NATIVE TIMBERS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 2 October 1934, Page 8

NATIVE TIMBERS.

New Zealand’s First Export Described. New Zealand’s first export—timber —was discussed by Mr F. E. Hutchinson, lecturer in forestv at Canterbury College, this morning, when the second of a series of weekly lectures to interest people in the Museum was held in the war relics room. Mr Hutchinson described the early history of the timber industry in the Dominion, and then dealt with the exhibits of timber in the Museum. Mr Hutchinson said that in the early days most of New Zealand was very densely covered with forest. Timber was the country’s first export, for whalers used to refit theii ship*-; with j kauri spars, and also took the timber across to Australia. As early as 1790 — i twenty years after Captain Cook’s I arrival—the first timber export- were j shipments to England for naval pur . poses. Timber was exported to New i South V ales from the end of the eighteenth century onwards, i Mr Hutchinson said that the first I saw-mills in New Zealand were estabj lished in 1820-30, and were cutting ! timber for export before there was any ; permanent colonisation or settled gov- | ernment. Kauri, manuka, matai. kahikatea and other New Zealand timbers were interestingly described by Mr Hutchinson, who detailed their uses in building and industry. lie was accorded a vote of thanks for hi< address.