THE TIMBER TRADE AT HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1212, 24 May 1895, Page 27

THE TIMBER TRADE AT HOME.

ACTIVE ENQUIRY FOR NEW ZEALAND WOODS. REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT EXPERT. The following report from Mr James Frey berg (Government timber expert ar, Home) has just been received from the Agent-General by the Department of Industries and Commerce. It is dated London, 23rd March : c Ttis extremely satisfactory to report tha b the action of the Government with respects to the timber trade is now bearing fruit i;i every direction. All the large timber brokers are asking for prices to be quoted for New Zealand woods and when we could guarantee to deliver the goods, and in every case they are referred to sawmillevs in New Zealand, in order that they may deal direct with the producer, and arrange their own terms. This agency has become the centre of a rapidly growing trade wii h. the Colony. A stock of our woods will undoubtedly have to be kept in London, either by some large firm or a syndicate r£ sawmiilers, to meet the increasing daily wants. For example, yesterday Messrs Churchill and Sims, of Clements lane, wanted about 200 cubic feet of one of our woods ; Messrs Shadbolt and Co., of Bill iter square, 1200 cubic feet of one sort, and 2000 cubic feet of another. These two firms are the first of their class in London. Another broker called to complain that he cannot get his order executed at Auckland, except at an advanced price, owing to the numbers of orders in hand; he also wanted timber. And another broker has, through the help of this agency, arranged for a large shipment of rimu from Rotorua, for early delivery. It was early seen that the trade will flow naturally into settled channels, if the timber brokers in London could be convinced that by applying here they could obtain the fullest and latest information, and that nothing would be done to interfere with their just trade, providing they did nothing to hinder ours. No effort has been spared to give the fullest information to all enquirers, and the specimens of wood shown here have done more to'enlighten the trade than could have been supposed, and it is admitted to be the

very wisest step we could have taken, as it brought the woods actually to the front just at the right moment, when an openingfor them occurred. But while every effort is being made to find a new market for our produce, it is certainly surprising to find anyone in New Zealand so unpatriotic that he has taken the trouble first to write ignorantly to the colonial papers against our woods, with the result of being laughed at; then he attacked them in the Melbourne papers, where Mr Howell, of the Kauri Timber Company answered him effectually. Defeated in both quarters, he is now repeating his defamation of our woods in London, with a like success. The consignment of kauri per Mainari has not yet arrived, but will probably be her© within the next fortnight ; meanwhile Messi-s McLean Brothers and Rigg, of Feuchurch avenue, are trying to sell the wood for arrival; they are good brokers and have been very successful with Jarralidale jarrah; they have just delivered 6000 loads of this wood for a thoroughfare in the suburbs at <£6 12s 6d per load. The wood was ordered eight months ago, and the supply for best part of this year is already sold.” The department with a, view of promoting the Colony’s interests at Home intends to prepare a pamphlet for circulation there, giving the names and addresses of New Zealand sawmillers, the kinds of timber that can be supplied, prices, quantities* &c., terms of payment, ports of shipment* &c., and other information of a like nature.