TIMBER COMMISSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13915, 28 May 1909, Page 6

TIMBER COMMISSION.

SITTING AT WELLINGTON. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 27. In giving evidence before the Timber Commission James Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, said lie estimated that- the timber supplies in this district would last for 40 years. Timber was growing on 2.616,000 acres and lie estimated that there was something like 12.800,000.00 superficial feet oil it. There were -SS sawmills in the district, and llu' industry employed 1605 hands. Witness urged that waste lauds should be planted, also that the Government should hold on to its timber lands and have its own mills. A. C.Koch, district engineer. Wellington, deposed that. New Zealand timbers were too soft for sleepers for lilies on which there was fairly heavy tralJic. Mr Morris, a member of the Commission. said that he believed that birch sleepers could be obtained on the West Coast for 2s fkl. possibly 2s 3d. The witness Koch said he had beard that the Government was going to shut down on imported sleepers. Pnriri was good timber for sleepers, but it was dil'fii-uult t" uet large quantities.

Hrart~of kauri would not last for sleepers. '['lie Commission concluded hearing evidence; to-elnv, after having he'hl 29 meetings ill afmost every part ui the Dominion.

.Members me-et in committee to-meir-row morning tf) e*onsider their recommendations to the Governme'iit. Prie>r to rising to-day. Mr W . H. Field, in moving a vote of thanks lo theise who had given evidence, s.iid the experience e>f the Cejmini.ssiej l ! "was preihab'ly unique, inasmuch as every witness lor whate-ver .side\ had e*ome fe)iward voluntarily, and had ne vet asked for erne penny for expenses. 'I his w=)S a very big record, and showed the great interest which the parties had taken in the Commission. The motion was seconded by Mr .1. Arnold, and carried, the Hon. T. Y. Duncan emphasising the remarks of the proposer that the Commission had been uniejuc.