TIMBER COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 4

TIMBER COMMISSION.

EVIDENCE OF CHRISTCHURCH. lor TEtEonAni—rnsss asscciatios.l ■ :•■'■ Christchurch, April 6. The Timber Commission. sat at Christchurch this morning. .. . ' ■ , Mr. Hurst Seagor, . architect, of Christchurch, gave evidence that tho reason Baltic and yellow timber wero imported - and used in preference to kauri and rimu timber was that tho native timber was not reliable owing. to lack of proper grading and classification. There wore distinct varieties of native timber, and they had opposite qualities, yet they" were all classed together. Hβ gavo details of the different qualities and characteristics of red, white, and silver grained kauri. Different varieties could be found, he said, in one treo, red in centre, and white., outside.. In testing this timber, tho difficulty cf>'lack of classification hod. any reliable results being obtained, , ahd ; :,tlic'reforo, kauri had been condemned extensively'as a timber for building purposes.' A good reliable handbook on New Zealand timbers would'bo of great assistance to architects. Tlio late Mr. Tj Kirk's book on the "Forest Flora of New Zealand" was an excellent work, but it dealt principally with botanical matters. It was the author's expressed intention to add a section regarding the qualities of various timbers, but this had not been .done.' Witness thought all New Zealand timbers should bo" graded at the sawmill in accordance with a' definite and well understood system of classification.. Timber was much, dearer than itwas ' some years ago, having risen from 9s. 6d. to 14s. 6d. per 100 ft. l'ellow pine' and' good Baltic timber were absolutely essential. for building purposes in New Zealand, be-' cause a-constant supply of soft, .white'kauri', was not obtainable. Both imported timbers were deirer than kauri, though'. Oregon pin? could bo dispensed with as first class. RimUi could bo used in its place, and nothing better; could be. wished for. With the common use of steel girders for long spans, the necessity for timber of great girth and length, had disappeared. The total increase in'the cost of, building due to increased cost of timber would: be about 15 per cent. He had never had any difficulties in obtaining timber. ■ Hfvupder-' stood builders could buy timber2s per''cent;-" cheaper than ho could, but ho believed that if a builder was not a member of the Builders' Association he did not receive this concession. Rimu as a .decorative timber compared very favourably, with any imported ornamental wood, but he found every line was, terribly mixed. It should be possible to specify the timber required with some ohance .of/receiving it, 'but as .matters -stood;.this, could not bo done. Oregon was an orna-mental-wood, and took a very fine finish." It wa's'.now the same price as rimu. New Zealand timbers should be cut iin winter. At ;present went on in summer and winter indiscriminately, and this gavo further variation in tho quality of the timber. The Forestry Department should exercise its functions in this matter. In regard to the seasoning- of the timber, a building made with -.unseasoned timber would'not last moro than ten or fifteen years. One mado of seasoned timber would last from■ forty te,a_ hundred' years. There was difficulty in obtaining seasoned timber, and merchants'made'ah.extra', charge of 2s. 6d. per 100 ft, for stacking.,: "It was: practically impossible to buy seasoned timber, and the only way to ensure its use; was to specify that the timber should stand for several months before -it was used in" building. It seemed to him criminal to burn down acres of well-timbered forest. New Zea-' land should supply all the timber required for its own,use. Ho thought an export duty on New Zealapd timber would be necessa.y, and that a schoolof forestry should be established in the Dominion. The building trade in Christchurch was very slack af/ present. He was not in favour, of an increased duty Dn Oregon pine, as the use of Oregon tended to conserve the native rimu. Ho did not ; think the price of timber had any effect on the volume of tho building trade. Building iri : -brick'was'deafer than building in'wood in. OtaftfjtcHiirch. ' } He ! 'did not think a houW'with', brick walls would bo any more durable than a house built of well-seasoned timber, as a house with brick walls had to have .timDcr roof, floors, and fittings, and the life; of these was practically the lifo of tho house". The use of sheep dip had been found effective in checking the attack on wood by the "borer" worm, and in preventing such attacks. He did not think proper grading and classification would add to the cost.of timber to any great extent. Thpro was no question that legislative restrictions should be placed upon tho erection of buildings wjth unseasoned timber. The cost of timber in an average well-finished cottage was about half the total cost of construction, 'Seme excellent black pjne was taken out tlio old imlr at Christchuroh, after tho building had been in existence forty years. It was in nrst-class condition, and the: contractor who took it out mado some beautiful panelling out of it. He had found some beautiful figured rimu among stuff supplied as'ordinary 2x4 joists. This showed that merchants did not grado their'timber,: properly. He had tried native beech once ; ior building purposes, but it was very .unsatisfactory, casting and twistingin alLdircc-. tions. It buckled up in drying to a great extent, Hp had not personally specified Oregon pine unless his clients asked for it, becanse up till quite lately rimu, which was quite as good, cost much loss.- Nowadays if ho.could not got tho best rimu he would use Oregon. . Mr. C. E. Page, timber merchant j Christchurch, said the price of red pine unsuitablo for dressing was 6s. 9d;, J ; Suitable for dressing Bs. 6d. por 100 feet f.0.b. , , Freightage cost ds., railage and wharfage 'cost Is. 2ld marino insurance Id., and handling Bd. or 9d. Including cartage per 100. feet tho prico of kauri was 18s. 6d. f.o.b.,.Kaipara, and the satne charges applied to kauri as to redpine, ,save that the cost of insura'neo was greater. Kauri cost moro to.a.morchant mChristchurch than to a builder in Auckland P n an *%£ houso tlle contract price was £/9U-22,333 feet super: of timber at net cost of £182 7 f . 3d. ■ A rise or fall of. ?i* r ould only make », d 'fferenco of £10 odd in the cost of such a house Tho gross profit on his firm's turnover for last year was 10.60 per cent., out of which rents ; rates, wages, and all other < charges had Us be paid, including loss on-waste timber.: : A firm woiild bo ucby if its net profit wag U per • cent on its turnover. iQ ' pine unsuitable for dressing sold in the yard at 14s. bd;, suitablo' for dressing at 16s. 6d 'The loss on dresse<i timber- in preparation gave only a small profit. ■ - Furthor evidence was heard,' and the inquiry adjourned till to-morrow.