TIMBER PRESERVATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4181, 14 August 1874, Page 3

TIMBER PRESERVATION.

TO THE EDITOR. SIR, —In your paper of to-day the Minister of Public Works is reported to have said that "in offering to erect jnachinery for the purpose of pickling or preserving timber, I imposed such conditions that nothing could be done." Copies of my letters to the Government on the subject are below, which will show that my offer is made in the most general term's, and as the expression above referred to implies that my offer contained exorbitant demands, I beg you to publish them. The cost of the necessary plant erected here would be £2500 to £3OOO, and as only the Government would employ it for some time, it is not an unreasonable proposal that they should guarantee work for a few years. If such were not the case the plant would be employed for experimental purposes only, to the certain loss of the owners. Tho Government officers once being satisfied of its utility, would naturally obtain works for their own purposes, and the pioneers'in the matter would be left out in the cold.—l am, &c, J. K. Geoege. August 12. Wellington, March 2, 1872. Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that in the event of the Government determining to make use of any process for preserving the timber and sleepers for the New Zealand railways, I would undertake to import the requisite plant for the purpose, provided the Government would guarantee a fixed amount of work for a period of say seven years. The cost of preserving sleepers varies according to the process employed. By Sir W. Bennett's process, the cost is sevenpence per sleeper at the works. By Bethell's creosoting process the cost is about tenpence. Here the cost of the first process would be about one shilling per sleeper, to allow for increased cost of labor and material and payment of royalty. It will be unnecessary for me to speak of the advantages of preserving the sleepers, as the Government engineers will be well informed on tho subject.—l have, &c, J. B. George. The Hon. Minister of Public Works. Wellington, August 28, 1873. Sir, —Some time ago I addressed you on the subject of preserving the sleepers of the New Zealand railways, by means of pickling in the refuse from the gasworks, or other material, and was informed that the matter had been referred to the Engineer-in-Chief for report. I should be greatly obliged if you would inform me whether any decision has been arrived at. There is a large quantity of tar available at the Gasworks at present, which would be preserved if any probability exists of its being utilised in the proposed manner. —I have, &0., J. R. George. The Hon. Minister of Public AVorks.