FORESTRY AND NEGLECTED INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 6

FORESTRY AND NEGLECTED INDUSTRIES.

Our Carterton correspondent writes : Professor T. Kirk gave a very interesting address on "Tho Forests of Now Zealand," at tho Assembly Rooms on Thursday night last. The Rev C. Murray, M.A., presided, and the room was well filled. After dealing with tho principal trees ho dealt with tho products and gave tho following interesting particulars: — Tho timber export trade in valuo was in 1871, <£H2OO; 1888, £1.77,577; in 1891, £182,-131; showing a steady growth. Ho admitted it was chiefly Kauri. In 1892 thcro was terrible depression and the trade fell to £87,581. It rosoin 1893 to.£101,082; 1891, £116,110; 1895, to 31st March, £153,170. It was satisfactory to see this steady growth. There might be somo addition by sending Red Tine to England in bulk and also Rewarewa, which had been noglected. There were 10,00:) workers ongaged in tho timber trade, thus providing directly and indirectly, for the support of 70,000 to 80,<>00 men, women and children. There wcro also other products of the forest. Tho Kauri resin trade gave employment on tho fields to 9000 men. It only required a spado, an iron rod and an old knifo to start in it. The valuo of Kauri exported last year was £421,4-16, and its prico per ton averaged £SB I(J3 -Id. Fungus was another product of value. It grew on soft wooded trees, especially dead ones. It was collected by Maoris and settlers, dried in the sun, and would fetch to 3d per pound cash. In 1895 the valuo of tho export was between £7OOO and £BOOO. It was curious that while no use could bo found for it here, in a hardly civilised country like China it found a market. The only information they could got about it was it was used there in soups and farinaceous foods. In respect to tho turpentine from tho Kauri, wo import varnish into tho colony to tho extent of many thousands of pounds, and do not manufacture £2OOO worth of varnish in the colony. They could make all they required. Tho preservation of forests in mountain ranges, was of tho utmost importance. Ho gave striking instances of the destructive effect of denuding countries of their native bush, and strongly urged them to prevent the destruction of tho bush in the Tararua Ranges. He expressed a hope that he had not tresspassed too much on their patience, and resumed his seat amidst applause. In answer to questions, he said, to give the reasons why apparently the same timber lasted as posts thirty years in one place, and in another place but live or six years, would take too long to go into. He said there were two sorts of Totara, and the variety with a thin bark was not the true Totara, but was often mistaken for it for want of knowing better. It was only the true Totara that would stand. In the same way Miro was often mistaken, for and used as Black Pine, or Matai, whereas it had not the keeping qualities of the latter. On tho motion of Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R., I'rofessor Kirk was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting and instructive lecture.

At the invitation of the churnian the ruidienco inspected the large collection of timber specimens placed at their disposal by Mr Kirk.