SKIS FROM SOUTHLAND BEECH

Southland Times, Issue 23840, 10 June 1939, Page 8

SKIS FROM SOUTHLAND BEECH

FEAR OF SHORTAGE IN NEW ZEALAND ALLAYED

The possibility of a shortage of skis in New Zealand during this and subsequent winters has been eliminated by the fact that they can now be made in Invercargill. Fifty pairs of skis manufactured from Southland' beech will be available in Invercargill next week. Thirty pairs are already on order for Dunedin and inquiries have been made from Australia. Messrs A. and W. Hamilton, of In-, vercargill, who have always been in-' terested in ski-ing and mountaineering in Southland, have been experimenting with the making of skis during the last two or three years and the first lot of 50 pairs is now almost ready. All the work necessary to manufacture the skis has been carried out in Southland. Messrs Hamilton are at present believed to be the only makers of sfkis in New Zealand.

One piece of timber is used for each pair of skis so that the wood will be uniform. It is necessary that timber for this use must be hard and of the best quality. The bending of the wood is done by steam, although Messrs Hamilton have met with success in bending by other means wood made pliable by impregnation with oil.