NEW ZEALAND TIMBER AT HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 38

NEW ZEALAND TIMBER AT HOME.

Further reports by New Zealand’s Timber Expert at Home (Mr James Freyberg) have just been received by tho Department of Industrios and Commerce from the A gent-General. These reports aro dated the 3rd and lltli of January respectively. In tho later report Mr Frey berg says : “ Only the failure of proper supplies can prevent our hard woods taking complete possession of tho market. And it should bo carefully remembered that tho whole of the towns and cities of Europe are paving their streots with wood, all of which must bo renewed every seven yoars. The resources we have in tirnbor now becomo a national matter, and thanks to ceaseless agitation by this agency has long passed the region of controversy. On every hand we are told that our timber is so limited in quantity that tho supply may fail. Every effort must bo made to dispel this illusion, and my successor must work energetically in this direction ere the full crop will bo harvested. Owing to new developments wo have in our woods ample security for paying oil’ our national debt and pouring a never-ending stream of wealth into tho Colony if properly managed, coupled with steady replanting, as suggested by tho Agent-General.” Mr Frey berg goes on to point out that with a common and medically unsuitable wood Russia obtained very many millions of money from Europe during tho last few years. On his return to the Colony in August next he will submit a scheme for working such of our timber as is difficult of access.

Mr Freyborg again urges tho adoption of a Now Zealand standard, and in this connection ho says:—“For example, a plank may bo cut Oft 4-£ in by 9 by 3 or 12ft 9in by 9 x 3, equal to two planks, or 12ft 9in by 18 x 3, equal to four planks, and in tho latter ease it will be suitable for furniture as well as paving. Thoro will be no waste to bo paid for by tho purchaser, and wo shall honestly doliver tho exact quantity stipulated. Freight charges will be saved and tho wood will bo ready for immediate use without tho intervention of interested third parties. But in any case, I would strongly urge that the timber should bo carefully finishod off, as far as cutting is concerned, in New Zealand, that wo may retain tho labour and profit for our own people, besidos securing tho proller control of an important articlo of commerce.” Tho report also (1) states that a wharf of our own in London would be excellent for storing tho timber and preventing tho nocossity of forced sales to avoid extortionate dock charges, and (2) recommends a light hoisting machine for uso of bushfellors, as it multiplies a man’s strength ten times. It is said to be inexpensive, and is manufactured by the Bickering Block and Hoist Company. The export requests tho department to forward him samples of lioroclca (Panex crassifolium), with price, for the inspection oi timber brokers and others, and he says it can bo made immediately available in commerce as a substitute for both box and lance wood, both of which are very scarce and dear in London. He also suggests the binding together in book form of thin sample slabs of our wood* for exhibition purposes, and in illustration of tho gross ignorance which prevails in England concerning New Zealand’s timber resources ho forwards a geogiaphieal chart issued by the leading timber journal as a Christmas present to the merchants of the world to hang up in their offices. The distribution of woods is marked on tho chart, and at the sides there is a list of the various woods which they produce. Now Zealand is not shown in the chart nor even mentioned in tho list, while Australia is credited with only five woods, tho first of tho five being kauri pine. The report of tho 3rd January contains suggestions as to the most suitable and valuable trees to bo planted in Now Zealand. It is pointed out that tho British oak (avoiding foreign varieties and selecting largest acorns), the plane, tho ash, all the beeches and the lime would bo an un-

doubted gain south of Lyttelton. Larches must bo avoided and barberry bushes also must be avoided, as, according to Professor Hartig, they induce rust in wheat. North of Lyttelton tho beautiful walnut tree of Italy might bo introduced with groat advantage and profit. Tho nuts cost from 4.\ to SI francs a hundred. The cork oak (Quercus subcr) from Spain is a very valuable tree, would flourish, capitally in the North Island and would soon produce a valuable product for export. Ono bushel of tho acorns (rather more than 2001 b) may be bought for 120 francs. Tho nuts of the foreign walnut and cork treos can' bo obtained in October from tho great French firm of Vilmorm, Andrioux ot Cio, 4, Quai do la Mogissorio, Paris, and they should bo planted out soon aftor arrival in Now Zealand. Mr Froyberg mentions that on Now Year’s Day ho had occasion to . seo tho authorities of tho Royal Botanical Gardens at Kow to obtain information affecting the timber industry. They pointed out to him tho efforts they made about 17 years ago to assist the Colony in establishing a forestry department, and tho utter disregard shown to thoir advice. “ Moreover',” he adds, “it was suggested that our reckless waste and destruction of valuable timber was more like the action of savagos than of civilised men. * * * * Most und» aibtodly the authorities at Kow Gardens recogniso tho enormous value of our timber*, but they distinctly say we are blind, and know not how to avail ourselves of our splendid advantages.” Finally tho export reports “ a still greater demand for kauri.” “ Altogether,” he adds, “ the Now Year promises woll for tho hard wood trade. Tho wood must be first-class, and tho cutting porfect; subject to this we have most hopeful prospects.”