THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12502, 1 April 1909, Page 3

THE TIMBER COMMISSION.

[United Press Association.] Invercargill, March 31: • The local sitting of the Timber Commission -concluded .to-day. Mr -McCreadie, District Railway Engineer,- 1 said that creosoted New Zealand wood sleepers last about 20 years, against six or seven years for uncreosoted. The price of creosoted sleepers here was: 3s ljd each, of which Is 5Jd was for cieosoting. The average cost "of "arrah sleepers landed here" was 3s 9d. , Tho life of jarrah - was about* forty years. The more hardwood sleepers that were used the safer 'the -track cculd be kept. Even on straight sections there was considerable trouble with soft wood sleepers, on account of "cutting- in,"<~and the -■ loosening of" the "dogs." ' Totara was really-the only suitable sleeper ..obtainable - in" 'Southland. Matai was undependable Puriri sleepers were* quite- equal "to Australian, and he would* be very pleased to be able to get them.-, The new system of creosoting might result in a considerable saving. His figures did not allow for duty on jarrah, because the Department > paid no duty, neither had he allowed for the - Government's ljd royalty on -New , Zealand wood. - C. A. Piper corrected his statement of yesterday that only 15,000 feet-»f Oregon pine had been carried from "the Bluff during the last two years. Taking into account the pieces, the correct amount would be,from 100,000 to 150,000 feet every year. The passed a resolution in appreciation of the hospitality accorded the members, and Mr Duncan commended^the way in which the evidence had been given.