H.—25

1874. NEW ZEALAND.

DURABILITY OF NEW ZEALAND TIMBERS. (REPORT BY MR. THOMAS KIRK.) With Papers "On the best Season for Falling Timber in New Zealand; and " On the New Zealand Teredo."

Presented in compliance ivith a Resolution of the House, 22nd October, 1872.

No. 1. De. Hectoe to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaet. (No. 297.) Sic, — Geological Survey Office, Wellington, 14th July, 1874. I have the honor to forward a report by Mr. T. Kirk on the durability of New Zealand timbers, which has been obtained in accordance with the resolution of the Joint Committee on Colonial Industries. The second report on the comparative strength of the various timbers, as grown in different parts of the colony, will be furnished as soon as the experiments now in progress have been completed. Resolution of Industries Committee, 1872. " Tour Committee regret to find that so little really useful information is procurable as to the strength and durability of the various descriptions of timber growing in the colony, and recommend that the experiments which have been initiated be continued. The want of accurate knowledge on this subject cannot fail to lead to very serious results in connection with the large public works now being undertaken throughout the colony; and your Committee consider that any moderate sum of money spent in this direction will be of the greatest advantage to the public interest. I have, &c, The Under Colonial Secretary, James Hectoe. &c, &c, &c.

Enclosure in No. 1. Mr. T. Kick to Dr. Hectoe, Sic,— Wellington, 11th July, 1874. I have the honor to enclose herewith a statement of the results of my inquiries into the durability of the indigenous timbers employed in constructive works, in compliance with your instructions, and have ventured to add concise notices of other timbers presenting features of interest or value. Although strictly beyond the scope of my instructions, I have appended notes on the best season for falling timber in New Zealand, and on the New Zealand Teredo, and trust that tho importance of the subjects may be considered a sufficient justification. * I have, &c, T. Kick. Dr. Hector, E.E.S., fee, Director of the Geological Survey Department, New Zealand.

Eepoet on the Durability of New Zealand Timbres. The results stated in the following pages must be taken as showing only the approximate relative durability of the principal timbers indigenous to the colony, since it is found that totara, kauri, puriri, matai, and others, have not yet been tried under fair conditions for a sufficient period to exhaust their durability. It is true that kauri and totara, for instance, have, under certain circumstances, perished in a few years ; but on the other hand, some of the oldest kauri weather-boarding in the colony is still perfectly sound, and some of the oldest totara piles in our wharves and piers are equally good, where not actually ravaged by the teredo. Moreover, it is obvious that until we have trees felled during the period in which the circulating sap has the least amount of activity, and properly seasoned before being worked up, we are not in a fair position for accurately estimating either the actual or relative durability of our native timbers. I—H. 25.