TIMBER SUPPLIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19276, 13 September 1924, Page 3

TIMBER SUPPLIES.

WESTLAND’S. PROMINENCE. MAIN TRUNK AT ZENITH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. September 11. A survey and a forecast of New Zealand’s timber output is included in the annual report of the Director of State Forests, who expresses the opinion that the Main Trunk through the King Country as the principal timber producing region has reached its zenith, and although the development of the great Tongariro blocks will ensure the maintenance of the dominant producing position of this region for a decade, nevertheless the territory must soon give way to Westland, with its unbroken virgin resources of pine and beech. The exhaustion of the white pine resources of the Main Trunk forests is driving millers far afield, while steadily increasing logging and manufacturing costs are inducing more efficient operations and machinery. During the year in this region 16 mills were cut out, and 12 new mills were built or were in course of construction. With the impending decline of t[ie King Country as a producer of sawn timber goods, ' Mamaku, in the Rotorua region, has become a not unimportant producing centre. New milling facilities to the extent of 75,000 superficial foot per day were built or building during the year, and the total number of mills now operating in the region is 22. with a production capacity of 52,000,005 superficial feet per annum. The relatively rapid increase in milling in this region has resulted in quite a scramble to secure timber stumpage, with the result that royalty values have appreciated sharply. The Rotorua region can never become, however, a permanent source of timber supply owing to the rather restricted area of standing timber. The Westland province has come prominently forward during the year as the second most important milling region in New Zealand. Its output of nearly 65.000. superficial feet constitutes a record, the nearest approach to this output occurring in 1913, when the cut was 62.000. superficial feet. Westland will soon assume the lead os the largest timberproducing centre serving all markets of the dominion. The opening of the Otira tunnel, of course, is responsible in a large measure for the greatly improved position in Westland. Since its opening, and to the close of the year, 17.632.003 superficial feet wore railed through to Ganterburv. Within three years Westland will probably be producing 100,000.000 superficial feet of sawn woods per annum.