of pinus insignis nailed on to 4 hv 4 planks of the same timber. Good-sized macrocarpa trees also him ready sale, many of them being cut on the ground, and sold for though the limber is worthy ot a better use, as it makes good pests im fencing, lasting in some known instances over 30 years. -